The nights are getting shorter and the days longer but COVID is still with us. I feel very confined after almost two years of disruption. About the only ting that changes from day to day is what I put on the table for dinner.
Here are a few of my favorite recent finds. Continue reading
When I was a kid growing up in Lowell, Massachusetts (when winters were really cold and the snowdrifts were over my head), we had a summer cottage on a very small lake about 15 minutes from home. In the winter, we’d bundle up, get our skates and drive out to the lake and go ice skating.
After the cold got to be too much, we’d sit on shore, rosy cheeked, and sip hot cocoa from an old fashioned thermos.
Funny how it’s the little things that make the most indelible memories. Continue reading
For the first time in almost two years, the Shomrei family gathered after Shabbat services for a communal kiddush..
The sun shone so despite the cold, the atmosphere was warm and friendly as we gathered to celebrate shabbat and welcome our first rabbinic candidate and his family. Continue reading
Around Thanksgiving, I kept seeing articles for Thanksgiving meals that included a side dish of macaroni and cheese. As someone who does not think that cheese and poultry belong together in the same meal, that sounded awful. But it did get me thinking about mac-n-cheese. So here are some recipes that I’ve accumulated over the years. Continue reading
Remember those Friday mornings spent chopping and chatting? They are back!
A limited Shabbat morning kiddush will begin on Saturday, December 25.
The first preparation session will be on Friday, December 24 from 9:30-11:30.
We anticipate that with a simple nosh, only 2-3 people will be needed and prep will take no more than 2 hours and probably less.
Thanksgiving weekend is usually the lead in to a frenetic few weeks of shopping, entertaining and family. With Hanukkah so closely following turkey day this year, the days may be even more jam-packed than usual.
Here are some Hanukkah and other related links, activities, and a recipe for a different Hanukkah treat. Continue reading
It always amazes me how we transition so smoothly between the joyous solemnity of Rosh Hashanah to the contemplation of Yom Kippur and then back to rejoicing in the bounty of the earth and the gift of the Torah.
On Yom Kippur, we recite a long list of behavorial errors-often by rote. “How to Forgive” by Amy Klein (Hadassah Magazine online) looks at some recent books about forgiveness. Klein says “… at this time dedicated to introspection, soul searching and forgiveness, there are mixed emotions: grief for the people who passed; sadness and empathy for those who got sick, lost jobs and suffered in quarantine. But what should we feel for people who refused to observe quarantine mandates or wear masks, who won’t vaccinate (for nonmedical reasons) or who spread disinformation about Covid-19? Or for those who perpetuated divisions in our society? What to do about all the emotions—even rage—at the stubborn ones who we think are responsible for our suffering? ” In her article entitled “How to Forgive”, she cites two books that helped her deal with her conflicted emotions. Continue reading
You know by now that I love to cook. Finding recipes, organizing and writing my shopping list, assembling the ingredients on the counter and following the directions appeal to my inner nature that really, really wants a predictable outcome in these unpredictable times that we are living in.
On the other hand, I’ve spent far too much time in the kitchen these past 18 months. So when planning my holiday meals, I looked for delicious outcomes with minimum effort.
I could not resist sharing with you one last set of holiday recipes. They all use apples, but you could easily substitute pears. Did you know that Shomrei has a pear tree loaded (at least as I am writing this) with almost ripe pears? Continue reading
Despite the sultry days, it’s not too early to start planning holiday meals.
In my house we rarely eat red meat except on holidays when I experiment with various brisket recipes. Here are two: one VERY slow and one VERY fast. Both are classic versions of brisket except for the cooking method. Continue reading
We are in the middle of Elul, month that leads up to holidays when we finish taking stock of ourselves and ask for forgiveness.
The library is well-stocked with books on the topic of the holidays, their rituals and concepts like atonement. Check out the book display for suggested reading. Continue reading