Tu B’Av (literally, the 15th of the month of Av) is a minor Jewish holiday that has become a major driver for late summer romance and romantic gift giving. In fact, a recent study by the Jewish People Policy Institute found that while most Israelis know about Tu b’Av, only one in 10 is familiar with Valentine’s Day.…
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Jewish Life
Torah
To see clearly, seek comfort in community
The Torah column is supported by a generous donation from Eve Gordon-Ramek. Va’etchanan Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11 Isaiah 40:1-26 Shabbat Nachamu The…
The Matzo Chronicles
My kids’ generation are the anti-clutter role models we need
What a difference three generations make. Our grandparents came to America with nothing. Now our generation owns so much, we are possession obsessed. We…
Recipe
Too hot? Try some chilled soups with a Jewish twist
Chilled soups can be found throughout the Jewish food world. Eastern European beet borscht is probably the best known, but there are a lot of cold soups…
Talking With ...
Q&A: Alan Wald, the ‘holy’ palindromist
Alan Wald, 70, thinks ahead, but he’s good at thinking backward as well. Wald, who lives in San Francisco, searches for — and finds — “the nexus between…
First Person
How my internship at a Jewish funeral home changed me
The first death in my family that I remember came when I was 15, in the fall of my sophomore year of high school. It came and went so fast that I never…
Seniors
Older? Seeking romance? Come to Vallejo for Tu B’Av
Shulamit Rosner of Vallejo has a plan that combines ancient partner-choosing rituals and modern dating trends into something she hopes will result in new…
Music
Spotify’s Jewish music makes me feel like a kid again
When searching for songs for a playlist I was putting together for my kids on Spotify, I came across a tune — “Pana HaGeshem” (“The Rain has Gone Away”)…
Organic Epicure
She knows so much about wine you call her 'master'
There is no more elite club in the wine industry than that of master sommeliers. With a three-part exam that includes theory, blind tasting and service,…