Features

Off the Shelf: Families, Nazis and the aftermath of the Holocaust

Graphic novels are not a new addition to the genre of Holocaust fiction. In fact, comic books in the 1950s-60s were among the first to speak about the Nazi war against the Jews. (For more information, see The Reporter’s review of “We Spoke Out: Comic Books and the Holocaust” at www.the…

Off the Shelf: Jewish food studies by Rabbi Rachel Esserman

Wikipedia defines the discipline of food studies as “the critical examination of food and its contexts within science, art, history, society and other fields. It is distinctive from other food-related areas of study such as nutrition, agriculture, gastronomy and culinary arts in that it te…

On the Jewish food scene: Thoughts on noodles and potatoes

By Rabbi Rachel Esserman

When I was a child, noodle kugel was the ultimate comfort food. In fact, I didn’t realize there was any other kind of kugel until I was far into my adult years. Certainly no other kugel ever appeared on our dinner table. In fact, it’s still difficult for me to t…

Off the Shelf: Views of the past by Rabbi Rachel Esserman

One reason to read historical novels is to gain insight into our ancestors’ lives. Of course, it’s impossible for authors to completely rid themselves of contemporary notions and totally understand the sensibilities of those who lived centuries ago. However, written works from those time…

Bess Greenberg's driving force: rhythm by Rabbi Rachel Esserman

By Rabbi Rachel Esserman

On her website, www.KidBess.com, Bess Greenberg describes herself as a “professional basketball player turned documentary photographer, turned curator, turned visual artist, turned musician.” What do all these different activities have in common? During an e-mai…