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Shabbat – Our Weekly Holiday

When most people think of holidays, they think of annual celebrations, but we, Jewish,  have one holiday that occurs every week – the Shabbat.  Known in Hebrew as Shabbat and in Yiddish as Shabbos, this holiday is central to our life. As the great Jewish writer, Adad Ha-Am has observed: “More than [...]

Being an Israeli

Israel is very small geographically. The size of the country creates a very unique closeness among Israelis. Add to that the security situation and the fact that most Israelis serve in the army and you get a nation that is one big family. On Friday night at dinner, you often [...]

Rosh Hashanah – A Sweet Celebration

      Rosh Hashanah is by far one of the most important Jewish holidays.  It is when the Jewish people celebrate the new year according to the Jewish calendar.  It’s a joyous time to get together with close friends and family. One of the biblical names for Rosh Hashanah [...]

Tu B’Shevat – The Cycle of Nature

Tu b’Shevat, the “New Year of the Trees,” is celebrated according to the Jewish calendar. Therefore, the festival is also named after “Rosh Hashanah La’Ilanot.” The Mishna, the oral law that gave rise to the Talmud, points out the celebration of four special dates on the Jewish calendar: the New [...]

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Israeli Cuisine

The Origins A lot of Israeli food is related to the Jewish holidays and their customary dishes, traditions and stories of the festivals. Passed down through the generations, the recipes for blintzes (Shavuot) and latkes (Hanukkah) and other special recipes are now integral. Below is a description of the major [...]

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Israelis and their dogs

The story of Israelis and their dogs Israelis are currently known for their love of dogs, but this has not always been the case. Dogs (Kelev in Hebrew) have gained a place as man’s best friend. For most of modern history, we have welcomed them into our homes, walked them, [...]

The significance of the Hanukkah Menorah

The significance of the Menorah Hanukkah, the eight-day festival of light, begins on the eve of the 25th of Kislev. This holiday celebrates the triumph of light over darkness. For more on the holiday, check out our post here. The lighting of the Hanukkah Menorah (nine-branched chandelier) is a symbol of light [...]

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Ways to spice up your challah

Ways to spice up your challah I think challah is perfection in itself. But, if you want to do a bit more than your usual braid, here’s some of my favorite ways to up your game. Everyone seems to have their own special challah recipe, so all these tips will [...]