Succot Menu Ideas

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Celebrate Succot, the Festival of Booths commemorating the harvest, with one or more of our recipes!

Here are two suggested Succot menu options – one meat and one dairy.

Succot Menu 1 (Meat)

Beverage:
Indian-Jewish Sangria
Indian-Jewish Sangria

Apple Cider Hot Toddy
Apple Cider Hot Toddy

 

Appetizers:
Lamb Kebabs
Kafta (Lebanese Lamb Skewers)

Stuffed Baby Artichokes
Stuffed Baby Artichokes

 

7-Spice Kibbeh
Beef Kibbeh

 

Sephardic Lamb Meatballs with Kosher Cashew Dipping Sauce
Lamb Meatballs

 

Entrees:
Bubbie’s Stuffed Cabbage

Chraime
Chraime

 

Classic Meatballs
Classic Meatballs

 

Quinoa & Vegetable-Stuffed Acorn Squash
Quinoa & Vegetable-Stuffed Acorn Squash

 

Sides:
Israeli Salad
Israeli Salad

Massaged Kale Salad  with Berkshire Cherry Tomatoes & White Beans (Vegan & Gluten-free)
Kale Salad

 

Desserts:
Apple Honey Cake
Honey & Apple Cake

Poached Pears (Vegan & Gluten-free)
Poached Pears

Succot Menu 2 (Dairy)

Beverage:
Indian-Jewish Sangria
Indian-Jewish Sangria

Apple Cider Hot Toddy
Apple Cider Hot Toddy

 

Appetizers:
Parsnip & Apple Soup
Apple Parsnip Soup

Baba Ganoush with Crudite
Baba Ganoush (smoky eggplant dip)

 

Potato Leek Bourekas
Potato Bourekas

 

Spinach & Feta Bourekas
Spinach and Feta Bourekas

 

Entrees:
Butternut Squash Lasagna
Butternut Squash Lasagna

Samkeh Harra  (Fish with Spicy Sauce)
Samkeh Harra

 

Sides:
Fattoush Salad
Fattoush Salad

Spinach Salad with Lakeview Orchard Apples, Pears & Fennel (Vegan & Gluten-free)
Spinach Salad with Apples, Pears & Fennel

 

Desserts:
Apple Rose Pastries
Apple Rose Pastries

Marzipan Stuffed Dates (Vegetarian & Gluten-free)
Marzipan Stuffed Dates

The Beauty of Being Broken

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Have you ever had a very sentimental object break? How did you handle the loss? What did you learn?

My most valued and sentimental possession was broken recently. I have had this object for 46 years and treasured it carefully. This Succot, it broke…but my spirit didn’t. Here is what I learned, and how I found a beautiful blessing in this tremendous disappointment.

I believe I have the world’s oldest etrog. Really! My mom saved it for me when I was 4 years old. It has been carefully wrapped and saved in a special box from Jerusalem given to me by my uncle, a renowned and beloved Rabbi. Below are photos of my family’s Succot celebration when I was 4 and when my uncle from Israel gave us the etrog box from Jerusalem.

 

Andy's Childhood Succah

l to r: Laurence and Andy Goldfarb, Allentown, PA, 1972

 

Goldfarb Succah 1973

pictured clockwise from upper right: Dr. Ada Goldfarb – Andy’s aunt, Rabbi Daniel Goldfarb – Andy’s uncle, a family friend and Myra Outwater, Andy’s mother, 1973

I don’t remember receiving the box – It was kind of always there, sitting on the shelf.  In 2006, I built my first succah, which was the first to be approved in the Back Bay of Boston. I was so excited for my daughters Caroline and Lucy (then 10 and 7) to have their very own succah and share the joy and excitement I had experienced when I was a young boy. I vividly remember opening the box and discovering the etrog, wrapped in gauze, so fragile and delicate.

The stem of an etrog is called a pitam and it needs to be intact for the etrog to be kosher. During Succot, the etrog and lulav are held together and shaken vigorously in six directions to signify the divine presence all around us and within our hearts.

See Andy do the succah dance!

Because of the etrog’s delicate nature, I was particularly careful with the pitam of my precious etrog. Each day of Succot, I would bring my etrog box into the succah and carefully show it, along with a photo of our family, to each guest. I would explain the significance of my etrog and how it was the oldest one in the world. Each time I displayed it, I became increasingly attached to it. It grew into my heart, as its symbolic shape suggests. (See The Meaning of the Lulav and Etrog). I never let anyone touch the precious etrog — for fear of breaking the pitam. In hindsight, I was so focused on the potential loss, I wasn’t able to fully embrace the blessing of the moment.

This year’s Succot celebration began no differently from previous ones. While I have always hosted family, friends, and strangers, this was my first Succot without my daughters. My eldest, Caroline, graduated from college and moved away. My youngest, Lucy was a freshman at college. It was also my first Succot since turning 50 years old.

I welcomed a group of friends into my succah and led the group in the ritual Succot blessings (over the wine, lulav and etrog) and did the succah dance. As usual, I carefully showed my precious etrog, guarding the delicate and precariously attached stem. As we gathered for a group photo, one of my friends brushed against the lulav which, in turn, knocked over the etrog box containing my treasured, 46-year-old etrog.

