The Talmud (Avoda Zara 2-3) records a scenario in which the nations of the world approach God at the end of days to receive their reward. After each nation pleads its case and God ascertains that none of them did anything good for mankind in general (because their accomplishments were self-serving) … [Read more...]
There’s a joker in every class
October 7, 2008 by
When I lived in New York, I taught English and Judaism to a class of elderly immigrants from the Soviet Union. Back then it wasn't even the "former" Soviet Union. As we approached Yom Kippur, I wondered how to explain the basics of the holiday in simple English. The prohibition on intimate relations … [Read more...]
The end of shmitah
September 29, 2008 by
This Rosh Hashanah marks the end of the shmittah year in Israel. During the sabbatical year the land is supposed to be left fallow, and whatever grows by itself in the field and on the trees is "hefker," or free for the taking. At the end of the sabbatical year, the Torah requires lenders to forgive … [Read more...]
Drip, drip, drip
September 27, 2008 by
That's the only sound heard from my stand-alone freezer, which decided to stop working yesterday, on Shabbat. The problem with living in a Jewish country is that repairmen also observe the holiday, but I left a desperate message for the one who replaced the motor only six weeks ago.I've managed to … [Read more...]
Four cooking days until Rosh Hashanah. . .
September 25, 2008 by
Israeli Kitchen has suggestions for Honey Challah and Honey Cake. … [Read more...]
Synagogues in mixed communities
September 24, 2008 by
Trilcat vents about people who object to government allocations for synagogues, yet visit on holidays or when they want an aliyah for their son's bar mitzvah. I am not sure that the people complaining about municipal allocations for religious purposes are the same as those stopping by for Ne'ilah on … [Read more...]
Lag Baomer
May 25, 2008 by
We celebrated Lag Baomer on Thursday night. In America, people treat fire with caution.But here, practically every holiday becomes a festival for pyromaniacs. They shoot caps on Purim and burn chametz on every corner erev Pesach. On Chanukah they let kids play with fire at gan parties. And Lag … [Read more...]
Why There Is a Matzah Shortage
April 25, 2008 by
We have been hearing about the undersupply of matzah in the US, and couldn't find any in the store this morning here either. We could have scraped through our (one day--I can't help rubbing it in again) of Yom Tov but managed to scrounge some extra from friends. I figure someone got smart and and … [Read more...]
We don’t even remember. . .
April 16, 2008 by
West Bank Mama wrote about her favorite parts of Pesach. I think mine might be the end of the first day, after Yom Tov is over and I realize I don't have to make another seder.After I wrote my last post it occurred to me that we must have had two sedarim the year my son was born in New York, so I … [Read more...]
Recent Comments