Well, I thought I knew just about everything about Jewish food and had seen, heard or tasted it all, but I recently saw a reference for eating black eyed peas or rubiya or lubiya. I had not heard of this symbolic food before. We eat black-eyed peas in the hopes that our merits increase and we are purified. Read More »
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We hate to be a buzz-kill, but now is when you need to begin the transition from one season to the next, while taking the time to soak in the last of the warm weather. But fear not, as the editors at SingleEdition.com, we have put together a checklist of things you should consider as summer (and your tan) begins to fade. Read More »
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While one of the founding principles of the United States of America is freedom of religion, any historian would agree that in the early days this was often more principle than practice. Mordecai Manuel Noah, a lawyer, politician, journalist, diplomat and playwright (and a few other things) who was born shortly before the ratification of the U.S. Read More »
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As a kid, I always knew where to be for the high holidays. I would be in my seat in synagogue, with an occasional respite for “bathroom” breaks that devolved into 20 minute games of freeze tag. I know, lying to my parents is wrong. But it gave me something for which to repent. Read More »
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“The fear of God is the beginning of knowledge…” (Proverbs 1: 7) The idea of “fearing God” carries with it overtones of fire and brimstone, a puritanical flavor that seems foreign to our 21st century mentality. Read More »
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Great food, free booze and an evening of dancing – how could anyone ask for a better Saturday night out? From the perfectly manicured flowers right down to the martini bar, nothing can change your mind, not even the endless supply of little cocktail wieners wrapped in flakes of crispy dough awaiting your arrival. Read More »
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To the Jewish community and general population at large, the Maharal of Prague is the revered, mystical medieval rabbi who created the Golem to protect the Jews in the Prague ghetto. But the Maharal’s true contribution to Jewish life has little to do with the legend of the Golem. Read More »
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Recently, there was a bit of a scuffle regarding our President and a corned beef sandwich with, dare I say it- mayo! The classic Jewish amalgamation of corned beef and mustard on Rye was violated in a most sacrilegious way, oy vey! Don’t you know, Mr. Read More »
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“Children of Israel,” an often used title for the Jewish people, is a name defined by the familial relationship of the descendants of Abraham and Sarah. This familial relationship (which even DNA studies have confirmed) plays a strong role in both Jewish identity and Jewish life in general. Read More »
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“My son likes to tell everyone, ‘that JDate sure knows what it is doing!’ I like to say that you have brought new meaning to the word ‘compatibility!’” Read More »
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“…I decided to do something completely out of character. I raced over to Renee and kissed her for the first time just as she was getting her clubs out of her car…” Read More »
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The standard pre-Rosh Hashana greeting of “K’tiva v’chatima tova” (”May you be written and sealed for good”) is deduced from a Talmudic discussion concerning the three heavenly books that are opened during the High Holidays. Read More »
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The Hebrew word yichud translates seclusion in English. Traditionally, unmarried men and women should never be secluded together, so, in theory, the wedding day is the first time this ever happens between the bride and groom. This law came about after the rape of King David’s daughter when she was left alone with her half brother. Read More »
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Senior Citizen Day, an annual event observed on August 21st, is a day meant to both honor older citizens and to remind the government that seniors are a large and powerful constituency. Read More »
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Reincarnation is a word that to most Jews screams of foreign cultures. What is not common knowledge, however, is that the reincarnation of souls is a concept found in Judaism (although not mainstream) known as gilgul. Read More »
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Finding your ideal mate can be like finding your next job. It takes a lot of time and effort, and the lazy people don’t get what they want. You need to be thinking about it every day and do things on a daily basis that will allow you to meet more single people than you are now. Read More »
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An apple wedge or celery stick topped with peanut butter may sound like a sensible snack but if eating it takes you back to the 1980’s it’s no wonder. Read More »
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Rachel had Jacob’s heart, Leah had his children. For four long years, Rachel watched her sister give birth to son after son until she could bear it no longer. Frustrated but determined, Rachel recalled the actions of her husband’s grandmother, Sarah, and gave her handmaid, Bilhah, to be Jacob’s wife. Read More »
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Prowl the farmers market and you will find different colors and varieties of watermelon. There is nothing more refreshing than a slice of cold watermelon, except for these simple and quick watermelon ices. I love the color and fragrance of these granites (French) or granitas (Italian). Read More »
