Jewish Life
Guidelines in Planning a Jewish Funeral Service
A Jewish funeral service is usually short and simple. The funeral service may be held at the funeral home, at the grave site or in the synagogue. Arranging a Jewish funeral service is easy when you know the details to consider.Seek the help of the Hevra Kadisha. A Hevra Kadisha is a burial society who will arrange to gather and ...
Read MoreHow to Prepare a Seudah Mafseket
Seudah Mafseket or the Yom Kippur Pre-Fast meal should provide enough sustenance for the day of fasting. You can still prepare a delicious meal for Seudah Mafseket despite a few food restrictions. However, keep in mind that the meal served should be low in salt and high in carbohydrates.Plan your menu. Rice and potato kreplach are traditionally served on this ...
Read MoreHow to Create a Tzedakah Box
A pushke or Tzedakah box is a small container used to collect money for charity. It is a Jewish obligation to give to the needy. A Jewish home won’t be complete without a Tzedakah box.Prepare an empty plastic lid. Clean it up with soap and water. Remove the paper label.Make sure that the lid is dry. To make a slot ...
Read MoreHow to Bake Mandel Bread for Hanukkah
Mandel Bread or mandelbrot, which literally means almond bread is a Jewish favorite especially during Hanukkah. Mandelbrot is similar to a biscotti but slightly softer. This can be enjoyed with a cup of coffee or tea. It can also be snacked in between dreidel games.Combine 2/3 cup of oil, 1 cup sugar, and 2 eggs in a saucepan. Cook over ...
Read MoreHow to Prepare Tzimmes
Tzimmes is a traditional Jewish dish made from carrots, sweet potatoes and dried fruits and is usually prepared during Sukkot and Rosh Hashanah. Carrots symbolize the good deeds that we will continue to do in the coming year. Preparing Tzimmes is easy. You can even make your own version and add other ingredients to make it more flavorful.Wash and peel the carrots and ...
Read MoreHow to Guide Your Child in Saying the Jewish Blessings
There is nothing more rewarding for a Jewish parent than to see his child observe the Jewish faith. One way to train your child to be an obedient Jew is to teach him say the Jewish blessings. The key to teaching a child to say Jewish blessings is to have lots of patience and to set your example.Make it a ...
Read MoreHow to Plan a Jewish Wedding Meal
Just like any other celebration, a Jewish wedding culminates with a festive meal. The food that will be served will mainly depend on the historical background of the couple – Ashkenazi or Jews of European origin, and Sephardi or Jews of Middle Eastern , Spanish and Portuguese origin. Traditionally, kosher food is prepared for the Jewish wedding. This means that the ...
Read MoreHow to Make Your Own Tallit
A tallit is a shawl worn during prayer. Construction of a tallit is very easy and requires only minimal sewing.A tallit is traditionally made of wool or silk. There are no rules in choosing the right fabric for tallit. Make sure though that your tallit is not made of fabric combining wool and linen as it is forbidden in the ...
Read MoreObserving Kosher Rules
Kosher dietary laws should be observed all throughout the year, not just during Passover. Keeping kosher is a way of showing our obedience to God. Here are a few things to keep in mind to keep kosher:According to Torah, there are certain animals that should not be eaten at all. Refrain from eating the flesh, eggs and milk, or organs of ...
Read MoreHow to Make Hamantashen for Purim
Hamantashen are Jewish cookies traditionally prepared during Purim. The three-cornered shape pastry symbolizes the victory of the Jewish people against Haman. Hamantashen are made with different fillings including the traditional lekvar, poppy seed, apricot, fruit preserves, dulce de leche, caramel, and cheese.Mix 2/3 cups of butter and 1/2 cup sugar.Add a cup of white flour and 1/4 cup of orange ...
Read MoreHow to Observe Purim
Purim is one of the most festive Jewish holidays. Purim commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people in Persia from extermination. This festive holiday is celebrated annually on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar. Purim is celebrated with a celebratory meal (Seudat Purim), wine drinking, wearing of costumes, gift-giving, and giving charity to the poor.During Purim, it is mitzvah to ...
Read MoreLearning the Talmud
The Talmud is an authoritative compilation of Jewish laws, ethics, philosophy, and history. Learning the Talmud is easy with these tips:First of all, understand the essence of learning the Talmud and how it works. It is a record of rabbinic discussions and has two divisions: Mishna (text of the Oral law) and Gemara (discussion of the Mishnah). Many rabbinical customs ...
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