Before we even start on this one, anybody else do a double-take at the name of this week’s parsha/haftorah? Bechawhaa? I looked it up and discovered it means, “when you step up,” and is the first distinctive word in the parsha portion. Turns out that all the names [...]
The 70th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising was commemorated this year with ceremonies and speeches but some of the most meaningful commemorations sometimes take place in a more informal environment. Such is the story of Irena Sendler which was brought to the attention of Jewish organizations and leaders [...]
Buffets in general are just sleazy. Think about it: you’re eating piles and piles of cheap food while kids with sticky hands run around screaming and people with less than ideal hygiene sneeze, cough and manhandle the salad bar. That’s assuming you live in an industrialized nation where such a thing as a buffet could [...]
This week’s haftorah chronicles the birth of Samson to the childless Manoah and his wife of Tribe Dan. A visiting angel informs the mother-to-be that her son is to be a lifetime Nazirite, and as such, forbade her from taking part in food or wine [...]
While searching for a stock photo for an article, I came across this picture. And it really resonated with me. For many years, I was alone with my Judaism. No synagogue, no Jewish friends and as a convert, no Jewish family. There were no holiday parties or Shabbat services or Torah study. I felt alone, [...]