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Psalm 27 is read twice daily from the beginning of the month of Elul through the holiday of Sukkot in order to help each Jew develop the beautiful relationship that one can have with the Divine. Read More »
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While Jews suffered greatly as societal outsiders in many of the lands in which they lived throughout history, sometimes there were beneficial perks–such as a moderate level of communal autonomy. This was specifically the case in Poland (and Lithuania) from the end of the 16th through most of the 18th century. Read More »
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In Tractate Pesachim 107a, beer lovers can find an interesting discussion about the use of beer for kiddush or havdalah . Read More »
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The connection between Rabbi Jacob ben Asher (the Tur, Barcelona, Spain, 1269-1340), Rabbi Joseph Caro (Safed, Israel, 1488-1575) and Rabbi Moshe Isserlis (Cracow, Poland, 1520 – 1572) is an excellent example of both the international Jewish community and of Jewish scholarship in general. Read More »
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Small town life is really centered on married couples, except for the bar crowd which is not great for dating. Read More »
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New beginnings are always difficult. For those who are not “morning people,” every day is a new beginning, and we must be thankful to whoever invented the alarm clock, which keeps us from being labeled as “slothful” and “lazy. Read More »
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The market stalls are bursting with produce. It seems as though everywhere I turn there is an abundance of riotously colored fruits and vegetables. The possibilities seem endless-so much food, so little time. Read More »
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Most people can understand the layout and basic measurements of a building from its blueprint. But it takes an expert–an architect or an engineer–to use those blueprints to build a house. Read More »
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Horoscopes are fun to read, especially when they tell you that you are about to get rich or find sudden fame. While telling the future through one’s horoscope is not part of Judaism, this does not mean that all aspects of astrology are false. Read More »
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I eat corn only during the month of August. It is not that I do not like corn-it is that I only like it when it is fresh off the stalk and locally grown. There … Read More »
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It is highly unlikely that Moses, Hillel even Maimonides (all experts on Jewish law) ever worried about what to write on a child’s birthday cake. But different societies have different norms, and, today, a birthday cake with a delightfully sugary “Happy Birthday” is standard for any birthday celebration. Read More »
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Virtually all topics concerning life are covered in the vast and varied discourses of the Talmud. Life, afterlife, and even pre-life. Read More »
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After their camp’s 75th year reunion was cancelled, seven campers who spent many summers of their youth together decided to take the party elsewhere. The former bunkmates, each of them single and in their mid 30’s, quickly discovered that they had developed a much more sophisticated taste for adventure since those glory days of childhood. Read More »
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You and your groom got through the ceremony. The glass is broken. You spent time alone. The guests are enjoying cocktails. It’s time for your grand entrance. You’ll probably show off your first dance. Read More »
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It happens to the best of us. We go into relationships with the best of intentions. We fall in love. We talk about the future together. We get engaged. We get married. Sometimes our relationships end abruptly through death or betrayal. Sometimes they just run their course. Read More »
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Giving charity is one of the best known precepts of “religious” life. Making loans, however, is not. The Torah instructs (Deuteronomy 15: 7-8) that if there is a needy person within your gates, “… Read More »
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I try to use the stage to spread love for the Jews, both with positive Jewish humor, and by simply being a Jewish guy the crowd likes. I am often the first Jew a lot of people meet, which is a ridiculous responsibility. Read More »
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This day in history: 501 C.E., the coastal city of Acco (Israel) was destroyed in an earthquake. One of the blessings recited every morning is: “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who spreads the earth above the waters.” This blessing expresses our gratitude to God for making the ground beneath our feet firm. Read More »
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There are certain defining moments in every new relationship; the first time you spend the night, hang out with his/her friends or get introduced to a new partner’s parents are just some of those milestones. Perhaps the biggest turning point is when a new beau suggests a vacation, trip or weekend away, just the two of you. Read More »
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“Making early Shabbat,” means beginning Shabbat well before sunset. This is an especially important accommodation for residents of cities where the summer sun may not set until 9 or 10 at night. Read More »
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After eating a meal with bread, Birkat Hamazon/Bentching/ Grace After Meals is recited as a way to thank and acknowledge God’s gift of sustenance. Read More »
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Just when you thought you knew what to eat and what all the super foods were, another one appears on the list. Looks like Hibiscus is the new pomegranate. Read More »
