All Blog Posts (760)

In this week’s parasha, the Jewish people receive the Ten Commandments, one of which is “Remember the Shabbat (Sabbath) day.”

How do we fulfill the mitzvah to remember Shabbat?

Remembering Shabbat means more than merely not forgetting to observe Shabbat when it comes each week. It means keeping Shabbat in mind and remaining aware of it all week long.  The Hebrew language contains a tool to help us accomplish this: what we call the days of the week in Hebrew…

The signature triangle-shaped fun Purim cookie, shrouded in legend and folklore (ear-shaped? purse-shaped? Read on!) with three points pinched around a jam filling. It matters not at all if you don’t celebrate Purim—you will love ’em!…

Parsnips: One of my favorite roots. In this delicious soup, not only does the parsnip not get discarded after cooking, it is indeed the co-star of the show, all the way up there with the apple: What a match! Short, sweet and dazzling ingredient list. Sage and apples: A real celebration of winter flavors, and a perfect showcase for Cooking with…

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In this week’s parasha, the Sea of Reeds miraculously splits, allowing the Israelites to flee from the Egyptians.  “Moshe (Moses) caused Israel to journey from the Sea of Reeds and they went out to the Wilderness of Shur; they went for a three-day period in the Wilderness, but they did not find water.  They arrived at Marah, but they could not drink the waters of Marah ‘ki marim hem’ -- because they were bitter; therefore they named it Marah (bitter.) The people complained against Moshe,…

I rent out my apartment from time to time.   Yesterday, I received an email in Spanish from a prospective tenant.  So I copied the email in Google translate and, to my surprise, she was writing a scathing email about me to 3^rd party and accidently sent it to me….oops!

Many years ago I had a fallout with a cousin.   Soon after, I moved to Australia and so did a mutual friend.  I opened the mail one day and there was a letter from my cousin to this mutual friend…

Fruit is not just dessert or snack, but a valuable part of many wonderful easy dishes. Fruits pack lots of flavor and nutrition, and are fun to cook with.

I’ll be demonstrating:

• Moroccan chicken dried fruit tajine with jasmine rice
• Curried parsnip apple soup
• Mixed greens with mango…

Excerpted from my latest cookbook, The Whole Foods Kosher Kitchen. Israelis affectionately called this dish chraimi, insisting that’s what Moroccans call it. (Hello! Never heard of the word in Morocco! Something probably got lost in translation . . .) This is precisely the kind of dish where preserved lemon makes all the difference: You…

I am so excited to announce that my Whole Foods Kosher Kitchen Cookbook, Second Printing, will be out March 15th Please G-d, in time for Passover! It is looking absolutely gorgeous, and is Ready for Pre-order! Early Pre-orders will receive a Free DVD of two of my Best Full-Length Demos: Simple and Healthy Shabbos, and Simple and Healthy Seder! Here's how to pre-order!…

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In this week’s parasha, G-d issues the last three of the ten plagues. During the final one, makat bechorot, G-d passes over every bechor, Jewish firstborn son, and kills every Egyptian firstborn male.  Because of this miracle, the firstborn of the Jewish people are forever sanctified. “Sanctify for Me every firstborn, those who open every womb.”

Today, the mitzvah of pidyon haben (redemption of the [firstborn] son) reminds of us the miracle.  When a Jewish…

Most interesting story by Dr Mark Hyman on Paula Deen and Type 2 Diabetes. So can celebrities influence the public's mindset, and health? big time! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/paula-deen-diabetes_b_1223838.html?ref=healthy-living

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I recently attended and spoke at Limmud one of the largest Jewish conferences. The mission of Limmud is Jewish learning across all ages and affiliations.

I was quite inspired to be in a place where men with black hats and payers learn and teach along side Reconstructionist Rabbis. Such a breath of fresh air.

This is even more amazing when you contrast this with the hatred emanating from places like Beit Shemesh in Israel where fellow Jews fail to have basic…

In this week’s parasha, Paroh continues to refuse to free the Jewish slaves. G-d sends plagues to convince Paroh to change his mind and release the Jews. Moshe warns the Egyptians before the plagues. Before the seventh plague, hail, Moshe tells them that if they want to save their livestock, they should bring them inside. “The one among Paroh’s servants that feared the word of G-d whisked his servants and livestock indoors.  But the one that paid no heed to G-d’s word left his slaves and…

Did you know my Tandoori mixture, from my cookbook “Levana Cooks Dairy-Free!” is a great favorite with kosher and non-kosher diners? You will understand what makes Indian cuisine so delicious and so much leaner. The Indian gamut of grains is so astounding that dinner is gluten-free almost without trying!

I’ll be demonstrating:

• Vegetable tofu curry…

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In this week’s parasha, Moshe (Moses) is born in Egypt. Torah tells that “a man of the House of Levi went and married a daughter of Levi.”

Why doesn’t Torah name Moshe’s parents at this point in the narrative, but only five chapters later (Amram and Yocheved, in next week’s parasha) when Moshe has already reached adulthood and it is established that he will lead the Jews out of Egypt?

The reason Torah does not name Moshe’s parents at this point is because Torah…

Is it just me? I feel that I am always hearing terrible stories.  A child with cancer, another with a terrible disease, etc. People my age with cancer, suicides and abandoned marriage you name it.  I don't recall my parents at the same stage in life knowing so many affected people.  Do I know more people than others or are peoples' issues more public because of Facebook?



It definitely forces one to reframe one's…