Category Life

Experience both land & spirit

photo - from Chabad Richmond in Israel

(photo from Chabad Richmond) Chabad Richmond is leading a trip to Israel called The Land & the Spirit Israel Experience. People from across the Lower Mainland are invited to participate in this educational journey to Israel and Judaism’s most holy…

The incredible power of soup

book cover - Soup Sisters Family Cookbook cropped

Soup is not just food. It’s an experience, a sustenance, a simple yet magnificent meal, if done right, which is generally easy. Probably every culture on earth has a signature variation and, in the Jewish tradition, there is nothing more…

Why we head home

photo - Olive+Wild has some 18 different menorot from which to choose, as well as Judaica for Shabbat and other Jewish holidays and occasions

(photo from oliveandwild.com/collections/judaic) It is the season for gatherings and celebrations, and many travelers are urgently trying to make their way home for the holidays. An innate urge seems to drive them back to their roots. And, I wonder, What…

The beauty of the light

photo - Shabbat and Chanukah candles

(photo from flickr.com/photos/scazon) The sky turns shades of orange and mauve as I glance outside my dining room window and notice the sun slipping behind the trees. The havoc and chatter in the house has peaked. I call my daughter…

Recipes from the world over

photo - Cookbook author Joan Nathan, left, with journalist Sybil Kaplan

Cookbook author Joan Nathan, left, with journalist Sybil Kaplan. (photo from Barry A. Kaplan) Before I review King Solomon’s Table: A Culinary Exploration of Jewish Cooking around the World by Joan Nathan (Knopf, 2017), I have to admit, I am…

A homemade taste of Israel

photo - You don’t have to go to Israel to savour the perfect Israeli sufganiyot

You don’t have to go to Israel to savour the perfect Israeli sufganiyot. (photo from IMP) Here is a favourite Israeli Chanukah recipe courtesy of Tnuva, an Israeli company that makes kosher cheese and dairy products. ISRAELI MINI SUFGANIYOT (12…

Cooking with bananas

Look up bananas and you’ll learn a lot, like I did. Botanically, bananas are, believe it or not, a berry, grown as a plant. They were first domesticated in Papua, New Guinea, about 5000 BCE and were known in the…

Time to light the lights

photo - Chanukah lights

Chanukah lights (photo from pxhere.com/en/photo/285940) Rabbi Kibbitz! Rabbi Kibbitz!” Young Doodle ran into the rabbi’s study, breathless and excited. “Rabbi Kibbitz! It’s time to light the Chanukah candles!” Doodle stopped cold. The senior rabbi of the village of Chelm sat…