18 Easy-to-Make Jewish Comfort Foods

In her New York Times essay about cornbread and the solace that comfort food brings, Margaret Renkl describes the matriarchs in her family who survived wars and pandemics. “Whatever else is happening outside my windows, whatever struggles are still ahead,” she writes, “just the sight of that golden disk of battery goodness can make me feel a tiny bit better.” During this time of social isolation and physical distancing, cooking simple, comfort foods can serve as a welcome and calming distracti
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Food and Recipes

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21 Jewish Recipes That Use Ingredients You Have at Home

People around the world are staying home right now as we try to "self-isolate" to help curb the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Whether you're an avid and experienced home cook or just using this time to try some new-to-you recipes, we've rounded up a list of our favorite Jewishly inspired dishes that call for main ingredients you may already have on hand. Get cookin' – and tag us on Facebook or Twitter to show us what you've made. If you have eggs… • Shakshuka: This Sephardic favorite, whic
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Air Fryer Potato Latkes

Interested in a healthier version of traditional deep-fried Hanukkah latkes (potato pancakes)? Meet the air fryer. These mini convection ovens work in a fraction of the time it takes to cook in a conventional oven. My dear cousin Michael sent me an air fryer for a recent birthday. Before I understood its capabilities, I reluctantly cleared countertop space for my new all-in-one air fryer-toaster oven. In fact, I learned that this appliance works by circulating hot air around foods at a high spe
Union for Reform Judaism Blog •

9 Purim Cocktails for a Spirited Party!

Purim is a happy holiday that affirms Jewish survival and continuity throughout history. We’ve imagined what each character in the Book of Esther might have imbibed on such a happy occasion. Which cocktail resembles who you’d be in the Purim story? Find your drink, or try the whole M’gillah. L’chaim! • Add the mint leaves, the juice of half of a lime and simple syrup to a highball glass. • Muddle the ingredients in the glass. • Fill the glass halfway with ice, add rum, and stir. • Fill the rest
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Kasha Pumpkin Pilaf with Shitake Mushrooms (Gluten Free)

My goal was to build a healthy and delicious grain bowl that was low-fat and filling. This combo of sweet pumpkin, sautéed crunchy cabbage and flavorful shitakes fits the bill. A good friend whose diet is gluten-free was dubious when I assured him that the kasha pilaf I'd brought to a temple pot luck was indeed gluten-free. Despite its name, buckwheat is not wheat. Kasha comes from the buckwheat plant, which belongs to the same family as rhubarb. Though it looks and cooks like a grain, it's act
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All Things Challah: 14 Recipes to Sweeten Shabbat - Plus, Helpful Hacks and More

At age 12, intrigued by the idea of baking challah, I chose the simplest recipe I could find in our temple’s cookbook; my venture into yeast-based baking was a lot more fun than any science project at school! These days, I remain a challah-baking enthusiast, but now I rely on an important challah hack, thanks to ReformJudaism.org’s food editor, Tina Wasserman, and my sister, Jan. Let the dough rise in the refrigerator overnight, inside a plastic bag sprayed lightly inside with oil), then shape
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18 Israeli Recipes to Spice up Independence Day

As a stream of Israeli chefs continue to achieve renown in the food world – creating exciting new dishes and re-creating tried-and-true favorites – Israeli food has developed into one of the world’s most vibrant and eclectic cuisines, explains food expert Tina Wasserman. Even so, I’m a lover of hummus and pita, and in addition to trying the five varieties below, I enjoy creating my own flavors, including zesty lemon. If I’m rushed, I generally used canned chickpeas, but when I have time, I pres
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18 Jewish Recipes for a Picture-Perfect Picnic

What better way to celebrate warm, sunny days than a festive picnic? Whether you’re dining al fresco in July, which is National Picnic Month in the United States, or during the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer, which is synonymous with outdoor bonfires and picnics, you’re sure to love these picnic-perfect recipes, all best served at room temperature (a.k.a. the temperature inside your picnic basket). Keep it simple! Pick one recipe from each category, pack a blanket, and go – but don’t forget to in
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18 Recipes for a Jewishly Inspired Independence Day Menu

