As usual, I spent as much time researching what I might create for the Independent’s holiday cover as I did creating it. Lots of themes went through my head, as did lots of possible styles. When I shared with my…
As Yom Kippur approaches, teshuvah, forgiveness, looms large on Jewish minds. It’s a time to think about wounds we may have inflicted on others and fractured relationships. What’s our responsibility to apologize? Where should we be mending bridges? These fractures…
Every Jewish New Year, just before we stand to hear the sound of the shofar, I get nervous for the blower. What if they can’t produce the sound? I remember a Rosh Hashanah when this occurred, and the red, exasperated…
A Moroccan proverb states: “The one who wants honey must endure the sting of bees.” The meaning is that nothing worthwhile comes without effort. For most of us, the extent of our effort at eating honey on Rosh Hashanah is…
In searching for holiday recipes, I came across the website of award-winning chef and restaurateur Andrew Zimmern. A media personality, Zimmern advocates for sustainable food systems and promotes cultural understanding, among several other causes. He is involved with many organizations…
When my nephew and his wife introduced me to their newest offspring, I almost forgot how to breathe. By the time I had reclaimed the power of speech, all I could come up with was: “You made a perfect baby.…
I’m looking at the stone floor of what used to be a mikvah (ritual bath), inside the Sahar Hassamaim Synagogue on the island of Sao Miguel in the Portuguese Azores. In the room next door, the synagogue has been restored…
I recently visited some of the small historical Jewish communities of Italy. My travels took me to the regions of Marche, Umbria and Emilia-Romagna and, specifically, to Rome, Urbino, Ancona, Senigallia, Bertinoro, Ravenna, Bologna, Soragna, Modena and Ferrara. Jews have…
The Grade 12 class of King David High School traveled to Panama last month. (photo from KDHS) In February, the outbreak of war in the Middle East meant that the long-awaited Israel trip for the Grade 12 class of King…
Pucker up, you lemon lovers! On my search for a refreshing lemon-based dessert, I found a simple recipe (my favourite kind) that will have me making this on repeat. As I might have mentioned before, I’m a wee bit addicted…