I paused, fearing the worst. I slowly opened the box. My greatest fear was realized: I found the small pitam in the bottom of the box. My etrog had broken. It was no longer kosher. I was overcome with many feelings. I was upset, angry and disappointed. I was also afraid. What did it mean to have my favorite possession broken and its religious significance lost?

I decided to meditate. My party, a festival of booths representing both abundance and vulnerability was still in full flow, but I was feeling numb and disconnected from the festivities.

Thankfully, my Rabbi had come to my Succot celebration. I asked him to join me for a private moment, away from the celebration, away from my broken pitam. We talked. I shared how upset I was. Surely, there must be a blessing to be found. I paused, breathed and reflected. I simply couldn’t let the broken stem ruin my celebration or hinder my happiness.

Later, I decided to explore Jewish traditions for deeper meaning. The ancient Jewish wedding ritual of breaking a glass following the ceremony came to mind. In great moments of joy, we are supposed to pause and recognize that suffering also exists. The breaking of the glass causes this pause and also signifies that the strength of the marriage bond can handle adversity. This custom dates back to the Talmud.

Mar bar Rabina made a marriage feast for his son. He observed that the rabbis present were very gay. So he seized an expensive goblet worth 400 zuzim and broke it before them. Thus he made them sober. Berakhot 5:2 

I also thought of Moses and the Ten Commandments. Moses smashed the Ten Commandments in a fit of rage over the Israelites building a golden calf at the base of Mount Sinai. The Ten Commandments were broken, but never forgotten.

And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing; and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tablets out of his hands, and broke them beneath the mount. Exodus 32:19

I then considered the Japanese concept of Wabi Sabi.

Wabi connotes rustic simplicity, freshness or quietness, and can be applied to both natural and manmade objects, or understated elegance. It can also refer to quirks and anomalies arising from the process of construction, which lend uniqueness and elegance to the object. Sabi is beauty or serenity that comes with age, when the life of the object and its impermanence are evidenced in its patina and wear, or in any visible repairs.

“Wabi-sabi nurtures all that is authentic by acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect.” Powell, Richard R. (2004). Wabi Sabi Simple. Adams Media.

I also recalled the saying: “A broken heart allows light in”. I have experienced personal loss and challenges over the years and discovered inner strength and faith during these periods of great adversity.

Finally, I remembered a story my Rabbi shared at a high holiday sermon:

A king had a precious diamond that fell and cracked. The king was upset and devastated over his loss. His spectacularly beautiful diamond had broken. A jeweler said he could repair it and the king offered the jeweler the chance to try.  When the jeweler returned with the diamond, the king was disappointed when he examined the newly repaired diamond. “The crack is still there!” he proclaimed sadly. The jeweler said, “Please look more closely, there is now a rose carved into your diamond and the crack is now transformed into the rose’s stem… the cracked diamond is now a beautifully flowered rose.”

I believe the universe presented me with the broken pitam as way to learn acceptance. In my first fifty years of life, I have been fortunate to experience my Succah of Abundance, alongside great vulnerability in loss and mourning. In these sad and difficult times, I have experienced my Succah of the Wilderness – my true vulnerability. Abundance is much sweeter knowing the pain of loss. I can now experience Dayenu — true gratitude for my blessings. In addition, I have found that faith, both in the divine spirit and myself, has carried me during the difficult moments of vulnerability and loss.

In an interesting twist of events, I discovered there is now a variation of etrog that is pitamless. A kosher etrog without a stem! With these etrogs, there is no worry or concern about the pitam falling off and becoming posul (not kosher).

I am happy I had the chance to share my etrog, in all its vulnerability, with friends and family over the years. Had I kept it in its case and never showed it to anyone, it would be intact and in its original form. However, we would have all missed out on so many important discussions and lessons. Truly experiencing life sometimes requires the risk of loss.

In Japanese wabisabi thought, you actually fill the cracks of precious broken pottery with a gold filling. The concept is to highlight and celebrate the imperfections.  And so, I plan on painting some gold dust on my broken stem.

I also developed a new attitude. I no longer view the etrog as “my etrog.” I realize my mom entrusted me to be its caretaker. I have treasured and protected it for myself over the years.  I now fully embrace the responsibility and privilege to be the etrog’s caretaker for my family and community. In this role, the greatest blessing has been sharing it with friends and family. I fervently hope that one day my daughters will similiarly treasure and caretake the etrog and share its blessings broadly.

Next year, I look forward to sharing not only the beauty of the precious etrog but the lessons of its broken stem. In many ways, the broken stem truly exemplifies the fragility and vulnerability of the Succah of the Wilderness in which the Israelites lived during the 40 years in the wilderness. Only after understanding our inner vulnerability and experiencing our collective broken pitam, we can truly live in our succah of abundance in the Promised Land.