Fire up the grill, Independence Day is coming! Add a little bit of Jewish flavor to your American celebration with one of these original, Jewish-inspired recipes from ReformJudaism.org. And if you’re not doing the cookout thing this Fourth of July, don’t worry: These recipes are a delicious delight all summer long. • Israeli Green Salad with Strawberries: Israel's Ramat Hasharon was once famous for its strawberry fields, though now only a few remain. This bright salad from Chef Orly Ziv highligh
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Apple Dapple Cake

A good friend found this recipe on a Jewish New Year handout from her daughter's preschool. The first time I tried the recipe – the afternoon of Erev Rosh HaShanah – the batter was so thick, I called her in a slight panic. She reassured me, explaining that it's an extremely thick batter that has to be spooned in clumps into the cake pan before baking. As it turns out, this is a dessert I can't resist, and admit to sampling the drippings from the caramel topping before the cake is served. Use fre
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Matzah Brei and Beyond: Recipes for a Festive Passover Brunch

Passover is the most celebrated Jewish holiday in America, with almost 90 percent of American Jews attending some sort of Passover gathering – which also makes it a great time to invite friends and family for brunch. Choose one or two dishes from each category below, send out the invites, and on the day of your fête, make things easier on yourself by setting up a self-serve buffet. Enjoy! Want even more Jewish recipes? If you love eating, cooking, browsing cookbooks, and taste-testing new reci
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9 Recipes to Indulge in Chameitz after Passover

Whether you observe seven or eight days of Passover and its dietary restrictions, get ready to indulge in chameitz (leavened foods) as it ends. Enjoy some of our favorite breads and desserts for breaking Passover this year – and b’tayavon! • None Chocolate Babka: This babka is so easy to make that baking it almost feels like cheating. You can bake the babka in a single loaf or in muffin tins for individual servings – and the leftovers make for excellent bread pudding or French toast. This babka
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13 Jewish Recipes for Summer Brunch

Summer days are fleeting. Why not seize the moment and celebrate summer by hosting a healthy and pretty brunch – with a Jewish twist? A few of our favorite brunch recipes are listed below. Kim Kushner’s smoked salmon frittata is really foolproof with her brainstorm to bake it in a springform pan (who knew?), and it takes literally minutes to make Tina Wasserman’s colorful beet hummus, using canned beets, chickpeas, and everyday spices you probably already have in your cabinet. Top it all off wi
Reform Judaism •

Horseradish

There's nothing like eating freshly-ground horseradish at the Passover seder to remember the bitterness of the Israelites' suffering under slavery. This recipe will bring a tear to your eye and possibly clear out clogged sinuses. Horseradish grew in my parent's backyard garden, and the beautiful leaves belied the strength of this ferocious bitter root. My dad would use a hand grinder to make it outdoors just a day before our seders, and my sisters and I would point to his tearing eyes, and rema

Interviews and Book Reviews

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A Well-Examined Life: An Interview with Poet Stacey Zisook Robinson

The essays and poems in Stacey Zisook Robinson’s Dancing in the Palm of God’s Hand (Hadassa Word Press) reveal a writer grounded in self-awareness, drawing readers in toward a comfortable intimacy. In one moving essay, Robinson captures a poignant moment that many can relate to, as she describes the raw emotion of chanting Torah with her then-13-year-old son. In the poem “Twenty Three,” saying goodbye at a burial, Robinson captures another universal emotion – the wistfulness of loss. This volu
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What Does Fasting on Yom Kippur Mean to You? 7 Jews Share Their Perspectives

During Yom Kippur, many Jews may wish one another “an easy fast,” but I’ve always been curious: How many of us find meaning in our fast, going beyond the physical discomfort and into serious introspection? And what meaning, exactly, do we find? From those who always fast to those who have considered not doing so – and those who share how health reasons impact their fast – here are a few personal perspectives about fasting on the holiest day of the Jewish year. What’s your perspective? Tell us
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How Can We Find Hope and Faith in the Face of Death?

