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“A living stew of inconsistencies” is how our friend Meyer described himself in a Dvar Torah that he gave several weeks ago. Many of us are inconsistent in how we practice or observe Judaism, but Passover is a holiday when perfectly rational people behave in irrational ways. My daughter has repeatedly accused me of being […]
It is an unfortunate truth that extended family members may only get together for life cycle events, both happy and sad. Two weeks ago many members of the Graf family came to Philadelphia, and as a result I was able to spend time with my Tante Marisha. Marisha is now the matriarch of the family, […]
Last week I lost two important people in my life, my cousin Robert, who was more like an older brother than a cousin, and my close friend Ruthie. I went back East for Robert’s funeral and what I experienced over the course of five days was the workings of a family who come together like […]
When this Judy Zeidler recipe appeared in this week’s Jewish Journal, the photo of one of the cookies featured reminded me of something my mother used to make. Pletzlach were large, flat, sugar-topped crackers that we ate right out of the oven, when she let me. These turned out to be more of the traditional […]
One of my favorite memories of growing up in The Bronx is of the leisurely strolls down the Grand Concourse which often included a stop at Krum’s, a large soda parlor at 187th Street. At the front of the store there was a counter behind which were bins filled with assorted, and what I thought […]
Bamitbach 