Additional Reading:
Kintsugi: The Centuries-Old Art of Repairing Broken Pottery with Gold

Lebanese Food: A Family Tradition & Personal Passion

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I love Lebanese food. Always have. Growing up, my mom and dad, two brothers and I always had Lebanese food on Sunday nights. We went to our local (and only) Lebanese restaurant nearly every Sunday for dinner. Many families went to Sunday Chinese dinner. We loved Lebanese! The restaurant was called The Beirut. We called it Jimmy’s after the name of the owner. It was at Jimmy’s that I fell in love with Hummus, Baba Ganoush, Shish Taouk, and my absolute favorite, Kibbeh Nayeh! (Kibbe Nayeh is raw ground lamb mixed with bulgur wheat and mint and other spices). Many years later, my brother and I would return to The Beirut (aka Jimmy’s) with our extended family and once again enjoy our favorite Lebanese dishes to continue our family tradition and share memories.

More recently as an adult, I learned the universality of Lebanese food. Hummus, a staple in Lebanese households, is one of the most common foods across the globe and really unites the world’s palate (I remember the first time I made Hummus from scratch). Virtually anywhere you go, Hummus is offered on the menu.

To celebrate Lebanese food, we are sharing some of our favorite recipes we hope you will create and share in your homes:

Also, I travel extensively, often looking forward to my favorite Lebanese Restaurants. Here are some of my recommendations:

NYC: Ilili
London: Ishbilia (best Kibbeh Nayeh in London!)
Dubai: Al Safadi
Abu Dhabi: Diwan L’Auberge at Emirates Palace
Tel Aviv / Jaffa: Abu Hassan on dolphin street  (best Hummus in Israel!)
Kuwait City: Assaha

Growing Up Jewish in India

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by Doron Samuel

I grew up in the suburbs of Mumbai, India in Thane, about a 35-40 minute drive from the city of Mumbai. Several generations of my family have lived in Mumbai. My Dad grew up there and attended a Jewish school close to his home, while my mom grew up in a Baroda, a city in the state of Gujrat. My paternal grandpa also grew up in Mumbai, while my grandma was raised in Uganda.

When Jews first arrived in India they lived in several small villages, adopting surnames directly correlated to the name of their village, adding “kar” as a suffix. My family had the surname of “Talkar” but this changed over the generations and eventually we adopted the last name of my great granddad, “Samuel”.  Growing up, there were quite a few Jewish families in our neighborhood, but no Jewish schools, so the majority of Jewish students attended private schools. I attended an English-speaking school and English is my primary language. Our community is very close-knit. We learned about Jewish history, festivals and traditions through our families and by attending Sunday Jewish school at a nearby synagogue. Generations of my family celebrate the Jewish holidays including: Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah and Tu BiShavat.

For Rosh Hashanah, we eat a number of foods symbolizing our prayers and hopes for a sweet new year, including: dates and pomegranates; black-eyed peas, leeks, beets, and gourds – all boiled with sugar added; head of lamb prepared with a ginger garlic paste and turmeric then boiled; as well as grilled pomfret (a fish) marinated in ginger garlic paste and grilled with red chilli powder and turmeric. At the Tu BiShvat Seder, celebrating the New Year of the Trees, we eat fruit of all kinds and recite a blessing for each fruit. We keep Passover for all 8 days and on the final day have a feast with our entire family. My mother prepares homemade matzo for the Passover hamotzi​ which is placed on our Seder plate.  My father oversees the grinding machine that grinds the wheat my mother will use to make the matzo, to be sure it is kosher for Pesach.  We keep three homemade matzos on the Seder tray. Each one represents our forefathers; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. For the other days of Passover, we get round, Baghdadi-style matzo from the Magen David Synagogue in Mumbai which has prepared and provided matzo to local Jewish families, including the Samuels, for generations.

Rosh Hashanah Seder

Rosh Hashanah Seder at the Samuel home.

Samuel Family Seder Plate

The Samuel family Passover Seder plate. Rather than small portions of the six representative foods, Jews in India place several servings of each on the Seder plate. Three homemade matzo are placed on the plate representing the forefathers; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Tu b'Shvat Table

Celebrating Tu biShvat

Over the years, some families in our neighborhood moved to Israel while others moved to the nearby city of Mumbai and its suburbs. So while there are more Jewish families in the city, there are fewer in the country overall. Today, there are fewer than 4,500 Jews in Mumbai with about 10 synagogues in and around Mumbai. The closest temple to my family is Shaar Hashamaim Synagogue in Thane. It is a 10-minute walk to temple for festivals and Friday night Shabbat services. During Simach Torah (marking the conclusion of the annual cycle of Torah readings and the beginning of a new cycle), we typically visit several synagogues, chiefly those which family members attended in the past. We may visit up to 5 synagogues that night, enjoying the Simach Torah festival and celebrating with members of our community. For Rosh Hashanah, we travel to Mumbai for Tashlik prayers where my family has been going for several generations.

Approximately 2,500 years ago, a handful of Jewish refugees survived a shipwreck off the coast off India and are said to be the original members of the Bene Israel. Though their Jewish holy books were lost in the wreck, their Jewish identity remained intact and was handed down through the years. Today, congregations of the area synagogues are big, and we always have a minyan for services during the week, Shabbos, and festivals.  We enjoy many of the typical Jewish rituals including Bar Mitzvahs. I had a Bar Mitzvah and it was very similar to Bar Mitzvahs held in the U.S. We read a Torah portion and we are typically provided Tefillin and Tzitzit by our grandparents. That same day or evening, or the following weekend, we have a large party and conduct the traditional candle lighting ceremony lighting 13 candles. Relatives are invited to light the first 12 and the 13th is lit with the immediate family. Jewish girls in India do have Bat Mitzvahs, as did my older sister, but I am not sure this happens in all families.

