יום רביעי, ט״ז תמוז תשפ״וWednesday, July 1, 2026
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I remember being taken away for surgery on the tenth floor, and not waking up for another two days. Later I was told that Rabbi Riskin sat with my family during the entire surgery.
My parents have a coffee table in their den, and I’ve never seen anyone drink coffee on it.
By Sandy Eller
Both books place an emphasis on creativity, finding new and exciting ways to tempt the palate...
By Sandy Eller
Search the Internet for innovative barbeque items and you might just be surprised at what you come across.
By Sandy Eller
The Silver Platter has it all: gorgeous photography, oodles of useful tips and, more importantly, incredible recipes that you will find yourself making again and again.
With the famous Touro Synagogue, a variety of mansions, each with its own distinct personality, as well as the beautiful coast, Rhode Island makes for an excellent vacation spot.
By Sandy Eller
While there are those who insist they need full-color photos to be truly entranced by a recipe, I suggest you get over that particular requirement because the written word here will draw you in and cause you to salivate as you peruse the recipes scattered throughout The Well-Spiced Life (Israel Book Shop).
By Jodie Maoz
Finally, summer's here! And the first thing we all think about is outdoor fun.
Wait. Why would I give you 22 minutes first? How about you give me the world, and then I give you the 22 minutes.
By Sandy Eller
Blending anything thicker side is generally problematic and more often than not, I wind up dumping everything into a bowl and mixing it by hand.
Our goal here is to offer you recipes that you can make on Yom Tov with ingredients you might just have in the house. Enjoy and chag sameach!
By Sandy Eller
It’s hard not to be intrigued by recipes with names like Thanksgiving Stuffing Soup, Braised Chicken with Rhubarb Gravy and Vidalia Onion Fritters with Sambal Yogurt Dip.
By Tanya Rosen
I often get asked about the difference between spelt and whole wheat and the benefits of quinoa and what it counts as in a diet. Here is an easy-to-understand summary Let's start with quinoa. Quinoa has a great reputation in the healthy-eating world. Many restaurants offer it on their menu, and salad bars have it […]
For the most part, though, people tend to base their decision on how long the lines in the store are going to be.
By Sandy Eller
For all their deliciousness, frozen beverages do not stand the test of time well, as any ice or frozen fruit thickening your drink will melt into a watery mess.
By Sandy Eller
“People who never buy cookbooks are getting this one,” said Victoria. “They read it cover to cover and find it so interesting.”
Now that Pesach is over, we return you to your regularly-scheduled pressing questions: Dear Mordechai, Can I use a nose hair trimmer during Sefirah? Harry Lipman Dear Harry, Yes, as long as your nose hairs are so bad that they’re affecting your job. Like if you have a desk job, and they interfere […]
By Sandy Eller
It goes without saying that when it comes to your kids, safety is always your number one priority.
By Sandy Eller
Kitchen surfing is a unique concept that brings professional chefs to your home to prepare a meal in your own kitchen.
So generally, I dance for a few minutes and then stand off to the side with all the other people who don’t dance and feel like they have to make conversation, even though that’s when the music is the loudest.
Purim is a fantastic time for fantasies, so I hope you won't mind my fantasizing about how easy life would be if kids would prefer healthy cuisine over sweets. Imagine waking up to the call of "Mommy, when will my oatmeal be ready?"… As you rush to ladle out the hot unsweetened cereal, you rub […]
I'm here to sit next to you and help you through this Purim with three almost-too-easy mishloach manot ideas, all made with cost-conscious paper bags.
By Chava Dumas
Kids want to be like their friends, and they want to give and get “normal” mishloach manos stocked with store-bought treats.
Many people confuse hospice and palliative care, thinking they are one and the same.
Imagine you were a doctor, and then, one day a year, everyone tried his or her hand at surgery.
By Sandy Eller
If you have ever tried to organize the different sized roller blades in your garage, you will appreciate the wisdom of the roller skates we had when we were little.
Dear Mordechai, How do I prevent my Smartphone from breaking the first time I drop it? Shattered in Pieces
By Jodie Maoz
Here are examples of games that need to be played by more than one person and an added bonus: they’re all Shabbos-friendly.
By Sandy Eller
"The secret to a good donut is using quality ingredients and the ability to be patient and give them time to proof."
The Liberty Bell is a symbol of American Independence.
Because you can’t have kids pouring huge jugs of oil into tiny glasses, unless you want to turn your house into an environmental disaster.
