People have asked me to go into a little detail on what it means to keep kosher. I've discussed this topic superficially before, but I thought I'd go into some more detail, and over the next few posts provide some resources, cookbooks and other points to ponder. Right now I'll start with a few myths and truths.

MYTH #1: Keeping kosher is hard. TRUTH: People often think that keeping kosher is hard - I think it's one of those things that may look that way from the outside looking in.

MYTH #2: Keeping kosher is just for Orthodox Jews. Truth: Keeping kosher is in the Torah, and therefore applies to everyone. Different denominations may interpret the laws of keeping... more

So, no offense to all you Christians out there, but there's nothing much for us to do in this country on Christmas. And I'm fine with that - I'm all for stores giving their employees time off, and I actually like it when the world is quieter and seems to shut down for a bit. But it's left me some years with trying to figure out what to do, or driving to the supermarket to go grocery shopping, totally forgetting that it's December 25th.

If you don't already know, it's a huge thing for Jews to go to the movies and eat Chinese... more

So I finally got off my butt and paid the outstanding bill to Newsweek after our subscription had run out, and this week we got our first issue in recent months. There's a short but interesting article on organic/ kosher issues, and a taste of how things work in the Jewish world. Enjoy.

By Lisa Miller Newsweek

Nov. 20, 2006 issue - In the beginning, God told the Jews what not to eat: the camel, the coney, the rabbit and the pig; the eagle, the vulture and "all creatures in the seas ... that do not have fins and scales" (Lev. 11). Most famously, God said: "Do not cook a young goat in its mother's... more

Yom Kippor was yesterday - the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. Rosh Hashanah was about a week ago. Friday night starts my favorite holiday - Sukkot. If you live in a traditional Jewish community, you might have noticed funny hut-like structures being erected in people's backyards or driveways. They're called Sukkot - or Sukkah for singualar. Wikipedia (which by the way has a great article and neat pictures to check out) states:

Succoth or Sukkos is a Biblical pilgrimage festival which occurs in autumn on the 15th day of the month of Tishri (mid- to late-October). The holiday is also known as the Feast of Booths, the... more

So, I got an email this morning that I didn't really appreciate. It was a friendly email from Giora Shimoni with kosher food at about.com kindly reminding me that Rosh HaShanah is two weeks away. Two weeks! Aaah! (There are, however, some cool recipes to check out on that site for Rosh HaShahana and all year round)

Jews are big into holidays. Traditionally, holidays are a big deal affair - lots of food, family and friends, and spending time standing up and sitting down at services in the synagogue. Children learn songs, and we celebrate... more

Yesterday, Anna and my husband played basketball at the local gym as per their usual Sunday morning routine. Then in the afternoon we headed out for a road trip to visit Anna's former foster family who have since moved to another state. We have no contact with Anna's birth mom, so I think that maintaining a good relationship with her only "first family" is important to dispelling the mystery of her past.

Anna's foster family had her from about one month until she was 14 1/2 months old. They are a wonderful, loving family. And also heavily involved in their evangelical church movement. Of all the people Anna could have been adopted by, she went to an orthodox Jewish family. It has... more

So, the real reason that I haven't posted in a few days is that it is about 100 degrees outside, and about 110 degrees inside my house, with the hottest area being my computer desk - in the kitchen - where it also feels like 400 percent humidity. So, I've had the strength to get up, check email a few times a day, and mosey on back to my one air conditioned room - my bedroom. Anna's been sleeping on a few blankets folded on our floor - but the end is near! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! The work on the house which has been rumored to be starting at some point this century is actually starting! Air conditioning here we come!

So. Here I am. Braving the heat to get one post... more

So, I was going to write up this whole thing on explaining the custom of giving a Jewish child a Hebrew name, but About.com did a decent job. An excerpt is below. I will also add this - Hebrew names, like much of our tradition that we still follow, are all parts of the string that binds us together. Us being all Jews today, and also keeps alive the connection to our ancestors. Whatever our philosophy or our level of observance, certain things connect us all as one people.

Certain religious rituals require Hebrew names. Hebrew names are used for calling people to the Torah. Certain prayers, such... more

I thought this was cool. From the Jerusalem Post:

The New York Police Department has hired its first hassidic cop, the New York Post reported in its feature article on Tuesday morning.

According to the article, 24-year-old Joel Witriol, a Brooklyn Talmud student with a degree from the United Talmudical Seminary in Monroe, decided to join the police department following a positive experience in the NYPD's auxiliary.

While volunteering for the auxiliary, Witriol said, "I saw a lot of things that were going on in the precinct." To his surprise,... more

This is a little piece I wrote a while back for a newsletter. People ask me a lot about why I'm going to Israel, why I'm taking my family there. Israel, I believe, is unique in that it is truly home to many religions that stake their claim at its holy sites. One one recent trip to Israel a few years ago, my husband fell asleep early on, so I ended up chatting most of the 10 hour flight with a wonderful Christian couple who were thrilled to be going to see where Jesus walked. It's an inspiring country, if nothing else, and I can't wait to get back there. This trip is different of course, because I'll be sharing the experience with my daughter for the first time.

A story... more