Sukkot is one of the most celebrated Kosher Holidays. Often called as the Feast of Tabernacles or Festival of Shelters, this week-long holiday comes five days after Yom Kippur and is one of the three bible-based pilgrimages, also known as shalosh regalim. This holiday celebrates two things. Firstly, as a thanksgiving for the good harvest and the marking the end of harvest season, and secondly, for the protection G-d granted to the people of Israel when they departed from Egypt. During this holiday, etrog (citron) is taken with the other Four kinds, lulav (palm frond), three hadassim (myrtle twigs), and two aravot (willow twigs). But what’s so special about etrog? Here are some interesting things you need to know. It’s Ancient and Pure Because of the Halachic preference for purity, etrog, unlike any other citrus fruits, are not allowed to be grafted onto other citrus trees. This means that the etrogs used for this holiday are ancient and pure, with little to no cross-breeding happening for over 1000 years. Etrog is also one of the four ancient citrus fruits which includes pomelo, mandarin and papeda where most of the modern citrus comes from. Grown as an Ornament Though after the holidays, most people eat the etrog or turn it into a liquor, an etrog that is cultivated for the Sukkot may not be ideal to eat and make a liquor from. This is because etrogs are very prone to destruction such as infestations, bruises, and its pitams (pithom) may fall-off. This is very important since etrog that is used for religious activities should be clean. Any discoloration, missing iota, bubbling or discoloration on its rind, and if pitam or stem is missing, would make the fruit invalid. That is why this fruit is protected with a lot of pesticides and applied with growth hormones so that the pitams will not fall. So what do I do with my Etrog? Now that you know that there are a lot of pesticides applied on the etrog. What should you do with it after the holiday?
After all these holidays we spent at our own homes because of the pandemic. We should reward ourselves next year with luxurious Jewish Tours. Riding a cruise on some of the world’s rivers and going places is something to look forward to.
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Ah, the beauty of the autumn season, where the leaves turn orange and gold and carpet the ground, a sign of the coming winter. Autumn occurs just a few days after Rosh Hashanah, around the High Holy Days, so the start of the year is more or less a time when the fall nights become colder. With vacation options limited and the kosher resorts closed, we’ll have to make do with our own forms of happiness indoors. While waiting out these days, why not make some delicious kosher snacks? Here are a few snack recipes that are sure to make your chilly days warmer. Vegan New York-Style Bagels (from Sweet Simple Vegan) Bagels are a kind of pastry dish that has a lot of history with the Ashkenazi Jewish people, and from the pantries of Poland to the bakeries of New York, they have served as staple snacks and meals across the years. These fluffy vegan bagels by Jasmine Briones is sure to provide you with something nice to bite into in the following months. Sephardic-Style Haroset Bites (From May I Have This Recipe?) Pesach has come and gone this year, where we celebrated our history in a manner that we haven’t done so before. The pandemic prevented us from celebrating Seder with our loved ones from far away, but that didn’t mean that we shouldn’t have celebrated anyways. This charoset recipe reminded us of that previous holiday, and how we can still move forward despite everything. Hot Cocoa (by Esther Deutsch via Kosher.com) Yes, hot cocoa, one of the most simple drinks to find and make. Well it is Autumn, so why not drink something hot to warm yourself with? It’s not fancy like a dessert aboard a Glatt kosher tour cruise, but sometimes, simplicity is the best. In times like these, food is one of many possible solaces that we can afford to relieve the uncertainty that we feel. Great kosher food is the cornerstone of many Jewish celebrations. It’s also a big selling point for kosher resorts or Glatt Kosher cruises. As we await the New Year and continue to hunker down and make the best out of our situation indoors, we can still craft delicious cuisine that can brighten up our days. The Jewish people of Europe have a rich culinary legacy, one that has been preserved and passed down in the form of various recipes that are still being made today. Here are a few choice recipes that you can try for yourself at home. Holishkes (via the Spruce Eats) There’s a variety of meaty stuffed cabbage recipes out there, but holishkes are one that’s tied to the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. This leafy dish represents both a bountiful harvest and visually resembles the two scroll parts of the Torah. Barbara Rolek of the Spruce Eats presents this adaptation of a holishke recipe from the Hadassah Jewish Holiday Cookbook, one that’s sure to bring you delight. Get it here: https://www.thespruceeats.com/jewish-stuffed-cabbage-holishkes-recipe-1136770 Lokshen Kugel (via Tori Avey) Now for a dairy-based recipe. Kugel is a sweet, casserole-like dish that has its origins in Eastern Europe. Lokshen kugel, in particular, utilizes noodles to further fluff up this sweet delicacy. If you’re looking for a dairy-based delight for an upcoming celebration, or you just want to try some tasty food, Tori Avey’s Lokshen Kugel recipe is sure to delight you. Here it is: https://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/sweet-lokshen-kugel/ Looking for more delicious kosher cuisine recipes? Or perhaps you’re interested in planning ahead for some future kosher Europe tours? Or maybe you’re looking for both? Well, check out KosherRiverCruises.com for great kosher recipes, fascinating Jewish history articles, and upcoming river cruise news.
Colorful feathers, exotic vegetation, festive sounds, and breathtaking tropical landscapes–wait, this seems more like the Amazon in Brazil instead of a typical Jewish trip in Europe. But what if you can explore the beauty of Brazil in an all-Kosher experience; twice the fun, don’t you think? Here are some of the most beautiful sights to see when you visit the Amazon! 1. Anavilhanas Islands One of the largest river archipelagos in the world, the Anavilhanas Islands which is composed of about 400 islands is a natural gem in the Amazon. The archipelagic feature naturally forms a maze, which serves as home to the flora and fauna in the region. Traditional river communities can also be found along the riverbanks, showing how people can coexist peacefully with nature. Be sure to try the water trails between March and August for an exhilarating adventure! 2. Novo Airão Along the southwest bank of the Rio Negro stands the tranquil town of Novo Airão. A traditional South American community, Novo Airão is a great place to explore if you want to interact with the locals and experience how life is like in the Amazon. A humble gallery of Buy Chaves and Helen Rossy calls this town home, featuring the local art scene of the place. From paintings and Amazonian wood carvings, to functional home furniture such as tables and lamps, this gallery showcases the unique touch of Amazonian art. 3. Jaú National Park This is the place to be for wildlife lovers.
Endemic birds, caimans, and a whole lot more–the Jaú National Park is a natural safari adventure where tourists may explore through motorboat journeys or jungle trekking! The rich biodiversity in the area is attributed to the minimal human settlements in the area, hence, the place is untouched and suitable for the wildlife to thrive. The rainy weather patterns and tropical climate in the region is also perfect for the ecosystem to perform a cycle on its own. With all those places, one can truly say that the Amazon is awesome! Plan your Kosher river cruise to Brazil now! |
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