Try these with your kids; there’s something for every age group and once all the recipes are made, dinner will be ready!
You children will build the country and you will help restore Israel to her former glory.
By Nina Safar
Spice up the traditional latke with these easy, no fuss recipes.
So the real question is, “How can we, as hosts, make sure our guest beds are comfortable?” Because your guests will never say anything.
Rule #1: A wife should never accompany her husband to hang out with his buddies at a fantasy football draft. Unless beer and cigars are her thing, that is.
By Sandy Eller
“I work around the Jewish calendar, always trying to think of creative spins,” noted Chani.
Though if you do have a schach mat, you’ll realize that it cannot actually support the weight of the water.
So just in case you're stuck in the house this Chol HaMoed – because there's a new baby or because someone has a cold – not because of anything worse, here are six ideas for family fun at home.
Give your sukkah an aura of polished grace with one of these breathtaking chandeliers!
If we truly honor the other participants in a conversation, we can support, empathize with, and even celebrate their feelings.
Three sets of three-day Yomim Tovim can seem overwhelming - especially when we are trying to stay healthy.
By Rhona Lewis
In Uzbekistan, in the early twentieth century, it was the women who wore the pants.
Maybe now that your kids are back in school, you should start cleaning for Pesach.
By Sandy Eller
Scan those sale circulars either online or when they show up at your doorstep, check out the sale items and plan your menus accordingly.
By Ron Ansel
Make sure that you know what the policies are and that you adhere to them scrupulously.
So many families are mourning, and all along we mourned with them.
You’re probably wondering why the greatest advocate of fast and easy preps in the kitchen is talking about layer cakes, right?
As of late, vintage has definitely been in vogue in the Orthodox community.
By Pnina Baim
The world sees the hand of God through us, and does not like it.
Is God apologizing for taking away my Father? Is God telling me that He is sorry?
If I’m going on for oven mitts, I don’t want to see sock puppets until at least page 40.
The president's message was one of living peacefully in a Jewish and democratic state, Jews of all stripes unified as brothers, with Arabs or citizens of other religions.
Spending time in a society as different as the Far East, expands a person's perspective.
"Whole soybeans," was the answer. "They have all the advantages of soy without being processed with hexane," she added.
"Don't place flowers on a cold gravestone, visit me now..."
Alternatively, you can try your absolute hardest to listen whenever she says anything.
By Sandy Eller
Glob on the sunscreen, break out the darkest chocolate you can find and let the sun shine in!
One thing I did know, judging from the urgency in her voice, was that she wanted an explanation fast.
Father’s Day comes every year. How many drills can you get him?
By Sandy Eller
For those of us who have no choice but to drive, we need to find ways to make that overpriced tank of gas last as long as possible.
For your average Israeli, spicy hot might be fun, but not for me. Allow me to repeat - easy does it!
By Sandy Eller
No dairy cookbook would be complete without an array of sinfully decadent treats and there are plenty of those here as well, including three cheesecakes, one of which weighs in at a very slimming 180 calories or less.
By Ron Ansel
As parents, it is a given that we love our children and want what’s best for them. How do we go about making that happen?
By Sandy Eller
These days there seems to be an app for just about everything, making your smart phone more indispensable than ever.
By Chava Dumas
She was followed by the shadows of the Six Million, by the ever so subtle awareness of their vanished presence.
Pesach is so liberating (if you excuse the expression). It’s the only time I can eat anywhere in the house, guilt free! Matzah in bed!
By Sandy Eller
As much as I am all for economical meals, Pesach is definitely the time of year when I find myself making more roasts.
It's no joke – Pesach is looming closer and there's still so much to do. This is definitely not a time to rest! Who isn't putting in their "all" these days? But there is just so much you can do. Keep in mind that the key to success is in the hands of Hashem, so […]
You know what’s Good Enough? Vacuuming behind the curtains is Good Enough. Taking down the curtains and washing them? That’s too much.
By Sandy Eller
Well, in the good news department, if you have kids, your dreams are about to come true. As veteran cookbook author Tamar Ansh so capably illustrates in her 96-page, kid-friendly volume titled Let My Children Cook!, your progeny can be a valuable asset when Pesach rolls around when time is at a minimum and the cooking demands are sky high.
Although Purim is only one day long, many dieters or people who are just careful with their intake during the year have a hard time on this day. Below are some tips to help you get through it successfully.
Purim around here is crazy. And I’m not just talking about the amount of questions I get.
