Open-Faced Flounder wraps with Cucumber-Avocado Salsa

I can honestly say that on many days I don’t really prepare an actual recipe for dinner. I do try to plan somewhat, but...

I Will Not Lose Weight for the Wedding // Making a...

I will not lose weight for the wedding, I think to myself as I eat my usual piece of dark chocolate after dinner. In the...

From Brexit to Maga

If there is a father of Brexit, it is Nigel Farage. The movement to take the United Kingdom out of the European Union has...

I Don’t Want My Baby Named After My Father-In-law // Rabbi...

Dear Rabbi, After ten, long childless years, we are expecting twin boys, baruch Hashem. Our joy is indescribable, and we are incredibly thankful to Hashem...

Oven-Roasted Chimichurri Skirt Steak with Honey Smoked Sweet Potatoes

Skirt Steak Chimichurri Gremolata: 2-3 lb. skirt steak 4-5 garlic cloves 1 very large handful of parsley 3½ tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon lemon juice Pinch black pepper Smokey Sweet Potatoes: 3-4...

Our Treasure // The loss of Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski,...

Unquestionably, there will be many tributes and testimonials to the beloved and hallowed memory of Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski in the weeks ahead....

Citrus, Roasted Beet, Fennel and Mixed Green Salad

Visually sensational and wonderfully balanced, this salad is a showstopper. The colors are bold and vibrant and the flavors are equally as dramatic. Take...

The Frenemy // They say to keep your friends close, and...

I was in slightly over my head when I wrote and directed my very first play for a local seminary. I was 22 years...

My Sister’s Children // They needed us, but what would happen...

Our story began 22 years ago. My only sister Sorah was talented and brilliant, my parents’ pride and joy. As her older siblings, my...

A Connection Through Generations

My brothers and I all learned by Rav Dovid, as did our sons and many of our grandsons. I was there from 5735 until...

Bursting Bubbles // “Facts” aren’t always what they seem

Two people dear to me—a talmid from a former lifetime and a respected colleague in my current one—forwarded me links to an outrageous set...

Penne Ala Vodka

I know, I know, you can buy vodka sauce in a bottle, but once you try this recipe you’ll never be able to turn...

A Story of Two Namesakes // Unexpected results from a ...

My first name, Pessy, has always been a source of pride to me. I’m named after my grandmother, a pious and righteous woman with...

The Ultimate in Cooperation // I have an unusual proposal ...

I had two bothersome experiences today that were quite avoidable. I was teaching my tenth-graders and trying my best to convey the material in...

Putin’s (not so) Secret Palace // Can Navalny’s Gambit Succeed?

The secret palace on the coast of the Black Sea is the newest and most expensive private residence in Russia. The French royal palace...

The Crown Has Fallen // Rav Yitzchok Scheiner, zt”l

Rav Yitzchok Scheiner, the longtime rosh yeshivah of Kamenitz in Yerushalayim, was born in Pittsburgh to Polish-born refugees who came to America when they...

The Drip // It came and went without explanation. Was it...

After hearing this witty song going around, my son quipped, “Maybe Tatty’s runny nose is really a leaky brain!” I laughed. My husband suffered from...

Yellow Cauliflower Rice and Shawarma Bowl

Rice: 2 tablespoons oil 2 sweet onions, diced 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon turmeric ½ teaspoon cumin 1 14-ounce bag Heaven & Earth Riced Cauliflower Chicken: 1½ lbs. boneless, skinless thighs Shawarma spice...

Boxing in Biden // Using Iran to send messages to the...

In case you had not heard, there were rumors of a major push by federal agencies to complete certain investigations and rush them into...

Finding My Roots // A father’s secret is revealed

The man whom I called “Uncle” turned my life upside down with a single statement, and he wasn’t even talking to me. It was over...