Talking in Shul

Endorsements

Zahava recommends the Jewish Federation of Cleveland opposing Ohio’s fetal heartbeat bill, and When Politics and Halacha Meet: The Challenge of Abortion by Zachary Truboff in the Times of Israel.

Mimi recommends Jergens Hydrating Coconut Lotion, and The Principals of Uncertainty by Maira Kalman.

Tamar recommends the cookbook Aromas of Aleppo by Poopa Dweck.

Endorsements

Zahava recommends George Washington’s letter to Touro Synagogue in Newport Rhode Island.

Mimi endorses a Spicy Quinoa Salad With Broccoli, Cilantro and Lime which is great for Jewish potlucks, and is excellent comfort food.

Tamar recommends the poetry of Jeanne Lohmann, especially the poem Praise What Comes, and Amit’s rules for talking in shul.

Endorsements

Mimi is thinking about Jewish garb, and the signals that they send. She is also thinking about kittels and heteronormativity.

Zahava recommends When God is Near: On the High Holidays by Rabbi Yehuda Amital, and the TV show It Takes a Church, a matchmaking show for single women in their church.

Tamar recommends the Spotify playlists Songs for Elul, Love and Longing I, and Love and Longing II, curated by Rabbi Yosef Goldman, and the poem Try to Praise the Mutilated World by Adam Zagajewski.

Endorsements

Ariana recommends the August 12th Black Lives Matter action by JFREJ. Listen to the treyf podcast version.

Mimi recommends the The New Jewish Wedding by Anita Diamant and asks for suggestions of good things to read and listen to about making a Jewish wedding. She also recommends Debbie Friedman’s Mourner’s Kaddish.

Zahava recommends By the Arch of Titus: Spending Tisha B’Av in Rome by Jake Marmer in Tablet.

Tamar recommends visiting your local criminal court in preparation for Rosh Hashanah.

Endorsements

Zahava recommends The Kramer Family Song Booklet, available for purchase used.

Mimi recommends the Pocket Torah app for helping to learn your leyning.

Tamar recommends her own advice tumblr, What Does T Fox Say, and the dating web series Seeking, particularly episode 3, which is based on a terrible/hilarious date Tamar once experienced.

Endorsements

Zahava recommends going to New Orleans and eating the kosher beignets in Cafe DuMonde, and the general notion of hechshering with tourists in mind, with a shout out to Rabbi Gabe Greenberg, who currently supervises the Cafe DuMonde beignets.

Mimi recommends Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld, and the Lizzie Bennet Diaries.

Tamar recommends Bava Metzia 23b, Because Rav Yehuda said that Shmuel said In these three things the Rabbis were accustomed to change their words (i.e. lie) In their tractates, and their beds, and their hospitality. Especially the Tosfot on “and their beds.”

Endorsements

Zahava recommends the webseries Soon By You, especially the first episode, The Setup.

Mimi recommends “Diversity” Won’t Challenge Jewry’s Role in White Supremacy by Mark Tsend Putterman in Jewschool.
And the Santa Cruz Haggadah by Karen GR Roekard.

Tamar recommends Hummus! The Movie, Disturbing the Peace, Grain of Truth, and Who’s Gonna Love Me Now?

Endorsements

Zahava recommends Ricciarelli di Siena (Siena Almond Cookies)
Might or might not be from the NY Times. Makes 24 cookies.

2 egg whites
Dash salt
1.25 c granulated sugar
Freshly grated zest of 1 orange
1 tsp almond extract (Zahava’s Mom’s note: if available for Pesach)
1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla sugar
10 oz ground blanched almonds
1/4 c matza cake flour
2 tbsp butter or margarine
Confectioner’s sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat egg whites with salt until stiff and dry. Gradually add 1 c sugar and beat to marshmallow consistency. Add orange zest, almond extract, and vanilla extract. Last, add ground almonds. Mix until it is a rather hard paste.

Mix cake flour with 1/4 c sugar. Generously grease baking sheet with margarine or butter and sprinkle with flour/sugar mixture.

Divide almond paste into 24 equal balls and shape each into a diamond. Place 2″ apart on baking sheet and bake 12-13 minutes. Remove from oven while still white and sprinkle immediately with confectioner’s sugar before letting cool.

Mimi recommends Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond which she is reading for the T’ruah book club.

Tamar recommends the BY Times books by Leah Klein. Follow Tamar’s BY Times instagram at #bytimesinourtimes and the 99% Invisible episode The White Elephant of Tel Aviv about the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station. The episode was originally produced by Israel Story.

Endorsements

Zahava recommends the Netziv in general, and in particular his commentary on monarchy and democracy, found here via Sefaria.

Mimi recommends Bernie Sanders: a linguistic analysis by Joss Fong in Vox

Tamar recommends finding out what kind of end of life care your family members want via Five Wishes, recording family stories with the StoryCorp App, and Jewish chaplains in a stack of end of life related recommendations. Additionally, she recommends nutella rugelach. Use this recipe for the dough.