Organic Epicure
From brisket to bacon to huevos haminados
“The 100 Most Jewish Foods: A Highly Debatable List,” edited by Tablet magazine editor-in-chief Alana Newhouse, was published by Artisan Books last month.…
Passover
The Passover kitniyot argument isn’t worth a hill of beans
Israel held elections under the cloud of its leader’s possible indictment. The world’s far right and its far left have found common cause in their hatred…
Torah
Conception is a miracle — especially for those who struggle with infertility
Tazria Leviticus 12:1-13:59 Tazria (April 5-6) marks National Infertility Awareness Shabbat, and this week’s Torah portion opens with the words “Isha ki…
Small Bites
Gluten-free matzah, animal liberation and free chicken soup
Seconds for Passover, anyone? Several of the events and enterprises mentioned in this column before are returning for their second appearance this year,…
Analysis
For Israelis abroad, elections start with a scramble for airplane tickets
Like many voters in democratic national elections, I almost always hope that whoever is elected will be able to serve out their full term — even if they…
Organic Epicure
Hagafen: 40 years 'normalizing' kosher wine
For any business owner, hitting the 40-year mark is a huge accomplishment. For Ernie Weir, founder and owner of Hagafen Winery in Napa Valley, this…
Celebrity Jews
The Jews of ‘GoT,’ ‘Shazam!’ and ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’
‘Game of Thrones’ mania This month’s top TV event is the Sunday, April 14 return of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” for its eighth and final season. Creators…
Torah
God made the world in seven days — but what happened on the eighth?
Shemini Shabbat Parah Leviticus 9:1-11:47 Numbers 19:1-22 We’ve all had one of those days. Or one of those weeks. How will we get it all done? If only we…
Books
Spiritual disquiet and atonement in Nathan Englander’s ‘Kaddish.com’
I do enjoy lighter reading, but I’m disposed toward works of fiction that leave me asking questions and thinking about ideas. Two new novels have done…