In a recent talk at my synagogue about his new book, Finding Hope and Faith in the Face of Death (Cascade Books), Rabbi Stephen Karol shared his early struggle with worrying about the uncertainty of death and told us about how his beliefs have evolved. The book is based on his many years of helping congregants in mourning, which shaped and sharpened his perceptions of death and Jewish mourning tradition. In addition to giving frequent book talks at churches and synagogues, Rabbi Karol writes fo
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Going Green on Passover: One Chef’s Healthy Approach

With Passover on the way, many of us are planning festive seder dinners and a week of eating within kosher-for-Passover restrictions. The two main themes of Passover – spring and freedom – go hand in hand with the holiday’s agricultural aspect. This Passover, celebrate the cycle of time and nature with an approach to food that protects our environment, prioritizes good health, and lines up with Reform Jewish values. For a look at vegan living, we chatted with award-winning chef and author Mark
Union for Reform Judaism Blog •

We Were the Future: A Memoir of the Kibbutz

The word “kibbutz” may suggest a healthy, outdoorsy lifestyle on a self-sustaining farm, a cooperative of hardy, dedicated men and women, living and working together, sharing their lives. Yael Neeman’s memoir, We Were the Future details a surprisingly different scenario. Founded in 1946 by the Socialist-Zionist youth movement Hashomer Hatzair (The Young Guard), Kibbutz Yehiam comprised Hungarian Holocaust survivors and people living in Palestine. The founders named the kibbutz HaSela (The Rock)
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Trying to Please Mom: A Son’s Labor of Love

It’s often difficult to be funny in print, but reading the opening of Peter Gethers’ newest book, My Mother’s Kitchen: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and the Meaning of Life, I found myself suppressing hysterical laughter in the quiet car of an evening rush-hour train. I can’t begin to imagine how his unselfconscious, authentic, and remarkably familiar persona would make me laugh in person. It’s fitting, I think, that last week – just before Mother’s Day – I finished My Mother’s Kitchen – this time a
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Living a Good Life Is the Best Revenge

When author June Hersh interviewed Holocaust survivors for her first book Recipes Remembered, a cookbook of their stories and recipes, she barely knew anyone who had endured this horrific time in history. Today, June counts the survivors she’s met among her dearest friends. She recently teamed up with photographer Brian Marcus for a new book, Still Here: Inspiration From Survivors & Liberators of the Holocaust. When we spoke, June said that her attitude about the Holocaust hasn’t changed, but h
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Jesus, the Most Influential Rabbi in History

Rabbi Evan Moffic, author of What Every Christian Needs to Know About the Jewishness of Jesus: A New Way of Seeing the Most Influential Rabbi in History (Abingdon Press), sees himself “as a guide for Christians and Jews through the landscape of first century Judaism,” presenting Jesus the way his Jewish contemporaries understood him and offering examples of how Christianity evolved from its Jewish roots. ReformJudaism.org: What drove you, a Reform rabbi, to write a book about Jesus aimed at bot
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Close Encounters of the Worst Kind: Melanoma on the Rise

In his first book, Melanoma: It Started with a Freckle, Jewish author David L. Stanley tells the story of his battle with melanoma. His humor comes through – yet he never minimizes the seriousness of this frightening disease. Stanley, a science teacher, is the son of a physician and the husband of a nurse, and he writes about the intricacies of human anatomy and biology in an understandable, engaging way. His descriptions of the interplay of skin muscles, capillaries, arteries and nerves are as
Union for Reform Judaism Blog •

Building A Jewish Framework To Live By

A book review of Chapters of the Heart: Jewish Women Sharing the Torah of Our Lives In essence, we all go through life struggling with similar issues—identity, relationships, family, health, loss, and aging. We are not usually well prepared to handle life’s ups and downs. No one gives us classes on what to expect, and certainly no one can predict how it will all turn out. Relevant in the midst of our struggles, at every stage of living, this collection of 20 essays written by an extraordinary g

