Who would have thought the best kosher Scottish Single Malt would come not from Israel (sorry), but from a town of less than 4,000 people in the Scottish Highlands.   That’s right, I’m choosing Glenmorangie as the best. Glenmorangie isn’t kosher, is it? Yup, it sure...

Over the last 15 years, the religious landscape in Santiago has undergone a true transformation. This is largely due to the establishment of NCSY (National Conference of Synagogue Youth) within Chile; its first chapter outside of the North America and Israel.  ...

Where in the world is Sandanski-Melnik & furthermore, why would I visit? That’s a simple enough question, with no simple answer.   Sandanski and Melnik are two cities in the Blagoevgrad Province of Bulgaria. The former, a city of just less than 40,000 residents is...

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 this remarkable man.   To many, Yuli Kosharovsky...

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 theater...

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 observing...

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. Mail and Newspapers One of the most...

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...