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“In fact, we each determined that we are so uniquely tailored for the other that neither of us would ever find a better partner than the other. Read More »
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Bruriah, the daughter of Rabbi Hanina ben Teradion and wife of Rabbi Meir , is one of the more intriguing personalities of the Talmud. Read More »
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It’s official – we have entered into the second half of Summer and the heat is still on. With triple-digit temperatures within reach each day, it seems like the only options for staying cool are to stay indoors in front of the air conditioner. Read More »
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If there were a Cliff Notes version of the Ten Commandments, Commandment #2 would simply read: “You shall have no other Gods before me.” But, in truth, the commandment itself is more detailed. Read More »
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Why make your own sorbet when you can just as easily go out and buy it? Simple. It is 100 times better when you make it yourself. Just like anything else, when you control the ingredients and their quality, the end result is always better. Read More »
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In war, a common means of humiliating the enemy is to refuse them burial of their dead (which is also forbidden by the Geneva Convention). Certainly, demoralization was the goal of the Romans when they forbade the Jews from burying the dead after the fall of Betar on 9 Av, 133 C.E. Read More »
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Dining out at posh restaurants in metropolitan cities such as Manhattan, Los Angeles, Miami and Boston can seem very tempting for an initial date, but if you are a young professional it can be very expensive! One of the best inventions of the 90’s was Restaurant Week. Read More »
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The Book of Isaiah is famous for its rich, metaphorical language. Isaiah ben Amoz was a prophet during the reigns of the Judean kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. The inhabitants of Judah, unlike those of the Northern Kingdom, had generally maintained the religion of their forefathers. Read More »
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Men don’t walk around with a sign on their head that says, “Date me.” It would be nice if they were that obvious, but they aren’t. They aren’t mind readers or psychics. Can you imagine how easy dating would be if they were? But, if they care about you, they try to show you with cute little gestures. Read More »
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What happens when a Torah scroll is so worn it can no longer be used, or a prayer book is torn beyond repair? Should objects such as these, which not only include the name of God but have an intrinsic holiness themselves and are also essential Read More »
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Before his death, Jacob gathered his sons to him and gave them each a blessing that specifically reflected their personalities and their futures. To Issachar, Leah’s fifth son, Jacob said: “Issachar is a strong-boned donkey, crouching between the saddlebags. Read More »
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On the big day, wedding guests “oooo” and “aaaahh” while bride walks down the aisle in a beautiful white dress. The bride enjoys a shower with important women in her life where gifts pour in like a hurricane into her lap. The bride receives an engagement ring that she proudly wears and presents to all those who gush over the exciting news. Read More »
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Today, Jews all over the world observe the fast of Tisha B’Av. It is on this day that the Jewish people mourn the destruction of both the First and the Second Temples. The First Temple was destroyed almost 2,600 years ago and the Second Temple 1,938 years ago. It is therefore not easy to understand what exactly it is that the Jewish people mourn. Read More »
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Gazpacho is a misunderstood soup. The true Andalusia version has almonds, bread, grapes, olive oil, vinegar and salt. Sometimes, anchovies are added. It is peasant food that utilizes leftover ingredients. The bread soaks up water, and then the mixture is pounded with a mortar and pestle. The gazpacho is creamy and refreshing. Read More »
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In the early 1900s, rabbinic authorities had to determine exactly what electricity was from an halachic (Jewish legal) perspective. The first uses of electricity were, of course, for light and heat. Read More »
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Rabbi Shlomo ben Aderet (a.k.a. the Rashba 1235-1310) was born in an age of controversy. The Jewish world was still unsettled over the first blend of “philosophy and Torah” produced by Rabbi Moses ben Maimon (Maimonides/Rambam – 1135-1204) in the late 12th century. Read More »
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Persistence is a good thing in life. They say that winners never quit and quitters never win. There is no such thing as luck. Instead, those that work hard and are diligent make their own luck. But when it comes to pursuing a woman, an overly persistent guy can be seen as a cyber stalker. Read More »
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Finding recipes that serve one person is no easy feat! For solos looking for meal ideas that are portion-friendly and delicious, the Single Edition Just for One Recipe Collection is a long-awaited treat. Read More »
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A popular joke: Most Jewish holidays can be subsumed under the pithy phrase: “They tried to kill us, we won, let’s eat!” For a nation obsessed with food, what’s with all the fasting? Read More »
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