Just in case you don’t already know, tomorrow is a fast day: Ta’anit Esther (The fast of Esther). Because Purim falls on motzei Shabbos (Saturday night) and Sunday this year, the fast is pushed forward to the Thursday before. The fast tomorrow is from sunrise to sunset. Normally, the fast would end after the Megillah […]
Tomorrow Is Ta’anit Esther Read Post »
I’m a student, and I’m not particularly fond of cooking. (Though I’m a great chef’s assistant!) And the closest kosher restaurant is 2 hours away. How on earth do I survive?? It’s not for the faint of heart. The answer is pretty straightforward. I cook at home, I eat at the homes of others, B”H
Survival Kit: Living Without Kosher Restaurants Read Post »
Mazel tov! You must be getting close to your conversion if you’re thinking about how to celebrate it! My experience so far is that orthodox converts don’t celebrate nearly as much as liberal converts. Make your interpretations as you will. Nearly everyone has (or tries to have) a special meal with some friends and family.
How to Celebrate Your Conversion Read Post »
Since I “went kosher” in June 2010, the most annoying thing remains drinks. I am apparently incapable of remembering that drinks can and will be dairy. I don’t drink milk and I rarely eat meat products, so my kitchen is almost entirely dairy. I rarely have to think about dairy v. meat except for what
Those Tricky Dairy Drinks… Read Post »
You may have previously read When Is It OK to Say “I’m Jewish,” Even If You Really Aren’t. But what about the other side? When MUST you disclose your in-flux status, even if you really don’t want to? I make no promises that this list is exhaustive, but I will update it if other important
When You NEED to Reveal Your Conversion Candidate Status Read Post »
What’s a Shabbat Kallah? It’s a celebration for the bride on the Shabbos afternoon before her wedding day. In some ways, it’s like a frum bachelorette party. (Note that there may also be a “normal” bachelorette party with the bride and her girlfriends!) I went to my first Shabbat Kallah last month, and it was a very
My First Shabbat Kallah Read Post »
The OU (Orthodox Union) is the largest kosher certification agency in America. I think I’ve trained my parents well enough now that they can spot the OU from 20ft away in the grocery store! The search function is incredible! Finding the kosher ingredient you want just got a lot easier! OUKosher.org First order of business?
Kashrut Update: The OU Has Launched Their Kosher Food Website! Read Post »
So…Apparently Mike Tyson is in talks to open a chain of high-end kosher restaurants. I promise that isn’t a story from The Onion, but will likely end up in News of the Weird. The Original Story The “Are human ears kosher?” jokes have begun! I’m excited about anyone wanting to open up a kosher restaurant,
Jewish News: Mike Tyson in Talks to Open Chain of High-End Kosher Restaurants Read Post »
I was born a bad Southerner. I didn’t like pinto beans or fried chicken or the 4 million other kinds of Southern foods. Now I’m a bad Jew. I don’t like cholent. From what I can tell, its purpose isn’t to be good. Its purpose is to be hot food on days we can’t prepare
Convert Confessions: I Don’t Like Cholent Read Post »
Reason #254 You Know You’re American: You’ve memorized the before-eating food brachot, but you don’t even know which one to use because you have no idea where your food comes from. (Since two of the brachot require knowing whether the fruit/vegetable came from a tree or a bush.)
Reason #254 You Know You’re American: Food Brachot Read Post »