Doron Samuel Bar Mitzvah

Doron’s Bar Mitzvah ceremony. Left to right: Doron’s father, Jeffrey Samuel, Doron, and his grandfather, Shellim Samuel Talkar (of blessed memory).

Doron Samuel's Bar Mitzvah

Doron’s Bar Mitzvah candle lighting ceremony.

Growing up as a Jew in the Hindu majority of India wasn’t particularly difficult but when meeting new people and talking about religion, I typically had to explain how Jews came to live in India. It’s the same here in the U.S. when I explain to people that there are indeed Jews in India.

As Jews in India we assimilated over the centuries, embracing many facets of Indian culture. One particular challenge of being Jewish in India is keeping kosher. There aren’t any kosher certified restaurants in or around Mumbai, so when dining out, many people typically select a vegetarian restaurant or a restaurant whose kitchens have dedicated utensils for vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods. A friend’s dad slaughtered meat, so we would to get meat from him for Shabbos and festivals. As you may know, Indian cuisine involves a lot of spices and curry, so daily meals typically include: lentils, vegetables and pulses (dried seeds of legume plants) which are served with rice, roti (a flatbread made form wholemeal flour), or naan. For our weekly Shabbos meal we typically enjoy meat or chicken curry with rice and salad. On special occasions or holidays, we also have Biryani, a layered rice with curry and fried dry fruits. For Passover we create our own spice mixtures, keeping kosher restrictions in mind. And during Hanukkah, we have sweets everyday like others all around the world.

Following the rules of Shabbos can also be difficult. People in India work 5 ½ days per week, including Saturdays, making it difficult for Jews during Shabbos. In addition, many high schools and universities hold exams on Saturdays. You can request an alternate day, but it isn’t always allowed – at least not when I was in school. So, you had to take your exam on Saturday or risk failing the class. The work week has evolved over the years, with the majority of people working alternate Saturdays in place of every Saturday. This makes it a bit easier for us to keep the Sabbath.

One thing I love about being a Jew in India is how unique it makes me! I’ve had opportunities to meet Jews from around the world. I attended a camp in Hungary where I met Jews from Russia, Poland, Israel, Turkey, and the Czech Republic. I also met Jews from Canada and Australia when they visited India. Now that I am attending college in the U.S., I am meeting many Jewish people from communities in many different cities. Each one of us has their own way of keeping their traditions; reflective of the country and families in which we’ve been raised.

Throughout my travels, I’ve observed that every Jewish community has its own way of praying. A few follow tunes when praying while others keep it simple. I believe the Jews in India follow the Sephardic traditions as they don’t align with that I have been experiencing here in the U.S. which seem to be largely Ashkenazi traditions. For those not familiar, Jews in Mumbai and Gujrat are known as Bene Israeli Jews. The Jews in India believe strongly in Prophet Elijah and whenever we have a happy occasion or celebration, like Britmila (male circumcision ritual), we sing a song to praise him. We then serve a dish of flat rice with sugar, ground coconut and several dried fruits.

Marriage ceremonies for Jews in India are quite interesting as we’ve adopted a few traditions from the Indian culture. We have a henna day where both bride and the groom have an intricate pattern of henna drawn on their index fingers. The bride also has henna designs covering her hands and arms up to the elbows. Both of them wear traditional Indian dress, Saris or Chaniya Choli. The wedding ceremony typically takes place at a synagogue rather than having a chuppah on a terrace or lawn which is done frequently in Israel and the U.S.

The wedding of Gilon and Navit Samuel in Israel. Pictured left to right: Doron Samuel, Gilon Samuel, Navit Samuel and Osrah Samuel.

As with other Jewish communities worldwide, the Jewish community in India strongly believes in giving back. Hoping to pass on this tradition, my sister and I taught at the Sunday Jewish school for kids ages 5-12 years. I was also involved in planning several sessions on Judaism for several youth camps (ages 18-27). I was also a member of the JCC in Mumbai and was president of the youth wing for a year, introducing several events which have become quite popular over the years.

Doron Samuel at Sunday school

Giving Back. Doron and his sister, Osrah Samuel, taught the younger generations at the local Jewish Sunday school.

I’ve found the Jewish community here in the U.S. very welcoming and I am spending the summer in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood while continuing my education. I’ve been invited to and enjoyed many Shabbos meals with a number of families and friends. Corned beef and cholent are a couple of my new favorites! At home, I usually cook Indian cuisine but am always asking for recipes from the families and friends I’ve met along with way.

After moving to U.S., it was difficult for many to believe that I was Jewish and from India. There were many questions – several of which I hope I’ve answered here! I hope I’ve helped you and others around the world get to know the Jews from India.

Doron is currently pursuing a Masters of Computer Science with a specialization in Cybersecurity at Pace University in New York. His parents still reside in Mumbai, India.

Why Do We Delay Our Dreams?

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Why do we delay our dreams? What dream would you like to realize today?

