Author: Meghan Froy

As we know, the nazir is forbidden from consuming grape products. The mishnah on which today’s conversation is based first attempts to quantify the minimum amount of grape products that, if consumed by the nazir, would trigger punishment. Next, it considers mixtures, quoting Rabbi Akiva who notes that even if the nazir only ate bread on which a few drops of […]

Hamantaschen are one of my favorite Jewish foods to bake — and eat. As a child, I remember helping my mother to gently tape wax paper to our wooden kitchen table to prepare for the sticky mess that would ensue when rolling copious amounts of hamantaschen dough. I think this was the only time we […]

Tiropitakia, “little cheese pies” in Greek, are feta-filled, phyllo-wrapped bundles. They come in a variety of shapes, and are often formed into triangles. The Greek-speaking Romaniote Jewish community from the Eastern Mediterranean is known for preparing a range of phyllo and cheese-stuffed pastries for holidays and Shabbat. Thankfully, their recipes have been documented in the […]

The word amen is a liturgical response to hearing someone else recite a blessing or certain prayers. The Hebrew root of amen, aleph-mem-nun (אמנ), is shared with the word emunah, meaning faith or belief. Reciting amen is thus an indication that the speaker affirms the truth of what was said, an indication reflected in its […]

On today’s daf, we get a once-in-the Talmud experience: a page of Talmud with no Talmud on it! That’s right, Nazir 33b is unique in the Babylonian Talmud for having no actual Talmud on it. The page is instead completely filled by the commentary of the medieval group of commentators known as Tosafot. That’s why […]

Over 2,000 British and American soldiers died in the Battle of New Orleans. The battle is famous not only because it was the last major battle of the War of 1812, but also because it took place on January 15, 1815 — two weeks after the signing of the Treaty of Ghent, which formally ended […]

This sweet Moroccan challah, known as Ojos de Haman (eyes of Haman), negola, ungola or boyjo de Haman, is a Purim bread that’s wrapped around a hard-boiled egg. There are many Purim foods and desserts that reference Haman’s ears, eyes and generally acknowledge Haman’s evil role in the Purim story. In this dish, the egg […]

Hamantaschen are one of the most beloved Jewish cookies to enjoy all year, but especially for Purim, when it is most traditional to enjoy them as part of the holiday festivities. The triangle-shaped stuffed cookies have an interesting history: Originally they were a medieval German cookie stuffed with poppy seeds that Jews adopted for Purim. […]

The Jews may have wandered in the desert for 40 years facing challenging circumstances, but being a modern wanderer in northern Israel has some definite perks. With stunning views, a laidback vibe and an abundance of regional produce, including cheese, olives and wine, the North has so much to offer. The pandemic inadvertently incubated an […]

The Mei Hashiloah (Rabbi Mordecai Joseph Leiner, d. 1854) points to a fascinating difference between Moses and Isaac: Moses died “with his eyes undimmed” (Deuteronomy 34:7) while for Isaac, “his eyes were dim” (Genesis 27:1). The Mei Hashiloah explains that in Isaac’s life, the major events, the Akedah and the reversal of the blessing with […]