Sukkah Squad Helps Build Memories
In commemoration of our ancestors’ 40-year journey in the wilderness, Jews are supposed to leave their homes and live in temporary shelters. If I didn’t know better, the commandment (Leviticus) that tells us to “dwell in booths for seven days†sounds like a Salvation Army homeless shelter. Of course, I’m talking about a sukkah, a Hebrew word meaning “booths†or “huts†and is the symbol of our thanks for the plentiful Fall harvest. Continue reading
Apple Picking Ripens Awareness to “Leave the Gleanings”
An annual fall outing to the apple orchard is a fun way for families to kick off the New Year. The tart, juicy apples are as crisp as the autumn air, and with each bite I taste the new season. Whenever I go apple picking I feel like a kid again. I also seem to lose my table manners. Where else can I gnaw on a piece of fruit and nonchalantly drop the rotten core at my feet? Likewise, I abandon all sense of safety when I ride the bumpy tractor-pulled wagon and fling a half-eaten apple across the gravel road. Continue reading
Fasting Makes Jews Hungry for More
One of my favorite parts about being Jewish, aside from the rich traditions and ancient wisdom that are passed down to us, is our “it’s-all-about-the-food†attitude. This expression is especially true on holidays, lifecycle events, and pretty much any given meal.
So on the one day of the year when Jews are asked to fast, Yom Kippur, I’m almost relieved to have a chance to cleanse my palette and my soul before I reach for another slice of honey cake again. Continue reading
How Does Your Garden Grow?
This steamy summer has been a time for growth, in more ways than one. While Jack and Sari continue to grow like weeds so does my vegetable garden. Continue reading
Columnist Takes Summer Vacation, Sort Of
Okay, so I’m a little behind in my writing. What do you expect? It’s summer. Continue reading
Marriage Takes Two To Tango
I’m always looking for a new adventure, so I recently signed up Scott and I for ballroom dance classes. Sounds corny, but ballroom dancing has never been hotter, thanks to the latest reality show hit “Dancing With The Stars.†But the Olympic speed skater and dancing champion Apollo Anton Ohno is not my inspiration for taking a group dance class. Continue reading
Women’s Groups Appeal to New Generation of Volunteers
In the good old days, motherhood and sisterhood went hand in hand, especially in the Jewish community. Going back to the World War II era, many women joined forces to benefit a single cause. When they weren’t plucking pinfeathers from kosher chickens, many of our grandmothers and mothers gave their time and talents to a variety of philanthropies, from the Jewish Special Needs Society (JSNS) to auxiliaries of every kind.
These women paid their dues, literally, and they also developed lifelong friendships and provided a vital link to the Jewish community. Continue reading
Shavuot Celebrates Most Significant Event in Jewish History
All these years I thought the most important Jewish holidays were the most celebrated ones, such as when we dip apples in honey at Rosh Hashanah, cleanse our souls at Yom Kippur, and retell our history at the Passover seder. Let’s not forget about the most beloved ritual of all—when we light the menorah at Hanukkah and our heads spin like dreidels from all the gift exchanges.
Actually, turns out that the most significant Jewish holiday has no rituals, no songs, and really no symbols to call its own. Yet the upcoming holiday of Shavuot represents the most momentous event in Jewish history—when the Jews were given the Torah at Mount Sinai. Continue reading
Lag B’Omer Connects Jews to Mother Nature
Jews are always reminded to count their blessings, especially during the period of Omer when we literally count the days between Passover and the festival of Shavuot. Historically, this counting ritual has agricultural significance because it counts the days from the planting to the first harvest. Lag B’Omer, which is not really a word, but the number 33 in Hebrew, falls in the middle of the cycle and is celebrated with a day of family outdoor fun. Our connection to nature is the foundation of our Jewish civilization, so go ahead and enjoy this special Spring holiday to its fullest with your favorite outdoor activity. Continue reading
“Generation Me” Boasts Too Much Self-Esteem
Every generation has an alias. The typical grandparents of the “Baby Boomers†are called the post-Civil War “Missionary Generation.†The parents of the “Baby Boomers†are labeled the “Lost Generation†and “G.I. Generation,†who fought in World War II and survived the Depression. They created the next population explosion of ambitious movers and shakers and anti-war protestors, who, in turn, introduced “Generation Jones.â€
Stick with me here. The demographics get even more confusing. Continue reading