Everyone is always looking for cute yet simple and inexpensive ideas to enhance their table at special occasions. Here are some attractive ways to create that festive look. Whether you use china or plastic, your guests will surely be delighted with your charming setup.
Having everyone home on a snow day can be a lot of fun – the first few times it happens. Once snow day number six hits, perhaps not so much and the real creativity has to come out.
Nothing says winter like a bowl of hot soup – and so many of you responded to our request for recipes back in December. The following are two more recipes we enjoyed.
By Erica Lyons
If your hero is fictional you could be crazy. And if they happen to be real, they are likely human and, unfortunately, inevitably flawed.
By Sandy Eller
While there are those who prefer holding a printed recipe in their hands, Estee has found that a cooking website has many advantages. Aside from the obvious cost factor and the ability to fix the rare mistakes, websites have a far greater ability to offer feedback.
Nothing says winter like a bowl of hot soup – and so many of you responded to our request for recipes.
Perele stretches under the sturdy tree, savoring the calm breeze licking at her ankles, the blessed stillness of her secret retreat. Only a moment longer. These few short snaps of stolen time fill her with a heady sense of pleasure. This is her space. And trees don’t shout.
The Recycling Plant in Hillburn, NY, also known as an MRF, Materials Recovery Facility, offers an extensive education on the importance of recycling, as well as exciting activities related to recycling for children to enjoy.
This week we deal with questions from people who, one way or another, are on their own. And as usual, we don’t really help them.
In the dim lights of the auditorium, the outfit screamed of loudness, and I felt different.
My first cell phone was given to me by a son who doesn’t live near us. He was tired of trying to reach me on our landline. He felt it was wrong for me not to be able to be accessible to my family, and I must admit that he was right.
By Sandy Eller
Talk to people who own hybrid cars and they will happily gloat about how infrequently they fill up their tank or how many miles they get to the gallon. Chat with owners of electric cars and they will wax enthusiastically about how often they go to the gas station. Just so you know: they don’t. Ever.
Ahh, Winter Break. Those glorious ten days each year when the kids have vacation and hopefully, you do too. Heading off to Florida sounds pretty amazing right about now, huh? What? You're not going anywhere? Staying home? Yeah, that was us – every single year.* Affording a warm-weather vacation with a bunch of kids is pretty much out of the question for many families and this year is no exception. So instead of taking a vacation, plan a staycation.
By Sandy Eller
Welcome to Food Talk, a new feature that will highlight food bloggers, those enterprising souls who always seem to come up with something new, creative and most importantly, delicious. If you are anything like me, many of the recipes you make are the ones that magically show up in your inbox one morning and if you get lucky, these new dishes fast become family favorites.
Dear Mordechai, What is the origin of the custom to eat Seudah Shlishis in shul? Mizmor L’David
By Sandy Eller
Is anyone else alarmed by the way extended warranties are sold on just about anything and everything? It means one of two things – either someone has found a great way of getting consumers to part with more of their hard earned dollars or manufacturers have no faith in their own products. Neither of those options is particularly heartwarming.
By Tamar Warga
It’s not Chanukah without latkes! That’s true; but don’t make the same boring latkes this year. Go for something healthier, more vibrant, and flavorful.
Each year at our family Chanukah party, we try to introduce a new activity, to keep things fun and exciting for the children and adults alike. Last year’s addition – a huge hit – was a menorah-making contest.
Honestly, it would be hard to choose the one area that could win the title “the most dramatic site” in Eretz Yisrael. However, one strong candidate has to be Gush Etzion.
By Sandy Eller
There is nothing like cracking open a fresh new cookbook, the pages still pristine and crisp and wondering what surprises are about to jump off the pages and leap onto your serving platters as they wait to be carried to your table and devoured.
By Sandy Eller
One of the reasons for the popularity of Jack's Gourmet Sausages, which are available at local stores coast to coast as well as in Costco warehouse locations, is the fact that they actually taste like their non-kosher counterparts.
As we are surrounded by fall’s beautiful foliage outside, how about bringing some color, creativity and fun indoors as well. This activity is perfect for a long Sunday afternoon – you won’t be“leaf” how much your children will enjoy creating these “tree”ts.
This week we deal with Chanukah presents and the kids who probably don’t deserve them:
By Sandy Eller
This year, given that the biggest shopping day of the year actually falls out on the second day of Chaunkah, it depends on timing.
June 26, 2026 
