I’m not a gefilte fish lover. I’ve been known to refuse the stuff even when it’s dressed up like a fishy petite four.But gefilte fish isn’t something to sneer at. It is actually a reflection of Jewish culinary genius.Since Shabbos means fish but the Sabbath laws forbid using a utensil to separate the bones from the flesh (you can … Continue reading
When I first moved to Israel, I had my Friday night meals with a neo-Chassidic family who ate their gefilte fish hot Not hot as in too much chrain but literally hot, as in boiling Though my hostess, a dear friend is a wonderful cook, I never asked to try. Hot gefilte fish? Yuck. Fast … Continue reading
Hoshana Raba is an usual holiday. Like Purim and Erev Yom Kippur, it is a holiday without restrictions. That means that it’s okay to drive, cook, use electricity, make phone calls, send emails, etc. but is a day permeated with holiness, repentance and prayer According to the Kabalah on Hoshana Raba the judgment which was rendered on … Continue reading
As far as I know there is no special reason to eat knaidlach on Succos. Knaidlach which are also called matzo balls actually belong to Passover though, amazingly some Hassidic Jews won’t eat them then because they are made from matzos which have come into contact with water. On Succos we don’t have any such rules. … Continue reading
