My cousin Lili, a native of Peru, introduced me to quinoa many years ago (recipe below.) According to Wikipedia, this ancient grain was domesticated 3,000 to 4,000 years ago. It has been an important staple in the Andean cultures where the plant is indigenous but until recently it was relatively obscure to the rest of…
On March 6th, this squad of lovely sixth graders baked Kichel (recipe below) and enjoyed a tea party! This popular Jewish and Israeli sweet cracker or cookie is made with egg and sugar rolled out flat and cut into rectangles then twisted into a bow tie shape. Kichel (plural kichlach) is a Yiddish word meaning…
I can’t wait to hand grate potatoes for latkes said no one EVER! This recipe is dedicated to all my followers who are short on time and/or don’t have a food processor to grate potatoes. I also broke it down to an individual portion so ANYONE can make lakes ANYTIME! (Howard Shirey-no more desperate requests…
…When you can make it out of CHOCOLATE?!? For a spin on the classic song “Oh dreidel dreidel dreidel, I made it out of clay,” I decided it would be fun and delicious to make chocolate dreidels. Pictured are Chavarim students using squeeze bottles & special molds to turn liquid chocolate into dreidels. While allowing…
What a pleasure and an honor it has been for our community to host the chief rabbi of Uganda, Rabbi Gershom Sizomu, for South Hills Torah Weekend/Global Day of Jewish Learning. During his visit, Rabbi Sizomu taught us about the history of the Abayudaya Jewish Community in Uganda, as well as the health and economic…
Jews are diverse, yet we are tied to each other historically and religiously. In preparation for Torah Weekend, November 18-20, featuring Rabbi Gershom Sizomu, the leader of the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda, Bshul is focusing on Jewish Diversity. I am teaching students that historically Jews around the world were a migrating people. As Jews moved about, they often married…
On September 28th Beth El’s Zayin class kicked off religious school by participating in a mitzvah! Our students prepared and served dinner to homeless families at the Bower Hill Community Church. This location serves as a site for Family Promise of Southwestern Pennsylvania. The organization connects children and families experiencing homelessness with a network of local…
If you ask any Beth El Religious School student “what is your favorite Jewish food?” the overwhelming response will be challah! They love it on Shabbat, with chicken, as a snack with butter and jelly, or made into french toast for breakfast. I can’t think of a better way to start the year than by…
My garden is overflowing with dill and Kirby cucumbers so I have been making refrigerator pickles and they are delish! Below you will find a little history of Kosher pickles and my recipe for how to make two pint jars in 10 minutes! Try to wait 48 hours before cracking them open! According to Wikipedia,…
Yesterday Martin was called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah. Our hearts are full. Today I am reflecting on the lines from Exodus that inspired the title of this blog: Moses said to the Lord, “I beseech You, O Lord. I am not a man of words, neither from yesterday, nor from the time You…
February 12, 2021
Try to imagine a day where you go without using plastic—it’s impossible. From yogurt containers to shampoo bottles to takeout containers, plastic is a part of our daily lives. Just a few years ago, this didn’t bother many people because recycling plastic was easier and more commonplace. South Hills townships used to recycle all plastics…
December 1, 2020
Sponges. We all use them, from cleaning pots and pans to other household chores. But did you know that many sponges contain plastic? They are also a repository for germs and pretty hard to recycle. One way to make environmental changes in kitchen habits is to replace sponges with Swedish dishcloths. They are made from…
October 19, 2020
I grew up having paper towels handy for many uses, especially in the kitchen. Wash your hands; dry with a paper towel. Spill on the floor; wipe with a paper towel. Rinse fruits and vegetables; spread to dry on a paper towel. You get the idea. Once we started composting, we would add the used…
