It’s traditional to have honey on Rosh Hashanah to symbolize our hope for a sweet new year. That includes dipping apple and challah in honey. Over the years, I’ve also accumulated some recipes with honey that I make only at this time of the year – on Rosh Hashanah itself or during the period between Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot. Continue reading
Author Archives: Sarita Eisenberg
MESH Report June 29, 2023
We started out the MESH year making 20 meals, then 30. For this last MESH of the year, we upped the number to 50 meals.
Our MESH team included the trusty trio of Linda Ariel, Lou Hammerman and me (Sarita Eisenberg) plus Lynne Kurzweil. Aileen Grossberg provided the bread and dessert and delivered the packed food.
Jewish Relativity: A Seder Story
We had what I consider to be small seders this year ― 6 people the first night at my sister’s and only 10 (plus our 2 toddler grandchildren) here for the second night.
I am from a family of six (I have 2 brothers and a sister). My mother had two sisters – each with a spouse, one with three children and the other with five. Adding in my grandparents meant that we had 20 people at each seder. So 20 is what I always considered to be a normal-sized seder. Continue reading
MESH Report Mar 28, 2023
Our MESH guests were once again treated to a meal of barbeque chicken and roasted potatoes, this time with a side of chopped salad. For the three vegetarian meals, we warmed up leftover mini-quiches and cheese kugel from last Saturday’s kiddush. Continue reading
Clearing Out the Pantry
Pesach for me has always been about more than the actual week of the holiday. It starts several weeks before as I think about clearing out all the chametz from our pantry.
Here are a few of the recipes I’ve come up with over the years to use up pasta. During most of the year, I make pasta once or maybe twice a week. However in the last few weeks before Pesach, we might have pasta almost every night. We also usually have stockpiled several large jars of marinated artichokes as well as cans of beans and tomatoes. Continue reading
Our Trip to Spain
Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca, Toledo
When we visited the Czech Republic, it was bittersweet to see restored synagogues in every town we visited although there were no longer any Jews. But in Spain, as we found out on our recent visit, there is mostly nothing remaining. Jews were not only expelled from Spain but their heritage was erased. Continue reading
MESH Report Jan 3, 2023
The team of Sarita Eisenberg, Lou Hammerman and Linda Ariel whipped up 30 meals and had them bagged and ready to go when Aileen Grossberg arrived at 4:45pm to bring them over to MESH.
MESH Report Dec 6, 2022
Chef Sarita Eisenberg prepared 25 to-go meals assisted by Lou Hammerman, Linda Ariel and teen helper Jaden (taking time out from b’nai mitzvah preparation).
Starting the Journey: Reflections on Torah Study for Parashot Noah and Lech L’cha
Rabbi Julie began Torah Study last Thursday (Oct 27) with a question – To what extent are we pursuing our own journey or continuing our parents’ journey?
Parshat Lech L’cha begins with God telling Abraham (Abram as he was then called) to start on a journey “to the land that I will show you (Genesis 12:1)”. Abram then gathers together his people and possessions and sets out for Canaan. This is, of course, a huge deal; but is it actually a break with the past?
MESH Report Nov 1, 2022
This week’s MESH meal was prepared by the efficient foursome of Sarita Eisenberg, Lou Hammerman, Gail Stock and Ian Stock with assistance from Ehud Klinger. It took only two hours to prepare and pack the food into bags, which were loaded on carts and brought downstairs to be picked up by MESH staffer, Joe Tyson. Continue reading