At the end of the day, Passover is about freedom.
My wish for this Passover for the Iranian people to be free. To be able to live how they want, dress how they want, pray how they want, choose their own government, etc.
To those celebrating later in the week, may you have a joyous seder.
Happy Passover
Jewish history is littered with the stories of massacres and forced submission of my people. But even in those darkest of times, hope still burns, even if the light is dim.
Ghosts of a Holy War: The 1929 Massacre in Palestine That Ignited the Arab-Israeli Conflict, by Yardena Schwartz, was published last fall. The narrative starts with the tale of David Shainberg. In the 1920s, the Memphis-born and raised Shainberg left the comfort of America to study in the Holy Land. His final destination was Hebron.
Until that fateful Saturday morning, both Jews and Arabs lived in peace with one another. 70 people lost their lives that day. Nearly a century later, on October 7th, 2023, 1200 people were killed and 246 were taken captive. Though multiple decades and generations separated the events, the similarities cannot be ignored. Ultimately, the author asks if peace is possible and what must occur for it to become reality.
I had several thoughts while reading this book.
This is one of the most important and necessary titles that I have picked up in a long time. If we are to stop this conflict, we must first understand what started it and, more importantly, what has kept it going.
Do I recommend it? Absolutely. This is a must-read.
Ghosts of a Holy War: The 1929 Massacre in Palestine That Ignited the Arab-Israeli Conflict is available wherever books are sold.
P.S. It should shock no one that Josh Shapiro’s house was torched on the first night of Passover. Thankfully, the only damage was to the property itself. The Governor and his family were unharmed.
The older I get, the more I see the connection between the past and the present.
Passover starts next weekend.
One of the common phrases that emerges from the liturgy of this holiday is “Let my people go.”
As I write this post, there are 59 hostages still being held in Gaza. According to recent reports, approximately 60% are no longer living. Among those still being held is Edan Alexander, a young man who holds both Israeli and American citizenship.
Happy Passover to those who celebrate.
Jews have been part of America’s fabric since before its founding.
All Other Nights, by Dara Horn, was published in 2009. In 1862, Jacob Rappaport was a soldier in the Union Army. During Passover, his superior officers give him an extraordinary assignment. His uncle, living in New Orleans is going to kill Abraham Lincoln. Jacob has been told to take the man’s life.
Once this task is done, Jacob is sent to Virginia. He needs to discover an enemy agent. Like his uncle, this woman is not a stranger. Her father has done business with Jacob’s father in the past. His job is not to kill her but to marry her. He tries to remain as emotionally distant as possible. But like many plans, it does not go as expected.
The best parts of the novel are the historical details and the humanity of the characters. As our protagonist, Jacob believes that he is doing the right thing. But like many characters who follow their conscious, he will soon learn that not everything is black and white.
Another aspect of the story that I appreciated was the daughters of the family who were suspected of being spies. Instead of passively waiting for the war to end, they did their part to support their side.
This is (for now at least) my final attempt at Dara Horn’s fiction. I got farther along than her other work. But I could not dive as deep into the tale as I wished.
Do I recommend it? No.
All Other Nights is available wherever books are sold.
Passover is the holiday of freedom. Whether is literal or figurative captivity, it represents many things to many people.
The first Seder is next Monday. While the story has not changed in generations, this year feels different. Since October 7th, thousands of my co-religionists have been killed. There are approximately 133 men, women, and children who are still being held hostage.
This was the question posed by last week’s episode of Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam.
I won’t give away how their discussion went (you have to listen to get the details). But I know that as I celebrate with my family next week, my thoughts will be with the families in Israel and around the world whose lives have been turned upside down since last fall.
Happy Passover to all who celebrate.
In the course of human history, Moses is a figure that has a near-universal appeal. Whether it is through the lens of religion, coming of age, or social justice, he has joined the pantheon of one-name legends.
