Once a tolerated and regulated practice, polygamy is virtually unheard of in Jewish life today. Polygamy was a common practice in Judaism since ancient times, though it has become exceedingly rare in ...

Hoshanah Rabbah, the seventh day of Sukkot is a semi-holiday in its own right. Still counted among the days of Hol Hamoed (intermediate days of the festival), this day’s name means “the great hoshanah ...

Blintz souffle is synonymous with easy, classic Ashkenazi-Jewish-American comfort food. The ingredient list isn’t long, the steps are very simple but the result is pure, creamy indulgence. Plus, this ...

Traditional teachings on being a good host (and guest). In the pre-modern world, without ubiquitous hotels and rapid transportation, wayfarers were often dependent on those whom they encountered en ...

In this Torah portion, God creates the world. After Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit, they are banished from the Garden of Eden. Later Cain kills Abel. God then considers destroying all of ...

A Jewish prayer that asks for a safe journey. The Traveler’s Prayer — also known as the Wayfarer’s Prayer or Tefilat Haderech in Hebrew — is a prayer said at the onset of a journey. It is customary to ...

A historian traces the origins of the term. The name Semite comes from Shem, the eldest of the three sons of Noah. In the Greek and Latin versions of the Bible, Shem becomes Sem, since neither Greek ...

Join us six days a week for a live Torah lesson followed by the Mourner's Kaddish. My Jewish Learning hosts an online minyan Sunday-Friday for those who wish to say Kaddish. The minyan is held every ...

Harira is a North African soup made with tomatoes, legumes and lots of spice. This hearty, nutritious dish is a staple during Ramadan where it is served at Iftar, the evening meal when Muslims break ...

Blintzes are an iconic and beloved Eastern European Jewish food — thinly cooked pancakes (crepes) filled with potato, vegetables or cheese. There is no shortage of ways to make them — sweet, savory, ...

Plov is a rice pilaf-style dish that became popular in the Soviet Union by way of Uzbekistan. Plov’s popularity in Russia can be traced back to at least the time of Alexander the Great. Upon returning ...

Pity the poor pickled herring. The small preserved fish sold in jars in the refrigerated section of most delis gets no respect. I am an unabashed fan. I love its sweet and salty taste, alone or in a ...