Exhibit Two Gets Aished!

Exhibit Two Gets Aished!  (Exhibit Two at Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem earlier this month) A bit of explanation is in order. Aish = Aish HaTorah. [1] Aish HaTorah is an apolitical network of Jewish educational centers in 35 branches on five continents. [2] Aish is all about Jewish education and kiruv… drawing Jews closer to [...]

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Sullivan Ballou Letter – Ashoken Farewell

I’ve not yet had the opportunity to see Ken Burns’ masterful work, The Civil War. But I did see this one clip. [1] A week before the Battle of Bull Run, Sullivan Ballou, a Major in the 2nd Rhode Island Volunteers, wrote home to his wife, Sarah, in Smithfield. The letter was written from Washington, D.C. [...]

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The Most Astounding Fact (Neil DeGrasse Tyson)

Astrophysicist Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson was asked by a reader of TIME magazine, “What is the most astounding fact you can share with us about the Universe?” This is his answer. Truly inspiring. __________________________________________________________ Today, Friday April 6, at sundown is the beginning of Passover. It is by far my favourite holiday. I will be [...]

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R’ Michael Skobac’s Healthy Challah for Dummies!

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of spending Shabbes with my rebbe and mentor, R’ Michael Skobac [1] and his charming wife, Chashi. R’ Skobac is Master Po to my Grasshopper. (R’ Skobac and I SO don’t look like this!) Shabbes dinner featured a spelt/camut challah that was out of this world! He was kind [...]

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Quick & Easy Purim Hamantashen

This Wednesday night, March 7, marks the beginning of the Jewish festival of Purim, commemorating the events of the biblical Book of Esther in ancient Persia (now Iran). The wicked Persian premier, Haman, plotted to wipe out all the Jews (sound familiar?) but was ultimately thwarted. Purim falls into the “they tried to kill us, [...]

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Neil deGrasse Tyson (and why I love him!)

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson [1] is America’s nattiest nerd, its chicest geek! He’s a sharp-looking scientist. A trendy twerp. He looks great. He is handsome and well-spoken, funny, witty and charming. And he’s smart. Sweet Lord in heaven, is he ever smart! (America’s most dapper dweeb!) He’s the kind of smart that takes very complicated super-brainy [...]

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Ring Around the Moon

Earlier this month (February 7, to be exact), was the Jewish holiday of Tu B’Shevat. Like some other Jewish holidays, it occurs on a full moon. But unlike Purim (the following full moon), Passover (the next full moon after that) or Succot (either a Harvest Moon or Hunter Moon), the Tu B’Shevat full moon happens [...]

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Partners in Torah

A few weeks ago, I signed up with a program called Partners in Torah. It is run by that fabulous adult Jewish education organization, Aish HaTorah. [1] The premise is quite simple. People who, for various reasons, cannot get together with a study partner to learn Torah, Jewish history, Hebrew, Talmud, Halacha (Jewish law), and [...]

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Exhibit One Moves to Israel!

Those of you who have been following this blog for a while are aware that my daughter, Exhibit One, along with her brother, my son Exhibit Two, first went to Israel last May on a Taglit-Birthright Israel trip. (My daughter on a camel during her Birthright trip) A few months later, Exhibit One returned to Israel [...]

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An Open Letter to Rabbi S. Boteach

Reblogged from 1000 Verses: An Open Letter to Rabbi S. Boteach Dear Rabbi Boteach. You seem to be surprised by the firestorm that erupted around your new book Kosher Jesus”. Your book was not even released and it was already banned. You have found yourself attacked from all quarters and you have valiantly wielded your [...]

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