By Robert Gluck, JNS.org The miracle of Hanukkah is an epic story of conservation, as one day’s worth of oil lasted for eight days in the Jewish Temple. Now, in some circles, energy conservation and energy independence are increasing hallmarks of modern-day Hanukkah. One of the first organizations to emphasizeContinue Reading
Here’s how David Krantz, president and chairperson of Aytzim: Ecological Judaism, suggests how you can take on a new environmental commitment for each day of Hanukkah: Change incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent or, better yet, LED bulbs. Commit to wearing sweaters in the winter instead of turning up theContinue Reading
By Jamie Geller, JNS.org The average Hanukkah sufganiya (jelly donut) has between 300 and 400 calories of nearly pure oil and fat. In honor of the miracle God bestowed upon the Maccabees, making oil meant for just a day last eight days, the delicious donut and other traditionally oily HanukkahContinue Reading
By Rita Berman Frischer, Special to the Jewish Sound Whenever I think I’ve seen every possible spin on a Hanukkah book for kids, something new comes along. Just this morning I was singing “This Land is My Land” with a chorus of ex-hippie contemporaries, so you may understand why IContinue Reading
By Deborah R. Prinz, JTA World News Service NEW YORK (JTA) — Sharing their favorite Jewish chocolate experiences recently, a group of about 60 chocolate lovers didn’t even mention Hanukkah gelt. That is, until one woman at the New Jersey get-together shared her thoughts on the subject. “It is sucky,”Continue Reading
By Michael Natkin, Jewish Sound Columnist An all-out hanukkah latke binge is something I look forward to every year, and I’m a purist. Please do not darken my doorstep with tales of pumpkin-chipotle latkes or Thai-spice latkes. For me, a latke should contain: Russet potato, onion, egg, salt, and beContinue Reading
By Shelley Adatto Baumgarten, Special to the Jewish Sound “What makes a fried donut a birmuelo?” I recall my then 9-year-old daughter asking me at the beginning of the eight-day festival of Hanukkah. A birmuelo, I explained to her, is not simply a donut made from flour, water, yeast, sugarContinue Reading
By Joel Magalnick, Editor, JTNews Nobody can blame us for not doing the heavy lifting. As we do every year, we bring far more kosher food than should be allowed by law, and taste all of them. Every single one. All so you, our dear reader, know the best foodsContinue Reading
(JTA) — President Obama in Jewish New Year greetings spoke of a challenging past year and new hope.“As Jews across America, Israel, and the world gather together for the High Holidays, Michelle and I extend our warmest wishes to you and your families for a sweet and happy new year,”Continue Reading
With 2014 marking our 90th anniversary, we decided to take a look back at our history to help you create your High Holiday menu. What you will find here — and what you can download as an ebook by visiting jewishsound.org/cookbook — is a selection from every single High HolidayContinue Reading
By Anthony Weiss, JTA World News Service NEW YORK (JTA) — For a few days this year, they clogged up our Facebook feeds and then, perhaps, our subconscious. In our list of the top viral videos of 5774, we bring back those videos that had you hitting “share” again and again. Prairie dogsContinue Reading
By Julie Wiener, JTA World News Service NEW YORK (JTA) — Unplugging more from electronic devices has become a commonly cited resolution for both the Jewish and secular new years. But electronics are also increasingly becoming integrated into Jewish New Year observances. Here are some new offerings at the junctionContinue Reading
By Tsafi Lev, MyJewishLearning.com I’m advocating a new angle on Heshbon Nefesh, “soul’s accounting,” that we do in preparation to the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. This soul work begins with the ancient Greek dictum “know thyself.” Or, to put it more rabbinically, “know before whom youContinue Reading
By Edmon J. Rodman, JTA World News Service LOS ANGELES (JTA) — In preparation for the High Holidays last year, my community sent its shofar blower on the road. During the month of Elul, in the run-up to Rosh Hashanah, we are supposed to hear the shofar blown every dayContinue Reading
Compiled by Emily K. Alhadeff, Associate Editor, The Jewish Sound Looking for a place to spend your High Holidays? We offer a compilation of statewide services to welcome you. Please contact the individual congregation for tickets or further information. Erev Rosh Hashanah: Evening of September 24 Rosh Hashanah Day One:Continue Reading
By Lian Caspi, Special to the Jewish Sound “SAVE ME, OH LORD” are the words that are boldly painted on the back of the bouncing van in front of us. That’s not far from what I’m thinking. Dearest God, it’s not enough that you brought the Jews out of EgyptContinue Reading
By Penny Schwartz, JTA World News Service BOSTON (JTA) — Growing up in Bosnia, Merima Kljuco was familiar with the Sarajevo Haggadah. The medieval, illuminated manuscript was considered a treasure of the Bosnian National Museum for more than a century. Its 600-year journey from Spain through Italy and then Sarajevo,Continue Reading
By Mollie Katzen, JNS.org Vegetarians, and especially vegans, need some high-protein plant food with a bit of heft to keep them going during Passover, especially if observing the Ashkanazic tradition that forbids eating kitniyot — a category that includes legumes, most grains, and some seeds. Meat eaters also might want toContinue Reading
By Joel Magalnick, Editor, The Jewish Sound When “The Sixty Minute Seder” came across my desk a few weeks back, I didn’t give it much thought. When, not much later, a bigger, prettier “The 60 Minute Seder” landed in roughly the same spot, I thought maybe the publishers had, curiously,Continue Reading
Eileen Goltz Special to JTNews I had the most interesting conversation with my neighbor’s 4-year-old granddaughter. She explained to me that during the seder at her grandfather’s house you find the afikomen, and then you eat chocolate because — according to the book Grandpa got her that’s all about aContinue Reading
