Tonight at sundown the seventh night of Hanukkah begins. On this night I remember my dear Bubbe, and my dear Nana, with love. May their memories be for a loving blessing.

Place your Menorah where all who pass by can see it. Recite the Blessing. Get your Shamash, “Helper Candle” out and light it, and then light seven candles, from the left to the right, (the newest lit first on the left), as you face it. Recite the blessings. Celebrate with tradition, joy and by dedicating this night to a family member, and also by cooking and eating chicken soup with matzo balls, or a favorite family meal.

Mazel Tov to my dear friend Rachel on her special day!
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Jew Wishes…Peace to you all.
© Copyright 2007 – All Rights Reserved – No permission is given or allowed to reuse my photography, book reviews, writings, or my poetry in any form/format without my express written consent/permission.

Tonight is the fourth night of Hanukkah. Half of the menorah gets lit, but the one half is still a pretty sight…the warm glow of the light illuminating for all to see.

Place your Menorah where all who pass by can see it. Recite the Blessing. Get your Shamash, “Helper Candle” out and light it, and then light four candles, from the left to the right, beginning on the far right side of your Menorah, as you face it. Recite the blessings. Celebrate with tradition, joy and good food, such as latkes.

Why not make some latkes of different flavors. Get everyone involved. My favorite are sweet potato latkes with apple sauce, and I also like zucchini latkes and spinach latkes
with sour cream.

I tried a new ingredient this year in my latkes. I have added pumpkin as a different flavor. Why not!! I make pumpkin bread and pumpkin muffins, so why not pumpkin latkes??!! I added one cup of pumpkin to the basic recipe, along with a dash of nutmeg.

Basic latke recipe:
3/4 cup matzo meal or bread crumbs
2 1/2 cups grated potatoes…squeeze excess moisture out of them
1 small onion (grated)
1 beaten egg (Egg Beaters or equivalent substitute may be used in the amount of one egg),
1/4 tsp. salt – 1/2 tsp. can be used, I just like less
1/2 tsp. dill
1 tsp. baking powder
dash of pepper can be added if desired

Mix all ingredients until well blended. Make sure your skillet is greased and very hot. Drop batter by tablespoonfuls onto the skillet. Press lightly to spread out the batter a bit. Brown the pancakes on both sides, don’t overcook, they should be a golden brown, and not dark brown in color. Serve hot.

Applesauce is a good topping condiment, along with sour cream. Low fat sour cream is fine.

To make latkes with zucchini use 1 1/2 cups grated potatoes and 1 cup grated zucchini, follow as above.

For sweet potato latkes, use 2 1/2 cups grated sweet potatoes.

For spinach latkes use 1 cup chopped spinach and 1 1/2 cups grated potatoes.

The second night of Hanukkah on Saturday was spent at my daughter and son-in-law’s home. It was a joyous time watching Emily’s facial expressions throughout the evening. She is old enough to verbally interact in the celebration, now, at the age of 2 and 1/2.

I will be returning there Wednesday night to spend more time with them for Hanukkah and menorah lighting, dining, etc. I am so where I belong…with my family.
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Jew Wishes…Peace to you all.
© Copyright 2007 – All Rights Reserved – No permission is given or allowed to reuse my photography, book reviews, writings, or my poetry in any form/format without my express written consent/permission.

Monday December 14, 2009 – 27th Kislev, 5770

The above photo was taken on my drive to California, through the car window…when I was not driving. Most of my photos on this journey were taken through the window of the car. When I saw “Los Angeles” on the sign, it was quite thrilling.

I have been unpacking and running a lot of errands. It feels so wonderful to be “home” again!

I browsed in some book stores and bought a few new books recently:

Chains Around the Grass by Naomi Ragen (her new release)

Far From Zion, by Charles London

Invisible, by Paul Auster (his new release)

They Dared Return, by Patrick K. O’Donnell

The Coffee Trader, by David Liss

I will be writing some reviews in the next few days, so please stay tuned.

Have a nice rest of your Monday.

Somewhere before Albuquerque, New Mexico, taken through the car window.
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Jew Wishes…Peace to you All.

© Copyright 2007 – All Rights Reserved – No permission is given or allowed to reuse my photography, book reviews, writings, or my poetry in any form/format without my expresss written consent/permission.

It’s Friday so that means it is almost time for Shabbat to begin.

The weather is gloomy with rains that are literally torrential downpours, with some flash flooding here and there. I am not going roaming around, like I usually do on Friday morning/early afternoon. I’ll stay home and continue reading.

Shabbat Shalom to you all!
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© Copyright 2007 – All Rights Reserved – No permission is given or allowed to reuse my photography, book reviews, writings, or my poetry in any form/format without my express written consent/permission.

