Yiddish is becoming a lost language, so any effort to preserve the dialect of our ancestors is worthy of attention. Actually, Yiddish is older than English, originating in Spain in the thirteenth century and then becoming a more commonplace lingo after the fifteenth century when Jews migrated to Eastern Europe, Poland, Galicia, Hungary, Rumania, and Russia. Yiddish comes from the German word “Judisch,” meaning “Jewish.” In the Yiddish language itself Yiddish means “Jewish.” Read the rest of this entry »

To get you in the mood for Thanksgiving, here’s a bit of trivia:
Question: Where did the pilgrims first land?
Answer: Plymouth Rock, which is now Massachusetts.
Question: Who was the first tribe to entertain lavishly—the Wampanoag Indians or the Jewish people?
Answer: The Jews. (That’s a no-brainer).
Question: Did the English settlers and Native Americans eat turkey at the first thanksgiving meal?
Answer: Probably not. Historical documents indicate that they gobbled up venison and wildfowl, but no pumpkin pie with whipped topping.
Question: Which president proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving Day?
Answer: George Washington. (This is a trick question). Read the rest of this entry »

Every once in awhile I devour a book in a day, not counting the times I crammed for a college exam. A good story allows me to escape into another world as each page unfolds with curious characters, twisting plots, and complex human emotions that stay with me long after I read the acknowledgements. Then again, I sobbed uncontrollably throughout the memoir about a dog named Marley. Read the rest of this entry »

A child is a gift from God. Ask any mother who adopts a child and she will tell you so. They may not share the same skin color, race, or blood, and they may come from opposite sides of the world, but they are bashert, a Hebrew word that means two people who are meant to be together. Even when they speak different languages, love is universal. A mother’s love for her baby grows in her heart like a womb, and they give each other life. Read the rest of this entry »

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock lately, you’re probably aware of the “Hit A Jew Day” incident that occurred a couple of weeks ago at a Parkway middle school and sparked an ongoing heated emotional discussion within the Jewish and secular communities. Whether this unfortunate act of ignorance was meant as an innocent prank or a religious attack, the Anti-Defamation League took it seriously and so did the local and national media, which wasted no time reporting the controversial event. Even as anti-Semitism is supposedly on the rise during difficult economic times, this widespread concern about a group of six graders singling out Jewish students during an unofficial “spirit week” represents the growing acceptance of zero tolerance in our society. The instigators were immediately suspended, and the bystanders who knew what was going on and didn’t report the problem to administrators were disciplined as well. This blatant insult to Jewish students wasn’t ignored. Everyone learned a critical lesson, hopefully. Read the rest of this entry »

Many moms can relate to my predicament. I go to the grocery store at least three times a week and still have nothing to show for dinner except maybe canned tuna and boxed macaroni and cheese. Even if I run into the supermarket for just peanut butter, I end up loading my cart all over again and spend more money than my electric bill.

In these hard economic times, my food budget needs to go on a diet. Not only that, I want my family to eat more nutritiously and appreciate what they put in their mouths. On the heels of Sukkot, in which we harvest from the earth and give thanks for our abundance, I want my kitchen table to “go green” now more than ever. Read the rest of this entry »

Finally, I discovered a healthy way to energize my body and calm my nerves. Best of all, the remedy for an overworked mom requires neither a shot of espresso or sedative. It’s called Torah yoga—the ultimate “me” time.

A good excuse to focus on myself for an hour, Torah yoga unites the mind, body, heart, and soul. Talk about multi-tasking. Read the rest of this entry »

Yom Kippur starts out as the most solemn holiday of the Jewish year, but it ends with one of the happiest celebrations. Once we break the fast with a bite of cheese blintze and devilled egg, it’s time to move the party outdoors and hammer in the first post of the sukkah, an outdoor hut that marks the beginning of the next holiday, Sukkot. Read the rest of this entry »

Whoever says that wearing white after Labor Day is a fashion faux paux must not be Jewish. During the fall holiday season, white clothing is actually encouraged at Yom Kippur services because it symbolizes purity. Notice the rabbi’s special white robe. Also acceptable on the holiest day of the year are sneakers and rubber flip-flops! Never again will I balk at Sari’s white sandals or force Jack to squeeze into leather loafers that are two sizes too small. Read the rest of this entry »

While other religions talk about sin and confession, Judaism has its own way of cleansing the soul. It’s called the Days of Awe, a spiritual journey that begins in the Hebrew month of Elul, which directly precedes Rosh Hashanah.

Rosh Hashana is the Hebrew word for “head of the year” and occurs on the first days of Tishri. Rosh Hashana begins the period called teshuvah, Hebrew for “returning to God,” or Ten Days of Repentance. It’s a time for serious introspection, a time to reflect on how we’ve behaved over the past year, and how we can do better in the next one. It’s a time to ask forgiveness for saying or doing something hurtful to a loved one. It’s a joyful yet solemn time to make amends and do whatever it takes to move on and learn by our mistakes. When we make peace with God and another human being, we make peace with ourselves. Sounds like free therapy, only sweeter. Read the rest of this entry »