This week’s parsha, Parshas Devarim, is always read erev Tisha B’Av (and this year is read on 9 Av itself). Why the juxtaposition of Parshas Devarim to Tisha B’Av? In perek alef (Chapter 1), Moshe recalls the sin of the spies, who went up the scout...
We enjoy veggie burgers year-round, but I always buy the frozen, manufactured ones. During the Nine Days, when we eat parve/dairy meals, I thought it would be a good time to make my own. These are gluten-free, super healthy, all-natural, easy to make, and delicious! Complete...
As Sefer Bamidbar closes, in its final two parshios of Mattos and Masei, we read of two narratives centered around the chashivus (importance) of Eretz Yisrael. At the end of Mattos, the tribes of Reuven and Gad request their portion of land on the eastern side...
During this time of year, when we mourn for the destruction of Tzion and Yerushalayim, for the churban Beis Ha’Mikdash and the loss of our holy places, we remember all churbanos (all destructions) that have befallen our people since the Second Temple was destroyed by...
I bought peaches which were not super sweet, and I had ripe bananas on the counter. Both the peaches and bananas were waiting to be used… and this recipe was born! This is a delicious and healthy muffin, which celebrates the bounty of summer. ...
In the beginning of this week’s parsha, Parshas Pinchas, the drama from last week’s parsha (Balak) continues to unfold. Parshas Balak ended tragically, as the prince of the tribe of Shimon, Zimri, publicly lays with the princess of Midyan, Kozbi. In an act of zealotry to...
It's been a while since I sent out a recipe… Yes, I am still cooking and baking for my family, but I have not had much time to come up with anything new and creative! I baked these delicious cookies on the afternoon of 17 Tammuz,...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Balak, Balak the king of Moav, fearing the strength of the Jewish nation encamped on his borders, hires Bilaam to curse the Jewish people. Balak is afraid that he will not be able to militarily defeat Am Yisrael, but if...
In this week’s parsha, Chukas, our three great leaders - Miriam, Moshe and Aharon - meet their end on ever la’Yarden (the eastern side of the Jordan River). Miriam dies in Kadesh; Moshe and Aharon are banned forever from the Holy Land, due to their...
At the end of a dramatic parsha, filled with triumph and hope on the one hand (וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה לְחֹבָב בֶּן-רְעוּאֵל הַמִּדְיָנִי חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה, נֹסְעִים אֲנַחְנוּ אֶל-הַמָּקוֹם - And Moshe said to his father-in-law: we are traveling to the place that Hashem said, “to you I...