Beginning Rosh Chodesh Av until after Tisha B’Av (the Nine Days) the custom of Ashkenazim is not to eat meat or drink wine, in remembrance of the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash. What about a food that was cooked...
In the famous Haftara of “Hazon Yeshayahu” (Yeshayahu, chapter 1) which is read on the Shabbat before Tisha B’Ab, the prophet bemoans the fact that although the people have been stricken with crises and calamities, they persisted in their...
PEACH AND BURRATA SALAD DIRECTIONS: When it’s so hot outside, no one wants to cook. This peach and burrata salad is the epitome of all summer salads. Using delicious, seasonal peaches, tomatoes, and...
“Aileh hadevarim, These are the words that Moshe spoke to all of Yisroel...
Willpower A woman is leaving her multimillion- dollar mansion in Beverly Hills when a poor man approaches her and cries, “Oh ma’am, I haven’t eaten in three days.” To which the woman responds: “I am so envious of you;...
I still remember vividly one of the strangest ads I have ever seen. When I was much younger, a restaurant in my neighborhood was promoting its special menu for the Nine Days, including fish specials, tofu dishes, and veggie...
As temperatures continue to rise and scorching summer heat settles in, many of us find ourselves preparing for Shabbat with a new set of practical questions. How should we use the air conditioner on Shabbat? May one adjust...
Dear Rabbi and Shira, Hi. I read your column all the time. I hope you can help me. I’m not sure what to do. I’ve gone out with this guy several times....
In this issue we will discuss the halachos that apply to the nine days. During the nine days we are not allowed to do many more actions than those that are customarily not done from Shivah Asar B’Tammuz through during...
We are now in the middle of the period called Bein HaMetzarim, known more commonly as the Three Weeks. As a nation, we mourn the destruction of our two Holy Temples during this time. This loss is more...