Do you need a havdalah set to “do” havdalah properly? In short, nope. It’s absolutely not required to make a kosher havdalah. But is it nice? Did I spend years thinking my life would be better if I had one? Yes. But there was never enough money for it. I always needed books (or rent […]
Do I Need a Havdalah Set? Read Post »
You’ve done it. You’ve survived Passover. Cue tearing open the cabinets and returning life to normal! But wait! There’s more! Sit down and write down everything you need to remember for Pesach 2016. Before you forget, before all the carbs make your brain fuzzy, before you throw away something you should keep for next year
Plan for Next Year’s Pesach RIGHT NOW Read Post »
Here’s the best practical tip you’ll get this close to Pesach: go get a haircut, hippie. Don’t forget. Someone always forgets, and that someone will probably be you. In all seriousness, don’t forget to get your hair cut, especially if you’re a guy. Otherwise, you might start looking like a hippie over the next few
#ProTip: Go Get a Haircut Before Pesach Read Post »
Can I go to synagogue on the High Holidays without a ticket? Well, sure. However, your mileage may vary whether you get in the door, whether you have a seat, or whether people are jerks to you. (All of the below applies to synagogues in any movement – orthodox, conservative, and reform.) I don’t
Synagogue Tickets & the High Holidays: What No One Tells You Read Post »
I used to be known as “the girl with the 3-legged cat.” Now the poor mutilated cat has been upstaged by some dirty, poor-mannered dogs. Now, if a stranger knows anything about me, they know I have “two huge dogs.” And in New York City, of all places! If I’m at a Shabbos table, this
The Growth of Dogs in the Jewish Community Read Post »
YES! But uh…it depends on who you ask. There is a halachic basis for the rabbis who declare you must eat meat on Shabbat. (Though even they will admit there was a great rabbi-whose name I forget-who was vegetarian every day but Shabbat.) I find most of these rabbis tend to be far to the
Can You Be an Orthodox Jew Who Happens to Be Vegetarian or Vegan? Read Post »
There is a lot that can be said on this topic, but we’re going to touch on the major causes superficially. This is basically a warning to make sure you realize what you’re getting into. After the steep cost of the initial set-up, living Jewishly doesn’t seem that much more expensive to the average single
Why Being an Orthodox Jew Is Expensive Read Post »
At maariv on Shabbat (Friday night), you’ll often hear an announcement of the times for the “hashkamah minyan” and “shacharis.” But what would come before shachrit, the morning service?? It’s a trick question. They’re both minyanim for shacharis. Hashkama is just the “early” minyan, usually around 6 or 7am. There are several reasons why someone
Phrase of the Day: Hashkama Minyan Read Post »
You finally have a date with your full beit din! Yay! …Now what? Whatever you do, don’t panic. Google “how to cope with stress” if you need tips on how to keep your calm over the next few days or weeks. Nervousness will trip you up in the meeting and make you forget basic facts.
How to Prepare for Your First Beit Din Meeting Read Post »
When you bentch, you may notice that sometimes a person leads the bentching and sometimes not. Chances are, you won’t be leading the benching anytime soon, but you may be confused what’s going on. I wondered about this constantly, but by the time bentching was over, I’d forgotten my question! Before we start, go grab
Word of the Day: Mezumen Read Post »