When I was 15 years old, I won a scholarship (paid by Mazda Motor Corporation) to live in Kyoto, Japan as an exchange student. That summer I fell in love with Japan — the people, the culture, the food, and the language. In particular, I became obsessed with Japanese Zen Rock gardens. I visited more than 25 Japanese temples and gardens that summer. My favorite Temple was Ryoanji. Ryoanji was built in the 1400s during the Onin War. Despite the chaos in the surrounding area, Ryoanji was an oasis of calm and serenity. The hallmark of Ryoanji is the Zen rock garden which is about 2,600 square feet (80 feet by 30 feet) and has raked sand with 15 stones placed throughout the area. When you sit at the garden, no matter what angle you look from, you can only see 14 stones — one is always hidden from view. The Zen concept is that it is hidden and found inside your heart. It enables you to connect your inner spirit with your physical surroundings.

Ryoanji has captivated me since I was 15. I have always wanted a Japanese Zen rock garden. Always. I thought of it often. In January, I turned 50. Two weeks ago, I finally realized my dream and built my own Japanese Zen rock garden.  It really didn’t take much — not much effort, not much money, and not much time.  It is a small space and didn’t take much work. The materials were not costly and the maintenance is very easy — no need to clean or water.

I am so happy! I finally have my own Japanese Zen rock garden!  I am now asking myself — why did I take so long to realize my lifelong dream of having my own Japanese Zen rock garden? Why did I defer my dream?

I looked to the Torah to explore the idea of asking for something in a dream. In 1 Kings 3, King Solomon has a dream.

5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a listening heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”15 Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream.

King Solomon asked for a listening heart. King Solomon did not ask for riches or power or honor. He asked for something more simple. Something that would help him connect with himself and with his community. King Solomon’s listening heart allowed him to help communicate more fully with his community.

When I thought about the idea of a Japanese Zen garden and the search for the hidden 15th stone of Ryoanji, I realized it was directly connected to Solomon’s dream of receiving a listening heart. The purpose of a Japanese Zen rock garden is to provide a space for tranquility and inner calm. Staring at the raked sand and simple stones help heal our heart and soothe our minds. We can truly connect with others and ourselves when we have a listening heart. Achieving a state of inner peace and contemplation can enable each of us to be more aware of ourselves and our surroundings.

What is your life long dream? Why defer it? Why not take today to realize it? Incorporating King Solomon’s listening heart may allow you to more fully connect with yourself, your loved ones, and your environment. I hope you can also realize your proverbial garden dream.

Further reading:

I am overjoyed to have made an exciting and deeply meaningful addition to my Japanese Zen rock garden: a zenibachi. Tsukubai are stone water basins that are used in purification rituals and tea ceremonies. The zenibachi is a famous tsukubai located at the Ryoanji Temple in Kyoto.

I first went to the Ryoanji temple in 1984. Below is a picture of me at the Ryoanji in 2007.
Now here is a picture of me with my own personal zenibachi in 2021.

The zenibachi is shaped like an ancient Chinese coin. The round shape represents the Earth and the square cut into the center represents the heavens. There are four characters carved into it with the following meanings:

Together they translate to “I only know plenty”, a quote with a myriad of meanings and inspirations. I interpret it to mean “I am content with what I have”, a spiritual parallel to the Hebrew Dayenu: “It would have been enough.” I am filled with joy each time I see this unique and meaningful structure. You can learn more about the zenibachi here.

Have You Ever Received a Message from a Loved One Who Passed Away? …………… How Did It Make You Feel? Do You Believe in Afterlife?

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Have you ever received a message from a loved one who has passed away? What was the message? How did it make you feel?

If we can have light without light, why can’t we have life without life?

Before my mom passed away, I never considered the idea of an afterlife. I was always purely focused on life — now and as we are. Since my mom passed away, I have become more open to the idea of an afterlife.

In writing this blog, I am aware that some may object to the idea of discussing an afterlife. I apologize in advance for any potential offense. This blog is my personal opinion and intended to help provide peace and meaning to those who have lost a loved one and are open to a continued connection.

After my mom passed away, I began receiving messages from her. The first message was the last day of Shiva (Jewish mourning ritual) when I finished my walk around the block and returned to my office for the first time since her passing. When leaving the office that day, Friday, November 13, 2015, I saw the following image on TV, “Is Myra a good start?”. I was stunned and happy and smiled, (my mom’s name is forever Myra). I called my two brothers and amazingly we had all seen the same image on TV — at the same time!

I was really struck by this message. For the first time, I actually thought about Heaven. I really wondered what happened to my mom after she died. I realized that maybe her soul left her physical body. When I thought about my mom’s soul and the meaning of the message on the TV, I truly believe that my mom was telling my brothers and me that she was off to a “good start”. I began to imagine my mom on her way to Heaven. And, for the first time since she passed away — I smiled.

When reflecting upon my mom’s soul’s journey to Heaven, I remembered my eulogy for my mom when I quoted 2 Kings 2.

Elijah is about to die and go to Heaven. He asks Elisha if there is anything that he can give him. Elisha asks for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. In my eulogy for my mom, I also asked for a double portion of her spirit.

1And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into Heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

9And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha: ‘Ask what I shall do for thee, before I am taken from thee.’ And Elisha said: ‘I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.’

