Author: Eliyahu Mintz

Yom Kippur

Challah: Getting in Shape for Yom Kippur

Rosh Hashana is all about crowning God king. Which is one reason we make round challah bread, which symbolizes a crown. Round foods also symbolize the lifecycle, something eternal and never-ending. The circular shape also expresses our wishes that the coming year not be broken by tragedy. But now we’re coming to Yom Kippur, the …

Rosh Hashana

Mandelbrodt By Any Other Name

The Italian wine Vin Santo with its traditional food pairing of Biscotti

Almonds and dishes containing them are very popular for the upcoming Rosh Hashana holiday, which always makes me think of mandelbrodt (literally “almond bread”). One reason almonds are popular is that they have a separate Hebrew name “shaked” (SHA-kedd). The generic word for nut is “egoz,” which has the same numerical value as the word …

Uncategorized

Sweet Almond Cigars–You Don’t Smoke ‘Em

almond cigars

The Hebrew Scriptures mention almonds ten times, the first mention being in Genesis, where the almond is referred to as “among the best of fruits.” Maybe that’s why the seven-branched candelabra used in the Temple was designed to resemble almond branches topped with blossoms. Also, the almond tree is the first tree to bloom in …