Author: Meghan Froy

We’ve probably all tried various versions of lekach AKA honey cake over the years. And while this iconic Rosh Hashanah treat has, for many, dictated dessert for generations, it’s often a disappointment: dry, crumbly and/or underwhelming. I’m not afraid to admit that I’ve met a couple of lekachs I’ve liked, but never one I’ve loved.  This […]

Sukkot practice looked pretty different in Temple times. The fourth chapter of this tractate, which began with a mishnah at the bottom of yesterday’s page, fleshes out some of the unique Temple rituals. Back when the Temple stood, the four species, the lulav and etrog were paraded around the altar as part of the elaborate Sukkot celebrations. In addition, part of the celebration involved […]

As a rabbi and mother of two preschoolers, I am constantly observing and expressing gratitude for the development of my children. I praised the first time my youngest opened his eyes to look at me and the world around him. I praised the first time my eldest figured out how to control his own hand. […]

There are a lot of Jewish rituals that we perform today to remind ourselves of what life was like for Jews when the Temple stood. One of the highlights of the Passover seder is putting together the “Hillel sandwich” — matzah, maror and all the haroset your heart desires — and eating it in memory of the way that the ancient Jews […]

I take such pride in this dish. To me, being Jewish is all about traditions, and in Jewish families, brisket is a tradition in and of itself. We’re talking tender, fall- apart brisket in an incredibly simple sweet and savory sauce (trust me on the ketchup). But food knows no religion. In fact, a few […]

Today’s daf continues to explore one of the themes of this chapter of Tractate Sukkah: What constitutes beauty?  As we saw on Sukkah 34, the Torah commands that one of the four species — the one we know today as the etrog — should come from the “fruit of a beautiful tree” (Leviticus 23:40). Though there were different opinions […]

Honey and sesame are a perfect pair to welcome in the new year. Customarily eaten at Rosh Hashanah, honey is used to add sweetness to the new year, and sesame seeds are eaten for increased abundance, as their size makes them too numerous to count. Symbolism notwithstanding, honey and sesame are a classic flavor combination.  […]

Tzimmes (sometimes tsimmes) is a slow-cooked root vegetable stew with fruit, schmaltz and often meat. Bestselling author Michael Wex calls it a cousin to cholent. For Ashkenazi Jews from the shtetl days of the Middle Ages up to the 21st century, it’s most closely associated with Rosh Hashanah. The sweetness from the fruit (and sometimes […]

At the far edges of the Jewish world, Bukharan Jews (also sometimes referred to as Bukharian or Bokharan Jews) have made their homes in Central Asia’s vibrant cities — now located in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan — for well over a millenia. One of the world’s oldest diaspora groups, they came to resemble the Muslim Tajiks […]

Do you go bonkers for Big Macs, fantasize about Filet-o-Fish and marvel over Egg McMuffins? Does the sight of those iconic golden arches automatically spark joy?  In other words, do you love McDonald’s?  If so, you don’t just have Richard and Maurice McDonald (and Ray Kroc) to thank for launching this global chain of restaurants. […]