Six months after my mom’s passing and after my first Passover without my mom, I had a transformative trip to Israel. During this trip, I received many messages and signs from my mom. I truly felt my mom’s communications and presence. It made me so happy and mollified my sadness at her loss. When I thought of these messages, I imagined that the holy and powerful nature of being in Israel is what brought about these connections with my mom. I really didn’t consider or imagine that my mom’s messages would continue.

Now over a year later, I continue to receive these messages. (I’ve included several more examples at the end of this blog).

When reflecting on these examples, I thought more about 2 Kings 2. I really contemplated Elijah’s going to Heaven in a whirlwind. Then I thought about my mom’s journey to Heaven. I realized that I did receive a double portion of my mom’s spirit. My mom and her spirit can exist in Heaven and with me and my brothers and grandchildren in our hearts.

When good things happen in my life, I think of the Talmud quote “Every blade of grass has its angel that bends over it and whispers ‘Grow, grow.’” I can just picture my mom in Heaven with angels saying, “How can we help Andy grow today?”

This prompted me to want to understand how could there be an afterlife. Could there be life without life? I immediately thought of Creation in Genesis.

3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it wasgood; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. [b]So the evening and the morning were the first day.

14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. 16 Then God made two great [d]lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. 17 God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

God created light on the first day and called it good. However it wasn’t until the fourth day that God created the light of day and darkness of night with the sun, moon, and stars. So if sunlight was not created until the fourth day, what was the light of the first day? How could we have light without light?

I have learned that the day one light is that of goodness. Goodness needs no physical delineation. We simply know goodness.

I find a physical experience of this “light without light” concept when turning off a light bulb. Although the lightbulb is off, I can still see the light residue on my retina. I can still see the light in the dark.

When I pondered the idea of an inanimate object exuding energy after it is off to the afterlife, I realize the connection. If a lightbulb can generate light after it is turned off, why can’t a human body which has been on the planet 20, 40, 60, 80 years and made emotional connections with others generate life through our spirit after we are “turned off”?

I believe that if you have an open heart and a receptive mind, you may find messages from loved ones who passed away. If you come across a message, it may provide a beautiful moment to connect with a memory. Of course, if you are not open to making a connection, you will simply have the moment pass without a trace. However, if you are open and receptive, regardless of whether or not it is actually a connection with your loved one’s spirit, the feelings of connection with your loved one is real.

Additional Reading:

2 Kings 2 New JPS Tanakh 1917

Genesis 1:1

Additional Myra Connections

Myra License Plate:
On March 21, 2016, I informed my younger brother, Alex, that we reached an agreement to sell my mother’s house. While talking to Alex , I noticed the license plate of the car in front of me. At first glance, it appeared to say “Myra.”

Myra License Plate

Coincidentally, it was the 35th anniversary of my bar mitzvah. The significance of the anniversary, a time celebrating my spirituality with family and opening the door to a new chapter in my life, was a meaningful connection. Selling the house, closing one chapter of my life and opening a door to the next, made the license plate particularly meaningful, connecting to my mom…. I felt my mom was presiding over that day.

Nana Sign Iceland (July 2016):
On July 11, 2016, I had a business meeting in Reykjavik, Iceland. July 11 is my mom’s birthday. July 11, 2016 was my mom’s first birthday since she passed away on November 2, 2015. Please note the address of where I was to meet my business associate.

Myra Iceland

 

Nana Appeared in Business Meeting Materials (October 25, 2017):
I was attending a Board meeting for one of my portfolio companies based in India. It is in the customer service industry. Most of its customers are in India. I was so surprised to see that one of the customers they used as an example was named Myra! I smiled serenely.

Myra Assistant

 

The Nana Tattoo (December 8, 2017):
Relaxing by a pool in Miami, I ended up in a deep philosophical conversation with two guys from London, Steffan and Paul. After about an hour, Steffan stood up and removed his shirt to jump in the pool. I was simply stunned. He had a tattoo — which said “Nana”! I asked him why? Steffan was from Ghana and he explained that in Ghanaian, Nana means queen or king I simply smiled. I felt my mom’s presence…

 

Nana’s Spinach Salad (April 6, 2018):
After a business meeting, I was looking for a quick lunch in Sacramento. My colleague and I wandered into the Foundation restaurant on L street. We sat down and perused the menu. It was immediately apparent what I would order for lunch. I stopped and smiled – “Nana’s Spinach Salad”. “Thank you mom. Hi mom. I know that you are in better place,” I thought to myself… My smile got wider and wider.

Nana's Spinach Salad

 

Myra Next to Me (June 2, 2018):
I was attending a concert for a work event. It was a very big night because one of my companies was launching a new product. I was excited and nervous. About fifteen minutes before the show began two women found their seats next to me. We had a brief exchange about the upcoming concert. Imagine my pleasant surprise when the woman next to me introduced herself, “Hi! Nice to meet you, my name is Myra”. I sat stunned and began to cry… I felt my mom’s hug and warmth on such a momentous night.

Tokyo Hana
Tokyo (March 2019)
I have been going to the same restaurant in Tokyo for over 32 years. In March, 2019, I had an important business dinner. When I arrived early for my dinner, I noticed the flower store across the street had recently changed its name to “Nana”. “Hana” means flower in Japanese so interpreted my mom telling me to stop and smell the flowers.