Personal Perspectives

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#BeLikeEsther: Show Us How You Stand Up for What’s Right

Long ago in Persia, before tweets and 24-hour news cycles, a royal vizier named Haman had the ear of King Achashverosh, a foolish and malleable man. When a Persian Jew named Mordechai enraged Haman by refusing to bow down, Haman vowed not only to punish Mordechai, but to exterminate all the Jews of Persia. With Mordechai’s help, our hero was Esther, a smart and tenacious Jewish woman who bravely stepped up to the plate. Esther gained clout with the farshtinkener (stinking) king, and bravely wor
Union for Reform Judaism Blog •

What Happened When I Met 51 Other Temple Presidents

It was a “no brainer” for me to attend the URJ Scheidt Seminar for congregational presidents last month in San Diego. Because I work for the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), I wasn’t sure I’d be eligible to attend. However, my supervisor approved the conference, and my colleagues encouraged me to go – knowing that as president of my congregation, Garden City Jewish Center in Garden City, NY, I would have a terrific experience. Of course, the idea of leaving New York for sunny San Diego in mid-Feb
Union for Reform Judaism Blog •

The Value of Experimenting: Why We Invited a Golden Retriever to Shabbat

I’m a bit of an insomniac, partly due to the amount of time I spend, even in my sleep, dreaming up ways to engage young families. As president of a small congregation, it’s a constant challenge to offer excellent speakers and programs that motivate more than just us die-hard, longtime regulars to attend Friday night services. Last October, I attended the Union for Reform Judaism’s valuable day of learning, “How Successful Congregations Embrace Change,” where we learned about Harvard Professor M
Union for Reform Judaism Blog •

If It’s Tuesday, This Must be Haifa: An In-Depth Israel Tour

I've tagged along on my husband Steve's business trips to England and France, and visited my daughter the semester she studied art in Sienna, but how was it that until last month I had never set foot on Israeli soil? Taglit-Birthright Israel didn't exist when I was younger, and the right time just had not presented itself. The stars seemed to line up for me to jump at Rabbi Linda Henry Goodman and Rabbi Stephen Wise Goodman's invitation to go on the Union Temple/Garden City Jewish Center's "Bre
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Passing Down the Dishes for Passover

The year was 1969. President Lyndon B. Johnson had left office, my older sister had gotten an AM/FM stereo radio for her birthday, and I was steadily collecting LPs, biking to school, and getting 75 cents an hour to babysit. That year, Passover rolled around at the beginning of April. A week before the seders, my dad took his six-foot step ladder out of the garage and positioned it at the top of the steep steps leading down to the basement, directly below the ceiling cutout that opened to our at
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The Nudge of Selichot

After 10 weeks of swimming, biking, walking at the ocean's edge, and rationalizing that it's too hot for tennis, Saturday night Selichot services appear on my calendar as the call back from the freedom of summer. According to Mark Washofsky in his book Jewish Living, it is a mitzvah to prepare for the Days of Awe, and Reform practice, adapted from Ashkenazic custom, is to recite selichot (poems of supplication and penitence) late at night, usually on the Saturday night that precedes Rosh HaShana
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The Promise of Shabbat

I was stunned the first time my then-8th grade daughter Rebecca called me on a Friday afternoon to inform me that she wouldn’t be home for dinner. Yes, she knew it was Friday night. And yes, she understood that it was Shabbat. As I hung up, I comforted myself by chalking it up to the beginning of adolescent rebellion. I hadn’t witnessed much adolescent rebellion growing up with my six sisters. None of us would have dreamed of not being home on Friday nights, a time when no one took babysitting
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Shabbat Meditation

I wrote this meditation when I was a member of the Shabbat Committee at Temple B’nai Or in Morristown, N.J. It is meant to be read before L’cha Dodi at Friday evening services. Open my heart tonight to welcome Shabbat in the natural way I did as a child—open, unquestioning, believing. Leaning against my father, Shabbat melodies became mine as the fringes of his tallit slipped through my fingers again and again. The mixed joys of hugs and handshakes crushing, yet reassuring, hot tea, the peace