At 72, Yuli Kosharovsky is dead. I have been thinking about this sad fact for the past week. He passed away on the first day of Pesach, and as we just ended the holiday I felt the need to pen a short personal eulogy for …
Jews in Romania have adapted to Purim quite well and have many novel ways of celebrating it. I could see a lot of innovation in the hymns meant for public service. Plays, dramas, and broad-ranging satires have existed since the 18th century in Romania. Yiddish …
It’s a festival that is marked by people probing themselves through fasting and realizing follies of the past. Like in other places, Peru also celebrates Purim for three days with the fast of Esther taking place a day before the Purim. This is followed by …
When going away on vacation, one of the many things that you need to think about is making arrangements for the care of your home while you are away. Below are some tips for making sure that your house is secure while you are away. …
When it comes to world history, most people are somewhat familiar with the Spanish Inquisition. But did you know that the Portuguese Inquisition was an equally brutal time in European history? This bloody period in Portugal’s history was one that particularly targeted the country’s Jews …
When it comes to planning vacations, our thoughts often automatically turn to June, July, and August. “Summer” and “vacation” are two things that just seem to go hand-in-hand. Many people overlook the opportunity to take advantage of the winter months when planning a vacation. Even …
As I return home from the Philippines at this time of Hanukkah and Thanksgiving, I think how the messages of both holidays are so relevant: wherever we are in the world, we have reason to be thankful, and wherever we are, we can triumph over …
If you’ve never visited Panama (and no I’m not biased), Pesach is a perfect time to plan a tour of this lovely Central American country. Panama has a long and proud history of Judaism, and is a popular spot today for both visiting and …
While I’ve not yet had the opportunity to celebrate Pesach, or Passover, in Morocco itself, my experiences sharing Moroccan Pesach traditions with friends have convinced me that I need to do so! Moroccan Jewish History As a small country in North Africa, Morocco doesn’t get …
Surely you’ve heard of the Panama Canal before. And all of the maritime activity surrounding the canal is reason enough to visit the beautiful, tropical country of Panama. But did you know that there are many other fabulous sites to visit and things to do …
