Category Archives: Judaism

Passover Recipes

Judaism

I love Passover.  I enjoy the story, the symbols, the rituals of the seder, the joy of celebrating with friends and family and the food.  Keeping Passover all week tethers me to our tradition and to the millions of Jews throughout the ages who have observed the restrictions of Passover.

One of the fun things is to find new recipes to try.  Our friend google just sent me to the following sites.  I look forward to searching them for vegetarian recipes to try myself.   I hope the links add to the joy of your Passover.

Jewish Recipes

Jewish Veg (a site with recipes and many resources about Judaism and vegetarianism)

Jewish Recipes on Recipe Link

Kosher Cooking Passover recipes

All Recipes - Passover Recipes

Recipe Zaar Passover Recipes

Jewish Food Recipe Archives

Have a zissen Pesach!

UPDATE:  Quinoa is kosher for Passover!!  Read about quinoa’s kosher status here.

Politics in the Shul?

American Politics, Judaism, , , ,

What is the place for politics in shul? Where should the line be drawn for rabbis, cantors and educators?

IRS regulations specify that a clergyperson may not preach a sermon supporting (or demonizing) a particular candidate if the house of worship wishes to have tax exempt status. This rule draws a clear line, but what about other communication? What about conversations at kiddush, oneg or in the parking lot? Is it okay for the rabbi to send emails to congregants about partisan political issues?

I ask this question at this time because of the presence of politics in Shul JewCrew where I attend. A rabbi of Shul JewCrew refrained from formal political pulpit sermons during last fall’s election season. The rabbi sends congregants negative, partisan emails, invitations to political events on Facebook (JewCrew city’s “tea party”), discussions at oneg, and during private conversations.

For months now, I have felt that my views are unwelcome. I worry that I have to either defend my views or plan to extricate myself from a conversation or not go to shul. Why should an uncomfortable political conversation from the rabbi keep me from feeling comfortable at shul? The thought that I am refraining from going to my current spiritual “home” because of the rabbi’s politics makes me mad. US politics is not the rabbi’s role (IMHO). This rabbi does not work for a political organization, does not see his/her job as primarily educating representatives….

When I feel denigrated by the rabbi for my political view, how can I feel comfortable going to the rabbi for much more difficult or sensitive issues in my personal life?

A rabbi in another city preached from the pulpit many times during last election season and made the congregants who did not agree with him/her so uncomfortable that they stopped going to shul – and they themselves are a rabbinic family!

Please know that while I personally have a political opinion, I have a problem with rabbis pushing their views on either side (in American politics) in their congregations. The examples above are of each – a partisan republican rabbi and a partisan democratic rabbi.

What do you think? Is this happening elsewhere or only in the two examples above?

Hag Purim Sameach!

Judaism,

Happy Purim. The traditions of Purim encourage us to celebrate, to feel joy, and to make fun of ourselves. During these diffcult days, days when rockets fall ok schools, homes, cars, and workplaces on Sderot #Israel – days filled with economic stress & uncertainty – it is especially important to find joy.

Today in Religious School

Judaism

Mem – kaf – bet – yod – – the first letters of the first four words of the prayer mi chamocha. Today our religious school principal helped our students made the connection between the letters and the Macabee family so integral to the Hanukkah story. Miracles in the past – the splitting of the sea, the choice of Jews to stand up for Judaism and the joys that Judaism adds to our lives, the survival of our people despite an Amalek in every generation, and the smaller miracles of the Jewish growth of young people (despite their desire to absent themsevles from religious school emotionally if not physically).

During these darkest days of the year (in the Northern hemisphere) I pray that we find light, hope and the daily miracles around us.

Voting is a Modern Mitzvah so Go Vote Today!

Judaism

Voting is a privilege and a modern day mitzvah (commandment). I believe that it is incumbent on all Jews to vote in every country a or jurisdiction where we are permitted to vote.  How can we consider this a mitzvah? The Talmud teaches us din d’malchuta dina – the law of the land is the law. We must follow the laws of the country in which we live. While there isn’t a law which states that we must vote, the right is available to nearly all adults over the age of 18 regardless of race, gender, religion, sexuality, socio-economic status, physical ability…. If we do not elect to vote, then we are not acting on the rights available to us under the law. Pirke Avot (Ethics of the Ancestors) teaches us lo alecha hamlacha ligmor, v’lo ata ben khoirn l’hibateil me’mena – you are not required to complete the work but neither may you desist from it. We must participate in the society and world around us, including voting.

Rabbi Deena Fox explicates the text in Talmud Arachin 17a on leadership, a discussion of whether leaders determine the characterisation of the generation or if the generation determins the leaders. Today in the United States citizens have the opportunity to help shape the character of this generation. Shape the next steps of our country – go vote!