Jewish Treats

Random Acts of Kindness

An entire generation of North Americans hear the words “random acts of kindness” and immediately think of Oprah Winfrey. Without question, the former queen of afternoon television has…

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Tetzaveh,Weekly Message

Tetzaveh 5784-2024

“A Flame in Every Jewish Heart" (updated and revised from Tetzaveh 5765-2005) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald This week’s parasha, parashat Tetzaveh, focuses primarily on the design and…

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Jewish Treats

President Warren Harding

In honor of President’s Day, Jewish Treats presents a quick look at the relationship of President Warren Harding (1865–1923) and the Jews. Although Harding may be criticized for…

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Jewish Treats

Judaism at the Barber

On February 20, 1816, Rossini’s classic opera, The Barber of Seville, premiered at the Teatro Argentina in Rome. In tribute, Jewish Treats will address the Torah’s instructions for…

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Jewish Treats

Say Cheese!

For decades, the word "Polaroid" was synonymous with 60 second instant photography, in an era when film canisters were removed from the camera and developed into photographs by a third…

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Jewish Treats

It’s Not Vanity

As today is International Women’s Day, Jewish Treats highlights contributions made by Jewish women in Egypt. “Mirror, mirror on the wall, whose the fairest of them all?” Snow White’s…

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Jewish Treats

The Purim Story in Under 300 Words

At the end of an 180-day feast, Achashverosh, the King of Persia-Media, banished (some say, executed) his wife Vashti for refusing to appear at his banquet. He then staged an elaborate…

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Jewish Treats

The History Around Purim

The story of Purim takes place at the very end of the era known in Jewish history as the Babylonian Exile. King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian legions destroyed the Temple and…

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Jewish Treats

The Sabbath of Remembering

This Shabbat is Shabbat Parashat Zachor, the Sabbath of Remembering. The Torah portion that is read as the Maftir (additional) portion, after the conclusion of the regular weekly Torah…

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Jewish Treats

Purim Again?

Unique to the Jewish calendar, the festival of Purim is actually observed on different days depending on a person’s location. The majority of the Jewish people celebrate Purim on the 14th…

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