Passover traditions like the seder connect family and friends, and remind us who we are. (photo from flickr.com) “I know I read an article somewhere that the greatest number of suicides happen on holidays,” Naomi said to her mother. Rebecca…
“The Crossing of the Red Sea” by Nicolas Poussin, 1634. (photo from wikimedia) We are a people with many memories, many stories, and who we are has been shaped by the stories we remember and tell. More than any other…
While hamantashen are one of the most known Ashkenazi treats, many other foods are associated with Purim. (photo by Rebecca Siegel) In the Book of Esther, all we are told is that letters were sent to the Jews in the…
(photo from ajudaica.com) One of the most popular customs for Purim is to drown out the name of the villain, Haman, with a noisemaker. In Hebrew, it is called a ra’ashan; in Yiddish, it is a grogger, which comes from…
(photo from facebook.com/liatg) Benji Goldstein, who lives in Sioux Lookout with his family, is a full-time doctor working in indigenous communities in northern of Ontario. He has created for Chanukah an almost six-foot chanukiyah out of ice, improving his 1.0…
Standing on the Haas Promenade in southern Jerusalem overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem, the Ethiopian priests wore traditional clothing and carried parasols. (photo by Gil Zohar) Approximately one-third of Israel’s 125,000-strong Ethiopian Jewish community came from across the country…
Did you notice what a great day it was today? Rain or shine, there are lots of people out there who are so happy you are alive. Besides yourself, I mean. I bet you did some things today that added…
In recent years, sufganiyot have easily become the unsung heroines of new Chanukah traditions. (photo from piqsels.com) Full disclosure, Chanukah has always been my favourite holiday. It has all the things a good holiday needs: dark wintery nights, deep-fried oily…
The chanukiyah is an expression of Jews’ commitment to place the particular into the mainstream of history. (photo from pxhere.com) Jewishness is not merely determined by a biological accident. It involves commitment and dedication to the spiritual worldview contained within…
