Can You Make G-d a Cup of Green Tea?
This is a repeat of an email from 12 years ago this week! I hope you enjoy the vintage Shabbos email from time to time! I introduced my wife to the pleasures of good sushi on our seventh date. In…
You Can’t Always Get What You Want<br>Ki Saitzei 5784
You can’t always get what you want. But sometimes you get exactly what you want. Today, I got exactly what I wanted. I wanted to write a Shabbos email, and was looking for inspiration, when my good friend Noach Klein…
I’m going to Huff and Puff, and…<br>Parshas Shoftim 5784
There used to be four seasons a year; spring, summer, fall and winter. But these days we have created many more seasons for ourselves. There is constructions season from April to Nov, Pumpkin Spice Latte season, which had an early…
Biting the Hand that Feeds You<br>Parshas Re’eh
Let’s play a game. I’m going to introduce you to four people, and you have to figure out which one doesn’t fit in the group. Up first is Yousef Muhammad Al-Zahari, a 53 year old man from Akhmin, a small…
Get out! Yes, I’m talking to you, Get Out!<br>Parshas Ekev 5784
Dear Reader: I’m currently in Montana, learning and teaching with about 40 young Jewish men from all over the US and Canada. Therefore, I don’t have the time to write a Shabbos email from scratch, so I’ll share one from…
How Many Horsepower do You Have<br>Parshas V’eschanan
Hand Built in England. That is the proud claim that greets you as you open the door of an Aston Martin DB9 Volante, long considered to be of the most beautiful creations in the automotive universe. The next thing that…
Tanner St Trouble…<br>Parshas Devarim
As a child, Will always seemed to gravitate to more violent forms of play than the other boys in his neighborhood. Even when his mother took away his toy guns and swords, Will found a way to turn the most…
Stay Fresh My Friends, Stay Fresh!<br>Parshas Matos-Masei 5784
What’s not to love about avocado? Soft and velvety, with a thick rich texture and a flavor that’s a delightful cross of butter, nuts, and fresh earth, avocados are simply awesome. If you don’t believe me, ask the good people…
I’m Really Uncomfortable…<br>Parshas Pinchas 5784
The history of the Jews in Budapest is a bit complicated and tortuous. Like many places in Europe, the Jews were alternatively invited or banished based on the mood and economic desires of the rulers of the time. In 1279,…
Bar B Who?<br>Parshas Balak 5784
Fire burning flesh. It doesn’t sound too appetizing until you think of cooking meat, which follows that exact recipe. And if it’s really good BBQ, it’s probably fire burning flesh really sloooooowly. Growing up, the word BBQ meant cooking hot…