Nana Flower Shop

 

Text (April 2019)
We have a business customer. At a recent meeting, my team texted me about the new account person who joined our team. The new account person’s name was Nana!

Text

 

 

Nana’s Treasures
Western Mass Jewelry Store (June 2019)
I have visited the same town in western mass for over 20 years. On my drive, I passed the same jewelry / antique store for each time. This past June, 2019, I drove by the same store and noticed it had changed the name to “Nana’s treasures” I stopped in to inquire. The owner told me that she just changed the sign a few weeks before to honor her grandmother.

Jewelry Store

 

Nana sent you a blessing
Playing a mobile app (July 2019)
When I was playing a fun mobile app, a message popped up “Nana sent you a blessing” I was stunned! I asked my friends if anyone had used the name “nana” for their game “username” . A business colleague from Japan who was visiting said “yes. My childhood nickname was Nana” so I selected it as a player name.

 Nana joined our team!

Nana Blessing

 

Birthday Greetings (July 2019)
On July 11, 2019, which would have been my mom’s 77th birthday, I saw this license plate in front of me. Mrs G – Mrs Goldfarb!

Mrs. G License plate

 

My daughter’s Uber driver (November 2, 2019)
The 4-year anniversary of my Mom’s passing.
Uber Driver

Pelicans in my life! (February 2020)
My mom’s nickname for me was “pelican”. In 1985, my mom said that my middle initial “P” was not only for Philip but also for “Pelican”. My mom said I was like a pelican because the pelican is the only bird that can bite off more than it can chew, and handle it! In 1999, my mom gave me a steuben glass pelican, which I still treasure. I keep it on my desk.
This week I had two important business events. First, for Photo Butler, we were transporting equipment to Miami for a customer, and our team packed the equipment in a Pelican storage case!  Then, at a Breaking Matzo photo shoot for Purim, the photographer brought his equipment in a Pelican traveling case! Both unbeknownst to me, and both this week!
Pelican Case Pelican case
The Sign From Pelicans From Professor Leshem (November 12th, 2020)
My mother met Professor Yossi Leshem a number of years ago as part of a bird watching and preservation conference in Israel. She wrote an incredibly moving article on the experience that you can read about here. Yossi Leshem spoke at my mom’s memorial service in NYC in November 2016.

 

On November 12th, 2020 I was delightfully surprised to receive the following email and videos from Professor Yossi Leshem regarding pelicans:

Dear Friends,

Since the draining of the Hula Valley in the 1950’s, the draining  of coastal swamps during the previous century, and the drying out of water sources along the pelican migration route in Turkey, Syria and Lebanon, Pelicans are fed in Israel reservoirs, in the Mediterranean lowlands.

They are fed with fish purchased by the Nature and Parks Authority and the Ministry of Agriculture. about 200 tons of fish every fall for the 50,000 migratory pelicans.

Once they feed, the Pelicans can continue to migrate to the swamps in south Sudan.

I am sending a presentation of a feeding in Bahan Reservoir:  https://bit.ly/2ItIK6A

In addition, a number of videos, so that you will can enjoy the impressive feeding:

  1. https://bit.ly/36iwVIb
  2. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VCy_Kf7Otpw
  3. https://youtu.be/jVSMKMY20R0

Best regards, Keep safe,

Yossi Leshem

Pelicans
Myra at Hasty Pudding (March 5, 2020):
At the opening of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals 173 show, I attended with my daughter Lucy (who is Producer) and was surprised and delighted that the main character’s name was “Myra” enclosed is a video clip of the show. Given my mom’s love of the theatre and sharing the same name – Myra, I was also overwhelmed that the personality of the character was so similar to my mom as well. Myra (the character) and Myra (my mom) was dramatic, flamboyant, enthusiastic, and full of spice and energy. It was a truly fabulous night at the Theatre!
Myra License Plate (November, 2020):

Around the 5 year anniversary of my mom’s passing, my daughter Lucy sent me this photo of a license plate that she saw while driving.

Myra Plate

Happy Birthday Mom:
I’m publishing this today, July 11, 2018 on what would be my mom’s 76th birthday. This photo was taken on July 6, 2013. Mom, thank you for helping me become open to so many new possibilities.

 

Have You Ever Had a Love Affair with…a Tree?

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In thinking about Tu b’Shvat, an ancient celebration of the new year for trees, I reflected on my personal connection with trees and nature.

I realized that I have a love affair with a tree. While we commonly speak about loving another person or an animal, we don’t generally discuss falling in love with a specific tree.

For some context, Tu b’Shvat is dedicated to the love of trees and the natural world. By the start of the 20th century, the Jewish National Fund helped invigorate the celebration of Tu b’Shvat by making it a national tree-planting day. Today, Jews around the world commonly plant trees to mark a birth, a bar/bat mitzvah or wedding, as well to remember someone who has passed away. As the idea of Tu b’Shvat as a tree-planting holiday gained in popularity during the second half of the 20th century, the holiday became more celebrated as a nature holiday. Environmentalists have become more connected with Tu b’Shvat to celebrate our place within and responsibility for God’s creation. Many people now consider Tu b’Shvat a kind Jewish “Arbor Day,” a day on which to reconnect to the earth and renew our connection to it.

