Seeds of Holiness // My soul understood

He shuffled slowly down the street, surrounded by his chasidim. My nine-year-old self sat by the kitchen window watching the procession. At the time I didn’t understand the meaning of this small huddled mass...

Between Torah & Psychotherapy

“Blessed is the person who finds wisdom and the man who attains understanding, for it is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold” (Mishlei 3:13-14). “Wisdom is preferable to gold because in financial...

Reminiscing About the Rubashkin Case // Attorney Guy Cook looks back

I would like to begin by congratulating you on this commutation, which is the President’s first. Thank you. It’s a tremendous result for the Rubashkin family. Q:Were you involved in representing Mr. Rubashkin until the very...

Trump’s ex-wife, a Spy? // New Soviet files suggest Trump was targeted by the...

Here we go again: “New Soviet files suggest Trump was KGB target since 1977! Was his first wife Communist spy for the Czech intelligence service?” Oh, what froth. Another breaking news rumor from Politico....

Sholom’s Sisters Speak

When an individual experiences an extended nisayon, whether illness, incarceration or a major financial loss, it isn’t just the person who is affected, it is also the family. Sometimes the ripples even spread out,...

Lead Poisoning In Chasidic Williamsburg

When Leah Davidson, a young mother of two daughters, was expecting her third child, she decided that the time had come to move. For the past six years, she and her family had been...

The Anniversary Dinner // I’d always been conscientious about not wasting food

“Next year we celebrate in style,” I told my husband as I served him the last morsel of our anniversary dinner. This was six years ago. “But didn’t you say that you enjoy cooking up...

Butternut Squash Chicken Soup

4 bone-in, skin-on, chicken thighs 1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cubed 1 large onion, cut into chunks salt, to taste black pepper, to taste 2 tablespoons olive oil 4 garlic cloves, crushed 4 cups chicken broth ¼ teaspoon cumin ¼ teaspoon coriander 1-2 tablespoons lemon  juice 1 teaspoon...

Corn Fritters

Though corn fritters are popular these days, this recipe was a staple in our house when I was growing up. My mother used to whip up a special batch of these when my sister...

Salmon, Avocado and Grapefruit Salad

This works well either as an appetizer or as a main dish. You can plate this salad in individual portions for a beautiful presentation. Try one bite of this and you will not put your fork down!...