Jewish Cooking Boot Camp: The Modern Girl's Guide to Cooking Like a Jewish Grandmother by Andrea Marks Carneiro Page B
Authors: Andrea Marks Carneiro
Tags: Religion & Spirituality, Cookbooks; Food & Wine, Judaism, kosher, Special Diet, Entertaining & Holidays, Special Occasions
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Guests. For each of the seven nights of the holiday, Jews are encouraged to "invite" leaders of historical importance to join them in the sukkah. The traditional invitees are Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, and David, and they are
considered, for the night, to be the most honored guest.
SIMCHAT TORAH
Simchat Torah follows Sukkot on the Jewish calendar as another celebratory holiday. Each
week in temple, Jews read passages from the Torah, starting with Genesis and ending
with Deuteronomy. Simchat Torah celebrates the reading of the last chapter, which is then immediately followed by Genesis once again. It reminds congregants that the Torah is
never-ending. A few more facts:
• The holiday is observed with a fun, high-spirited celebration. The ark that houses the
Torahs is opened, all the Torahs are removed, and the congregants participate in a processional around the synagogue filled with dancing, singing, and prayers.
• As many people as possible are called for an aliyah, or blessing over the Torah reading,
even children who are normally too young to receive one.
• Simchat Torah is a wonderful family holiday, as children are encouraged to run around
with small (sometimes plush) Torahs in the synagogue and general craziness is accepted.
• Drinking is not uncommon during this holiday; aside from Purim, it is the holiday most
associated with alcohol according to most texts.
Tl! B'SH EVAT
Anyone who ever made his or her way through Jewish day school (or Hebrew school, for that
matter) knows this holiday as the "tree holiday," and that's precisely what it is: a New Year's
for Trees. It acts as a specific date to calculate the age of trees, as the Torah states that the
fruit of the trees cannot be eaten for the first three years and the fourth year the fruit is
reserved for God. More facts:
• Many celebrate this holiday by planting a tree, eating a new fruit, or collecting money to
plant trees in Israel.
• It is customary to eat fruits that remind us of Israel including grapes, olives, dates, figs,
and pomegranates. The blessing over fruit is said: Baruch atah A-donoy, Elo-heinu Melech
Ha'Olam borei pri ha-aitz; Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the tree.
PURIM
Purim is truly a holiday of fun and celebration. It is based around the Book of Esther (or
Megillah Esther) and tells the story of how the Jewish people were delivered from the ancient
Persian empire when King Ahausuerus's royal advisor, Haman, planned to massacre them.
In the story, the beautiful Esther becomes queen, though the King does not know that she
is a Jew. Upon the advice of her cousin Mordecai, she approaches the King (a dangerous act)
and tells him of Haman's plot against her people, thus saving the Jews from extermination.
More facts:
• The Book of Esther is believed to be the only book of the Bible that does not contain the
name of God. In fact, there is little or no reference to God at all.
• It is celebrated on the fourteenth day of Adar (usually falling in March), the day the Jews
celebrated their survival.
• The holiday is preceded by The Fast of Esther, in which we commemorate Esther's threeday fast prior to meeting with the King.
• During the reading of the Megillah it is customary to shout, boo, stomp, and shake noisemakers when the name "Haman" is mentioned.
• On Purim, drinking is encouraged. In fact, there are many conflicting opinions on just
how drunk one is commanded to get on the holiday ... but we'll leave that up to your own
research and good judgment!
• Jews are also commanded to send food and gifts and to make gifts to charity. The custom is known as Matanot LaEvyonim, and specifies that a minimum of two gifts be
given to people in need. The gift should be given during the day and can come either
directly or through a third party.
• It is customary to hold celebrations, perform plays, and dress up as characters from
considered, for the night, to be the most honored guest.
SIMCHAT TORAH
Simchat Torah follows Sukkot on the Jewish calendar as another celebratory holiday. Each
week in temple, Jews read passages from the Torah, starting with Genesis and ending
with Deuteronomy. Simchat Torah celebrates the reading of the last chapter, which is then immediately followed by Genesis once again. It reminds congregants that the Torah is
never-ending. A few more facts:
• The holiday is observed with a fun, high-spirited celebration. The ark that houses the
Torahs is opened, all the Torahs are removed, and the congregants participate in a processional around the synagogue filled with dancing, singing, and prayers.
• As many people as possible are called for an aliyah, or blessing over the Torah reading,
even children who are normally too young to receive one.
• Simchat Torah is a wonderful family holiday, as children are encouraged to run around
with small (sometimes plush) Torahs in the synagogue and general craziness is accepted.
• Drinking is not uncommon during this holiday; aside from Purim, it is the holiday most
associated with alcohol according to most texts.
Tl! B'SH EVAT
Anyone who ever made his or her way through Jewish day school (or Hebrew school, for that
matter) knows this holiday as the "tree holiday," and that's precisely what it is: a New Year's
for Trees. It acts as a specific date to calculate the age of trees, as the Torah states that the
fruit of the trees cannot be eaten for the first three years and the fourth year the fruit is
reserved for God. More facts:
• Many celebrate this holiday by planting a tree, eating a new fruit, or collecting money to
plant trees in Israel.
• It is customary to eat fruits that remind us of Israel including grapes, olives, dates, figs,
and pomegranates. The blessing over fruit is said: Baruch atah A-donoy, Elo-heinu Melech
Ha'Olam borei pri ha-aitz; Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the tree.
PURIM
Purim is truly a holiday of fun and celebration. It is based around the Book of Esther (or
Megillah Esther) and tells the story of how the Jewish people were delivered from the ancient
Persian empire when King Ahausuerus's royal advisor, Haman, planned to massacre them.
In the story, the beautiful Esther becomes queen, though the King does not know that she
is a Jew. Upon the advice of her cousin Mordecai, she approaches the King (a dangerous act)
and tells him of Haman's plot against her people, thus saving the Jews from extermination.
More facts:
• The Book of Esther is believed to be the only book of the Bible that does not contain the
name of God. In fact, there is little or no reference to God at all.
• It is celebrated on the fourteenth day of Adar (usually falling in March), the day the Jews
celebrated their survival.
• The holiday is preceded by The Fast of Esther, in which we commemorate Esther's threeday fast prior to meeting with the King.
• During the reading of the Megillah it is customary to shout, boo, stomp, and shake noisemakers when the name "Haman" is mentioned.
• On Purim, drinking is encouraged. In fact, there are many conflicting opinions on just
how drunk one is commanded to get on the holiday ... but we'll leave that up to your own
research and good judgment!
• Jews are also commanded to send food and gifts and to make gifts to charity. The custom is known as Matanot LaEvyonim, and specifies that a minimum of two gifts be
given to people in need. The gift should be given during the day and can come either
directly or through a third party.
• It is customary to hold celebrations, perform plays, and dress up as characters from
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