You might assume that The Beet-Eating Heeb dreads Passover. After all, the very name of the holiday relates to the smearing of lamb’s blood on the doorposts of the Hebrews. It would be one thing if the lambs had willingly donated a pint or two at the local blood bank. We all know that’s not […]

The Jewish holiday of Purim is about to make its annual appearance, as it has for the last two millenia or so. But this year, it will assume special significance. For Jews who need a quick refresher, and for non-Jewish readers of this blog, here is the story of Purim, CliffsNotes style. A Persian prime […]

From their perch in America, many Diaspora Jews look at the Orthodox Rabbinate in Israel as a bunch of Neanderthals who use clubs to beat back any modern innovation or progressive idea. No offense to any Neanderthals. But The Beet-Eating Heeb, for one, might have to revise his assessment of Israel’s Rabbinical leadership. On one […]

Jews around the world this week are reading the story of Noah in Genesis 9. (Was he the one who first said, “When it rains, it pours”?) Ironically, while most people associate this story with the saving of animals in the Ark, it is in this particular Torah portion that God first gives humans permission […]

One of the most dramatic and meaningful stories in the Bible is read this week in synagogues around the world. It is a food-related story and it merits our attention, yet it is seldom discussed. Or depicted in movies. The story, found in Numbers 11, describes part of the Israelites’ journey in the desert, before […]