Friday October 9, 2009 – 21st Tishrei, 5770

If you are seeking a story infused with emotional depth, archaeological digs and exploration, and exploration of the self, then Drawing in the Dust, by Zoe Klein is a book for you.

The premise of this historical novel involves archaelogist Page Brookstone (interesting surname that is in itself derived of the natural environment). She has been asked by an Arab couple, Ibrahim and Naima, to come to their home in Anatot, Israel to investigate what the couple deems to be haunted ruins and spirits underneath their home. They have become the laughing stock of the neighborhood, and city, due to their insistence that they have seen spirits in their house.

In order to do this, Page must leave Megiddo, where she has worked for over a decade. Leave she does, and from the moment she enters the house of the Arab couple she is enveloped in events beyond any of her wildest dreams.

In between all of this there are male relationships that Page has. Within those relationships she has become complacent and has lacked the stamina to let go of those who seemingly hold her back. She is stuck in time, so to speak, unable to grasp hold of her emotions and life. That is all I will go into detail over regarding Page and her male counterparts.

Page, the couple and Page’s team members discover what they believe could be the grave of biblical Jeremiah. Alongside him is a woman named Anatiya, the woman he loved. Anitaya left a scroll inside an urn or jar, located in the coffin, which coincides with, and parallels the Book of Jeremiah.

These findings cause international chaos, fighting, attacks, thievery, etc. The findings also cause love to be born from the very spirits of the love released when Jeremiah and Anatiya’s coffin is opened. The spirits almost take over Page, as they become infused within her emotions, causing her to become bewildered as the findings unfold.

Zoe Klein has written an intriguing and fascinating historical novel that depicts humankind’s constant search for Self, the meaning of life and living fully, and how each of us is a part of the whole under the planetary umbrella, even after death. Cultural diversity within the confines of love are explored in Drawing in the Dust. Arab and Israeli relationships are heavily explored, along with the American relationship to Israel. Humanity and how we choose to live our lives is woven strongly into Drawing in the Dust, along with love. The quest for archeological truth is bound within the pages, which are infused with a combination of mystery, history, archeology, mystical components, apparitions, religion and its cultural implications, and social and ethnic barriers.

I did sense a message of hope within the pages…hope for humanity to overcome some of its cultural and religious divides.

I found Drawing in the Dust to be a worthwhile read, even with some of its flaws, such as it being a slow or too wordy in parts. Those areas were a bit of a disappointment. I also thought the story could have been developed a bit more concerning Page and her often passive behavior, in a world where assertiveness should be a primary trait. Overall, the story line was good and filled with rich word images.
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I personally own and have read this book.

© Copyright 2007 – All Rights Reserved – No permission is given or allowed to reuse my photography, book reviews, writings, or my poetry in any form/format without my express written consent/permission.

Wednesday October 7, 2009 – 19th of Tishrei, 5770

The sky is the limit during Sukkot, as far as creative ideas for a Sukkah, including green/recycling or environmentally friendly ideas.

Here are some Sukkot Environmentally Friendly tips.

When attending a sukkah at a synagogue or loved one’s home, use non-disposable place settings from home, so as not to involve huge disposals of paper plates, plastic ware, etc., being added to a landfill. Include cloth napkins to rewash at home and reuse.

Make chains by decorating and stringing together toilet tissue rolls.

String together empty and rinsed soda cans or bottles.

Soda bottle tops can make a great looking entrance when stringed together…the beaded effect can look quite neat, almost like something from the 1960s.

Egg cartons tied together can make great walls, and so can the sides of broken down cardboard boxes. You can decorate the egg cartons and the cardboard boxes.

Cardboard boxes make good tables, and can be recycled for future use as packing boxes. Any handmade items that you have created can be packed away inside the boxes.

Branches from palm, myrtle or willow trees that you might have growing in your yard make wonderful roofs.

Bottles or glass jars make good candle holders. You can decorate the outside of them, too.

Magazine cutout collages make excellent interior decorations.

Make a chain out of strips of paper glued together, and vary the colors. Add sparkles to them so they catch some light. Small paper plates are also a good substance to decorate and chain together, or hang individually on the walls of the succah.

The roof must be made of organic materials, and if you have an old sheet made of 100% cotton, use it, instead of worrying about the tree branches. Mesh is also a good organic material, as is canvas.

Print small photographs of relatives and or ancestors on environmentally friendly paper, and then string them together across the interior of your Sukkah. Stringing ancestral photos in genealogical order inside the Sukkah is especially fun, and brings a new meaning to your family tree.

Chag Sameach!

Shabbat Shalom!
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© Copyright 2007 – All Rights Reserved – No permission is given or allowed to reuse my photography, book reviews, writings, or my poetry in any form/format without my express written consent/permission.

Friday October 2, 2009 – 14th Tishrei, 5770