08 Sep Sweet & Tangy Gefilte Fish
As we have a custom to eat fish on Rosh HaShanah - may we be like the head and not the tail; may we be fruitful and multiply like fish - and as we have a custom to eat foods with honey on Rosh HaShanah...
04 Sep Under the Sea
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Ki Savo, the Torah tells us that when we will be blessed, Hashem will put us לְרֹאשׁ, וְלֹא לְזָנָב, וְהָיִיתָ רַק לְמַעְלָה, וְלֹא תִהְיֶה לְמָטָּה - for the head and not for the tail, we shall be only above and...
28 Aug The Weapon of Friendship
This week’s Dvar Torah is dedicated to my dear son, Yitzchak Yonatan, who came up with the title for the post: “The Weapon of Friendship.” At the end of this week’s Parsha, Parshas Ki Seitzei, the Torah records that Amalek attacked us when we were leaving...
20 Aug The Pursuit of Righteousness
R’ Simcha Bumin of Peshischa explains that with the double lashon, the Torah is teaching us that we must pursue righteousness by means of righteousness, by ways of tzidkus and yashrus, just and straight paths. For one who wants to cling to holiness must do...
12 Aug Double Chocolate Banana Muffins
I served these muffins for the first time at Parsha class this week and they met with rave reviews. Moist, chocolatey, and satisfying, yet baked with healthier ingredients…What’s not to like? Double Chocolate Banana Muffins Pre-heat oven to 375*. In a large bowl, mix together: 1 1/2 c....
06 Aug Broken Shards of Hope
In this week’s Parsha, Parshas Eikev, Moshe recounts that after he broke the first set of luchos - in the aftermath of the sin of the golden calf (Deut.9:15-17) — he carved a second set of luchos. Moshe now had a broken set of Stone...
30 Jul A Sign of Faith
In this week’s Parsha, Parshas V’Eschanan, we have the all encompassing, all powerful verses which make up the prayer known as the “Shema Yisrael” (Deut.6:4-9). The verse states: וּקְשַׁרְתָּם לְאוֹת, עַל-יָדֶךָ; וְהָיוּ לְטֹטָפֹת, בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ - You shall bind them as a sign on your hand,...
23 Jul Cauliflower Potato Soup
This is a delicious white soup. I made it for after the fast on the 17th Tamuz, and it was a big hit. I subsequently made it again to serve to company on Friday night, and they really enjoyed it as well. I generally like...
17 Jul Aharon, the Man of Peace
In the final parsha of the book of Bamidbar, Parshas Masei, we are reminded of the death of Aharon HaKohen. “And Aharon the Kohen went up to הֹר הָהָר by the mouth of Hashem and died there, in the fortieth year after the Bnei Yisrael went...
10 Jul Waiting for Redemption
The Gemara (Shabos 31a) records the following teaching: Rava said - At the time when they escort a person to the day of Judgement (in the World to Come) he will be asked six questions: (1) Did you conduct your business transactions faithfully? (2) Did...