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Matot-Massei: Concentric Circles
Matot-Massei: Roasted onions I received a basket of enormous, homegrown onions from a family friend. Layers of thick dirt muted the rich golden tones of the onions. Each one had just been picked and a...
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Devarim: Towards the Promised Land
Devarim: walnuts, fruit and honey We enter the fifth and final book of the Torah, Devarim (Deuteronomy). In this week’s Torah portion, also called Devarim, the Israelites are on the precipice of...
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Re’eh: Meat and Poverty
Re’eh Ratatouille In this week’s Torah portion, Re’eh, it is written, “‘I will eat meat,’ because your soul desires to eat meat, you may eat meat, according to every desire of your soul” (12:20)....
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Shoftim: Pursuing Justice for the Environment
In this week’s Torah portion, Shoftim, Moses demands of the Jewish people, “צֶדֶק צֶדֶק תִּרְדֹּף, Justice, justice shall you pursue” (16:20). It also includes the following. “When you besiege a city...
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Ki Teitzei: Living Compassionately and Righteously
Ki Teitzei Nest This week’s Torah portion, Ki Teitzei, contains several teachings about the treatment of animals. It includes the prohibition against taking eggs or baby chicks from a nest while the...
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Ki Tavo: Mitzvot and Renewal
Ki Tavo: Roasted Fruit This week’s Torah portion, Ki Tavo, begins with the responsibility of the Israelites to bring an offering of first fruits (bikkurim) after they’ve entered the land of Israel. “He...
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Nitzavim: Choosing Life
Nitzavim: stuffed zucchini rolls This week, before Rosh Hashana, we read Nitzavim during which all of the Israelites establish a covenant with God. Entering into the covenant is stepping into a...
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Shana Tova: Reflections and Moving into a New Year
Apples. Eastern Market. Washington, DC Shana Tova! Last year at Rosh Hashana, I decided to start Neesh Noosh, without having a vision or plan. Just a desire to learn, cook and write. What a whirlwind...
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Fall Holidays: Feasting and Reading
Sukkot: Stuffed Zucchinis Greetings from Tel Aviv! I want to share my latest Haaretz piece about addressing the serious hunger and poverty crises in both the US and Israel. And, I want to share with...
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Cheshvan: Pray for Rain
Cheshvan: Mushroom and Bean soup In Israel, we begin saying the prayer for rain at the start of the month of Cheshvan (saying the prayer starts later outside of Israel). Rain is desperately needed in...
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Kislev: Rainbows, Oil and Salt
Kislev: Oil and Salt Rainbow Salad During the month of Kislev, which begins later this week, we celebrate Chanukah. The most obvious food of this holiday and month is oil, the miracle ingredient....
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Chanukah Round Up
Chanukah Sameach! I hope you enjoy 8 nights of lighting candles, munching on latkes, spinning dreidels, and more. I want to share with you some new and old Chanukah posts: 8 Easy Tips for an...
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Tevet: Eyes
Tevet: Black Eyed Pea Soup The letter of Tevet is “ayin” which also means eye. “The month of Tevet is the month of the rectification and nullification of the ‘evil eye.’ The word Tevet itself comes...
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Shevat: Fruit Tree Jams
Shevat Jams: bottom-apple, left-kumquat orange, right-fig The month of Shevat begins in a few days. The holiday of Tu B’shevat is a New Year celebration for trees. It’s definitely the locavore and...
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Tu B’shevat Round-Up
Apples. Shuk HaNamal. Tel Aviv Happy New Year of the Trees! I hope you have a delicious, fruitful Tu B’shevat. Below is a round-up of articles and recipes I wrote for the holiday. And if you need any...
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Adar: Conflict and Joy
Adar stuffed dates We are encouraged to celebrate and have more joy than normal during the month of Adar. “The whole month of Adar is learning how to grow and heal through joy and laughter. . . . . the...
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Adar 2: Extra Joy
Adar 2: Chocolate truffles “When Adar arrives, joy increases.” We are lucky to have two Adars this year (a leap year), a month of joy. Purim is celebrated during Adar 2. There are two significant...
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Purim: Vegan Hamantaschen
I seem to be on a desserts stretch the past few posts during Adar 1 & 2! With Purim starting in a couple of days, I assume people are busy preparing their mishloach manot. I hope you enjoy the...
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Nisan: Bless and Sustain
Nisan: Roasted fruits and quinoa Nisan is the first month of the Jewish calendar, a celebration of the beginning of Spring (Chodesh Ha-aviv) and Pesach. Unlike Rosh Hashana, which is a new year for the...
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Pesach Round-Up
Underwood Family Farms, Culver City, CA Farmers Market As you’re busy cleaning your house, shopping and cooking for Pesach, I thought you might want to read and reflect upon some of my posts for the...
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