The new three-part Netflix docudrama, Testament: The Story of Moses combines interviews with historians and theologians of all three Abrahamic religions along with reenactments to tell a multilayered tale. It is narrated by Charles Dance. As our flawed and titular hero (Avi Azulay) goes on the journey that we all know, he faces challenges that would stop many in his tracks. But despite what lies ahead, he lets faith and guidance from the heavenly parent guide him.
I’ve only seen two of the three episodes. I can only hope that the third is as good as its predecessors.
Moses comes off as a regular human being who went through an extraordinary journey. For anyone who feels powerless to make the world a better place, his story provides hope that it only takes one human to enact changes for the better.
The series also points out that without the women around him, Moses would have not his list of accomplishments. I liked that his wife, Zipporah (Dominique Tipper) is portrayed as she was, a woman of color. My only issue is that both the Egyptians and Jews have lighter skin. Given the region, I would have expected that they would have had a darker hue.
It also speaks to the fact those of us who practice within one of these three faiths have more in common than we sometimes think we do.
Do I recommend it? Yes.
Testament: The Story of Moses is currently streaming on Netflix.
If there is one constant, it is human nature. The years pass by, and technology evolves. But some things remain the same.
Last Friday, Hulu released the first three episodes of We Were The Lucky Ones. Based on the book of the same name by Georgia Hunter, it is the story of how her grandfather’s family survived World War II.
Sol and Nechuma Kurc (Lior Ashkenazi and Robin Weigert) own a tailor shop and have five grown children. Genek (Henry Lloyd-Hughes), Mila (Hadas Yaron), Addy (Logan Lerman), Jakob (Amit Rahav), and Halina (Joey King). The first episode gathers steam as the family gathers for Passover. It is a brief moment of ease and joy before the war starts and everything they know turns upside down.
The book was good. The series is amazing. The Kurcs could be anyone. They have the same rivalries, quarrels, and in-jokes that all families have.
What makes this program stand out is that most of the actors playing the lead roles are Jews themselves. It’s not that non-Jewish actors cannot play Jewish characters. The job of a performer on the stage or screen is to pretend to be someone else. But in this case and this narrative, representation adds another level of reality to what is an important and timely tale.
Beyond its universality, the story is powerful and heartbreaking. There is one moment that has stayed with me. The Nazis are about to evict Sol and Nechama from their home. A neighbor opens the door to see what the noise is about. Nechama asks this woman to hold onto some of their belongings. She closes the door and says nothing. Given what is going on in the world now, this moment is a reminder that 80 years later, we are still fighting the same battles.
Do I recommend it? Absolutely.
The first three episodes of We Were the Lucky Ones are available for streaming on Hulu. New episodes are released every Thursday.
The loud voices in our world will tell us that we are all different. Those differences are bad (for lack of a better word) and must be remedied. The truth is that we have much more in common than we think we do.
Earlier this week, WNYC‘s The Brian Lehrer Show hosted a conversation about the rare week in which the spring holidays of all three Abrahamic religions converge: Easter, Passover, and Ramadan.
Though I am quick to admit I obviously know more about Passover than the other holidays, I know enough to know that each religion asks its practitioners to sacrifice something in the name of faith. From my perspective, it reminds me that there are more similarities than we think we do.
Whatever you are celebrating this weekend (if you are celebrating), have a joyous and happy holiday.
There is a saying in Judaism:
Justice, justice you shall pursue
We all know the story of Moses. While every other baby boy was being murdered by Pharoah’s soldiers, he was put in a basket that was sent up the Nile. That basket was found by the Egyptian Princess who raised Moses as her own. When he grew up, he watched the Hebrew slaves toil and suffer. Upon seeing an old man being beaten by an overseer, Moses stepped in and inadvertently killed the overseer. This sent him on a journey of getting justice for his people.
He could have done nothing. He could have ignored the beating and kept on with being an Egyptian Prince. But he could not ignore what was happening around him.
Thousands of years later, Moses’s actions and his journey continue to inspire us. Fighting for what is right is never easy. But it is always worth it. Martin Luther King Jr. once said the following about justice:
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice”
To all those who celebrate, have a Happy Passover.
