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A return to Eden: Jewish clergy from across the world and the denominational spectrum reflect on their veganism
Photo: Rabbi Robyn Ashworth-Steen Article by: Kohenet Yael Tischler Many people speak of transformative experiences in spiritual settings, but when Rabbi Robyn Ashworth-Steen was at last December’s Hamakom silent retreat, she recounted the following revelation: We had just had a session on mindful eating from Rabbi Sheila Weinberg. I sat down at lunch and was […]
Review: Nancy Wolfson-Moche’s ‘Vegetables for breakfast’ is a work of art and a revelation
By: Kohenet Yael Tischler Vegetables for breakfast isn’t just a cookbook, it’s an entire philosophy of eating. The subtitle of the book is “Change your breakfast, change your life,” and for author, food blogger and chef Nancy Wolfson-Moche, this idea underpins the entire cookbook, which is really more of a work of art. Reflecting on […]
The whole world has a song… The universe according to Perek Shira
By: Kohenet Yael Tischler Have you ever been plagued by the question, “What does the fox say?” Perek Shira, an ancient Jewish text, has the answer. In fact, it has the answer about many different creatures, as well as plants and other wonders of nature. Perek Shira imagines that every element of our ecosystem […]
Vegan cooking for the apocalypse
Over the past few months, many of us have had our lives irrevocably changed by the global pandemic. I have experienced a general atmosphere of fear, uncertainty and panic – and not without reason. So what to do? One place I’ve always turned to for comfort is food. This is useful, as we all need […]
El pan de siete cielos – the bread of the seven heavens: Reclaiming a Salonikan Shavuot tradition the vegan way!
There’s a famous Talmudic saying: אֵין קֶמַח, אֵין תּוֹרָה Ein kemach, ein torah If there’s no flour, there’s no Torah. – Pirkei Avot 3:17 In other words, how can we even begin feeding our minds, if we haven’t yet fed our bodies? I’ve known this saying for a while, but what I didn’t learn until […]
Once, there were unicorns…
Once, there were unicorns. Long ago, when we were desert wanderers, G-d/dess instructed us to make a portable sanctuary, so that S/he could dwell amongst us: וְעָ֥שׂוּ לִ֖י מִקְדָּ֑שׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֖י בְּתוֹכָֽם׃ And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them. – Exodus 25:8 The instructions S/he gave were detailed – an […]
Ancestral animal lovers: Biblical characters who treated animals with kindness
Jewish tradition imagines G-d/dess as one who cares for all creatures. According to the Babylonian Talmud, “in the third three hours (of the day), G-d sits and nourishes the entire world, from the giant-horned wild oxen to the eggs of lice” (Avodah Zara 3b). But kindness to animals isn’t only something ascribed to the Divine, […]
Make veg soup with Maureen Lipman (live cookalong)
From our friends at Mitzvah Day: We can’t all be heroes but we can all do small acts of kindness for others. Whether you are cooking for family or friends, an isolated neighbour or vulnerable person in your local area, join us as Every Mitzvah Matters. People of all faiths and backgrounds will cook-along, at […]
Judaism & veganism: The intersection of two paths
I remember a conversation I had with a fellow community member a few months ago. I told her about my job at the Jewish Vegetarian Society and immediately a perplexed expression danced across her face. “Judaism and vegetarianism?!” she said. “How could those things possibly go together?!” She’s not alone with this question – many […]
Jacob’s lentil stew: The secret recipe delicious enough to buy a birthright
There’s nothing like a hearty lentil stew. Healthy, comforting and warming, it’s one of the dishes I’ve been craving most during my time in lockdown. At the end of a tough day, a big bowl of lentils is like a bunch of legumes giving you a cuddle. Our ancestors’ relationship with lentils goes way, way […]