We are in the final days of Sefiras ha’Omer, and fast approaching Shavuos, the time of the giving of the Torah. The Sages teach: “Im ein kemach, ein Torah - if there is no flour, there is no Torah.” In keeping with this sage teaching, here...
This recipe is an ode to the widespread custom to eat dairy on Shavuos. However, not everyone eats dairy meals on Shavuos (and let’s be honest, not everyone eats dairy in general!). For a great, fun and delicious dessert which can be served after meat...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Behar, the Torah commands us regarding the Shemitta year, the seventh Sabbatical year wherein the land of Israel lies fallow, its bounty permitted to man and animal alike. At the culmination of seven Shemitta cycles, with the 49th year a...
This is a delicious, easy to prepare and bake, relatively on the healthier side (for a cookie), cookie. We baked a double batch; the first with chocolate chips and the second without. My kids loved them both ways (and so did I!). With the Yom Tov...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Emor, the Torah delineates our Mo’adim - appointed festivals (Vayikra, Chapter 23). Beginning with a general introduction to the Jewish calendar year, the pasuk (verse) says: דַּבֵּר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם, מוֹעֲדֵי ה’ אֲשֶׁר-תִּקְרְאוּ אֹתָם מִקְרָאֵי קֹדֶשׁ--אֵלֶּה הֵם, מוֹעֲדָי - And...
This is a delicious and different-in-a-good-way soup, perfect as we enter the summer season when fresh corn is sweet and readily available. The soup is easy to make, colorful and bursting with flavor. If you can get the white and yellow corn for this soup,...
In Parshas Kedoshim, the second of this week’s double parshios (Achrei Mos-Kedoshim), we are commanded to be a holy people, for G-d is Holy (Vayikra 19:2). As is well known, many of the commands and directives in the parsha focus on mitzvos bein adam l’chavairo (laws...
This is a delicious baked apple tart for those (like me!) who love (pretty much almost) anything with baked apples in it. As usual, it’s easy and fast to throw together, bakes quickly, and delicious to eat. The recipe was created with a side dish...
Parshas Tazria, the first of this week’s double-parshios (Tazria-Metzora in Chutz la’Aretz) focuses mainly on the identification and diagnosis of the spiritual malady of tzara’as: a spiritual illness with a physical manifestation. Chazal (the Sages, Arachin 16a) lists seven causes of tzara’as, the most well-known...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Shemini, Aharon and his sons are officially and formally inducted into the Kehunah, as their priestly roles are assigned to them. The parsha opens on the celebratory Eighth Day of the inauguration of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), when the Mishkan was...