We all need to eat, that is a fact. But that does not mean our choices have to be limited. In New York City, the possibilities of where to eat are endless.
Burger/Fast Food Restaurants
With two locations in Manhattan (Times Square and Midtown East), this restaurant does not disappoint. Though it is fast food, it does not leave you with the cheap, empty calories feeling. The menu is much more than burgers and fries, allowing almost anyone to find something to eat.
Located in the South Brooklyn neighborhood of Sheepshead Bay, Roll n Roaster has been around for fifty years. Famous for its roast beef sandwiches, the menu is fast food in the best sense of the word. There is an old-school feeling to the building that makes you feel like you have gone back in time. It’s a bit of a hike from the city, but the trip is definitely worth it.
Dessert
Lady M is a semi-national chain with three different locations in Manhattan. The variety of crepe cakes is enough to make one’s mouth water and force a difficult decision to be made. Regardless of whether you purchase a slice as a special treat or a whole cake for a special occasion, it is worth every bite.
Ice cream is one of those types of foods that can be as simple or as complicated as we want it to be. Ample Hills Creamery is one of the most respected ice cream stores in the city. It has 10 scoop shops in three different boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens) and sells their products to take home in a handful of retail stores. The variation in flavors is ridiculous in the best way possible.
Gluten-Free
Friedman’s Restaurant with its six locations across Manhattan is a diner, but the food and the experience are a notch above the average diner. There is a level of creativity to the dishes that make this restaurant stand out. What I personally love about Friedman’s Restaurant is that they offer gluten-free options. I’m not on a gluten-free diet, but a good friend of mine is. She was more than pleased with her meal. It’s a perfect place to go for brunch, a pre-theater meal, or just a good cup of coffee.
Tea Time
There is no better break from a busy day (at least in my mind) than a cup of tea and a delicious scone. Alice’s Tea Cup has two restaurants and one to-go location in upper Manhattan. With an Alice in Wonderland theme, the atmosphere is cozy and the food is yummy. Though they can be a bit busy at times, the experience is worth waiting for. Whether you go in for a full meal or just tea and a piece of cake, you will walk out satisfied
Kosher/Kosher Style Deli
The New York City restaurant scene used to be dotted with kosher/kosher-style delis. While many have gone the way of the dodo, a few remain. Among these is 2nd Ave Deli. There are two locations: Midtown East and Upper East Side. Whichever one you choose, I can guarantee that you won’t be disappointed. The sandwiches alone are a meal unto themselves. They also cater for large events and for Passover. Anyone who has prepared for a Passover Seder knows how much it helps to have some of the food made by a professional.
Ben’s Kosher Deli, Restaurant, and Caterers
This restaurant and its six locations (most of which are either in or close to NYC) is one of my family’s favorite places to eat. I have yet to walk out as an unhappy customer. Both the sandwiches and the potato pancakes are huge. Depending on when you go, there is a line out of the door and very few tables available. Trust me when I say that it is not uncommon to walk out with leftovers or takeout.
Traditional Ukrainian Food
Ukrainian East Village Restaurant
There is something about traditional food of every kind that makes you feel happy. When it’s made right, it feels like it is straight coming out of a mother or grandmother’s kitchen. I came here for dinner with friends a few months ago and was a happy camper. My favorite part of the meal was the pierogies. They offer several kinds and each is delicious. Given what is happening in the world, I felt like I was in a small way, contributing to helping the people who make this food be seen and heard for more than the headlines.
Located in the Ukrainian heart of the East Village, Veselka’s two restaurants are a favorite of locals. For me, it is a reminder that this country and the city have been built and maintained by immigrants. It is those unique flavors and meals that have kept the seats filled for years. I cannot think of a time that I have gone to Veselka that I have not walked out feeling satisfied.
Readers, what do you think? Do you have a favorite among them?
Writergurlny 
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