During a recent Torah study session about Tu b’Shvat, I reflected on a tree that I have fallen in love with. For the past 20 years, I have made an annual trip to The Ashram, a hiking/yoga retreat near Malibu, California. During the week, I hike about 80 miles over 7 days and eat a solely vegan diet. On the very long Thursday hike, there is a section involving a hike down the valley and a switch back that leads up a steep section out of the valley. At the U-turn is a beautiful tree standing at the edge of the trail. The U-turn gracefully accommodates its positioning. For some reason, I began to stop and hug this tree. It is very tall with a fork in the main branches. Its branches stretch to the side rewarded with more sunlight. After 13 miles of hiking, I pause and hug the tree, reflecting on the various worries and life challenges with which I have struggled. It is powerful for me to hug the tree each year and realize that those life concerns I worried about in previous years have all resolved themselves. I don’t have a photo of the tree, nor do I think of it often. However, since I recently hugged this tree on my latest trip to the Ashram and just studied about Tu b’Shvat, I became more reflective of my love for this particular tree.  While my life has changed considerably over the years, this tree has remained constant. Each year, I have shared my internal concerns with the tree, and felt safe opening my heart in its presence. The tree has become a mirror on my life; a mirror that reflects without judgement. The tree is truly grounded, physically and metaphorically. I approach the tree after 13 miles of strenuous hiking and hours of reflection and solitude. My mental state is free of external stimulation as I hike in the wilderness. My soul is open and unencumbered. As a result, I can connect with my favorite tree in this contemplative state. While I often find my thoughts wandering before approaching the tree, simply hugging it helps me feel grounded and aligned as I continue on my journey along the path and through life.

I encourage everyone to find a way to connect with nature and find some time to reflect. Doing so allows to see ourselves anew, to think deeply about the meaning of our lives and our place within creation. More than being generally connected to nature, can we each find time to connect with one specific tree or another grounding object in nature? Can you remember a childhood memory climbing a particular tree or spending time with a friend under a favorite tree?

In Genesis, Adam and Eve begin their lives in the Garden of Eden. There, they sought to connect with the Trees of Life and of Knowledge. While their stay in Eden was short-lived, I believe we can each recover something of this primal human experience in our own gardens, forests, valleys and mountaintops.

Connecting Cultures through the Common Language of Food in Jerusalem

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How have you connected across cultures through food? What new discoveries did you find?

On my recent trip to Jerusalem, I explored a wide range of cuisines and recipes. While my initial goal was finding new recipes for Breaking Matzo, I ended up finding new friendships and fun.

During my two days in Jerusalem, I visited over 15-20 restaurants and food shops. I explored the following: Iraqi, Kurdish, Lebanese, Libyan, Moroccan, Palestinian, Russian, and Turkish cuisines! Each restaurant proprietor welcomed me enthusiastically into their kitchens and introduced me to their food secrets. It was so much fun. My guide explained I was the founder of Breaking Matzo and that was the magic key to opening the gates to their food kingdom.

Given the diverse range of cultures, flavors and languages, I was pleasantly surprised at how easily we all connected and communicated when speaking the common language of food. Breaking Matzo is committed to highlighting people of different flavors sharing a common purpose.

In reflecting on how easily food can bridge cultural divide, I thought about the Story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis.

People attempted to build a tower to reach the heavens. In some ways, mankind used its collective power to disregard the sanctity of God and reach the heavens on their own. As a result, God divided mankind into 70 Groups, each with its own language.

Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
— Genesis 11:1–9

In some ways, I believe that celebrating food cultures from around the world is actually uniting us all. Each of the recipes I explored were examples of each culture’s attempt to connect with holidays through unique flavors. Each dish helps children and adults remember holiday celebrations. I loved the smile and joy that each chef had in describing their recipes.

I hope Breaking Matzo continues to unite us all in our quest for culinary connection and holiday harmony.  Food is our common language, connecting human hearts and uniting our beautiful planet.

Special thanks to Andy’s guides, Ami Giz and Ruthie Genah Gutman.

Ordinary to Extraordinary Lives: Judith Leiber

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Judith Leiber, famed handbag designer, passed away on April 30, 2018 at the age of 97. She was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1921. Before WWII, she became a trainee at a Hungary handbag company where she was the first woman to become a master craftswoman and join the Hungarian Handbag Guild.

She escaped the Holocaust when her father obtained a Swiss schutzpass for her. This was a certificate providing the bearer with safe passage to Switzerland. Once there, she lived in an apartment with 25 others. They were later all  taken to a Nazi-run ghetto. She was freed by the Red Army during the Hungarian Liberation.

In 1946, she married Gerson Leiber, a sergeant in the U. S. army who was also an abstract expressionist painter.  At the time, she was making purses for the secretaries of the American Legation in Budapest. The couple moved to New York City in 1947. After spending years working for other handbag designers, she established her own business in 1963.  Her unique creations became status symbols and graced the arms of many, many celebrities and several First Ladies. In 1994, she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers. Today, her work is on display at the Smithsonian, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum.  

For more information, about this extraordinary woman, click here.