Mar 20 2012
By Renee Septimus at 4:37 pm
The trapeze and the seder: both a balancing act.
I don’t have to look at a calendar. Lodze, the woman who has helped me clean my house for 25 years, and is by now as much friend as “cleaning lady,” already told me the first week in February that she is starting on my kitchen drawers and cabinets. Lodze is a religious Roman Catholic Pole who had family members who died in Auschwitz.
I don’t like Pesach. I dread it. I feel like I should make the shehecheyanu blessing, thanking God for “sustaining us and bringing us to this time” at the end rather than the beginning of the holiday. I’m grateful when it’s over.
What a confession from a FFB (Frum-From-Birth) woman who has made the seders for about 20 years. Read the rest of this entry →
Mar 7 2012
By Dasee Berkowitz at 12:45 pm
My son isn't the only Spiderman fan this Purim.
Purim is upon us and as we dig around in our closets for the perfect costume, the one that my son would love to wear the most is Spiderman, for sure.
While the whole superhero obsession is relatively new in our household, it has struck with a vengeance! Spiderman is the hero de jour and my son can happily be found spinning his web and climbing atop all manner of furniture in our house.
The need to summon superpower strength isn’t something that he does only in the privacy of our own home. Tamir is a pretty confident and social child. When he approaches other kids who aren’t interested in playing with him he cops a “meanie” face and often instructs them to “go to jail.” While he does so many things that I love, this set of activities is among my least favorite. Where is my sweet boy who runs toward me asking for a “hug and kiss Ima” anytime I leave the house? Read the rest of this entry →
Feb 29 2012
By Kveller at 11:46 am
If you haven’t noticed, Purim is coming! There will be cookies and costumes and graggers and maybe even a little booze, but do you know the reasoning behind this holiday craziness?
See how much you know about the story of Purim and the ways we celebrate it today with our brand spanking new Purim quiz. Challenge your friends, and let us know how you do! And remember, Purim begins on the evening of March 7th, next Wednesday.
Feb 24 2012
By Kveller at 10:23 am
Did you know that Purim is already almost upon us? It starts on the evening of Wednesday, March 7, which means you’ve got just under two weeks to prepare. How does one prepare for Purim, you ask?
Besides baking (or buying) hamantaschen and stocking up on liquor (because you are supposed to get drunk), the best way to get you and the kids into the Purim spirit is to prepare some costumes. You could go with a classic like Queen Esther or King Ahasueros, or go with your own thing. It’s Purim, anything goes! Check out these tips from Mayim Bialik on how to make your own Purim costume on the cheap, and then let us know:
What are your costume ideas for this Purim?
If you’ve got pictures from last year or a sneak peak of this year’s costume, send them to info@kveller.com and we’ll be sure to share with the Kveller community. Also be on the lookout for our 2nd annual Purim Costume Contest, all the more reason to take this whole costume thing very seriously!
Feb 7 2012
By Kveller at 9:56 am
It’s Tu Bishvat time! Do you know what to do, eat, drink and feel on this Jewish holiday? It starts at sundown tonight, so use this time to brush up on your Tu Bishvat street smarts, take the quiz, and let us know how you do.
Take the QUIZ now!
