Hillel Ontario

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8 Foodie Blogs You Have To Follow Now

by | Nov 25, 2017 | Entertainment, Food, Fun, Hillel Ontario | 0 comments

It’s winter, which means we’ll be spending a lot more time indoors. Where better to be than the kitchen! If you are looking to experiment with easy, yet healthy recipes, you should definitely check out these blogs!

  1. What Jew Wanna Eat
    You might have noticed that we love sharing content posted by What Jew Wanna Eat on Instagram. On her Kosher Cooking Blog and Instagram account, Amy Kritzer gives traditional, delicious Jewish recipes a modern twist. Amy’s recipes range from gluten free delights to healthy beverages and comforting classics for Jewish holidays.

    ©What Jew Wanna Eat


  2. The Science of Baking
    Do you prefer baking with visuals? Then this blog is just what you need! Max Gelkopf, a student at Guelph Hillel, started his own baking blog with his father. Every recipe they post is accompanied by supporting photos of each step. This way you can be sure that your cookies turn out exactly how they’re supposed to.

    ©The Science of Baking


  3. Joy of Kosher
    Jamie Geller, the creative head and talented cook behind Joy of Kosher, started out as a “bride who knew nothing”. In order to keep her family happy, she started working on different easy, delicious recipes and collected them all on her website. Now Jamie is famous for her amazing creations, with her own cooking magazine, a TV show, and a section in the New York Times. Follow her on her blog, and learn many of her easy recipes to make your Jewish Mommy proud!

    ©Joy Of Kosher

     

     

  4. Jewlish
    Are you obsessed with Tasty videos? Stop what you’re doing and check out Jewlish – the kosher, better version of Tasty. Whether you just want to learn how to make Aroma’s ice coffee on a hot summer day, or you want to impress your date with a fancy, Spanish salmon paella, Jewlish will have the recipe you need.

    ©Jewlish

     

     

  5. My Name Is Yeh
    Last year, Hillel UofT was lucky enough to get a visit from Molly Yeh during the On One Foot campaign. The amazing, talented cook shared some of her recipes and tricks with our students. If you weren’t fortunate enough to join the event, you should definitely check out Molly’s blog! In her words “most of [her] posts include recipes inspired by [her] Jewish and Asian roots and [her] new midwestern surroundings.”

    ©My Name Is Yeh

     

     

  6. Gluten Free Loving
    Sushi, coffee, salad, cupcakes, burgers, pasta, noodles, you name it! Guelph Hillel’s own Riley Noik started an Instagram account, capturing her gluten free life and trust us, your mouth is going to be watering when looking at all the delicious dishes Riley gets to enjoy. Who would have thought that living and loving gluten free could be that much fun?

    ©Gluten Free Loving

     

     

  7. Cooking With Brian
    Have you ever made Israeli Salad at home? Or Shakshuka? Western Hillel’s Brian Friedman will teach you all the basics you need to know to become a great Israeli chef! Brian doesn’t have his own blog, but he shares his amazing, mouthwatering videos on the Western IOC’s Facebook page. Click here to watch them – trust us, it’s so worth it!

    ©Cooking With Brian

     

     

  8. Gather a Table
    Have you met Dan Hadad, our Interim Director at Hillel York and Innovation Consultant? Turns out, his sister, Sina Mizrahi, has a talent we didn’t know about- cooking! And guess what? She shares her heavenly creations with the world on her blog. Focusing on fresh and healthy “food as a source of wellness, and sustainability”, her blog doesn’t only offer yummy recipes, but also beautiful photography.

    ©Gather A Table

This Passover, help Hillel fortify Jewish students’ identities

This Passover, help Hillel fortify Jewish students’ identities

by | Apr 3, 2023

The night before the Children of Israel’s departure from Egypt is referred to as leil shimurim, often translated as a “night of vigil.”  Rav Nahman and subsequent scholars interpret this phrase, which appears nowhere else in the Tanakh, as a time of divine protection. These scholars conclude the night when Passover begins is one of safety – one on which no harm can come to the Jewish people.

In the face of rising antisemitism, isolation, extremism, and other threats to Jews individually and collectively, we are fortunate that there are additional ways and times for seeking security and comfort.  Building and sustaining strong, inclusive, and welcoming Jewish communities on campus enables Jewish students to experience a sense of belonging with their peers, bolster their leadership skills, advocate for themselves, and chart their own Jewish journeys.  Indeed,  Hillel Ontario is on track for a record-breaking year, in which we will engage more than 3,500 Jewish students. Leil shimurim might be just one night, but together, we can fortify emerging adults’ Jewish identities and provide spaces in which they prepare to take on leadership roles after graduation.

As we head into Passover, we are grateful for all of the contributions you’ve made in support of Jewish student life in Ontario.  Your generosity allows us to confront antisemitism, instill a sense of joy, pride, and resilience in Jewish students, and empower the next generation of Jewish leaders.  

While we’re proud of our success, more work remains to provide for our universities’ 10,000 Jewish students who remain unengaged with Jewish campus life in Ontario.  In conjunction with your observance of the upcoming holiday, please consider a gift to Hillel Ontario so we can continue our work and provide additional openings for connection with Jewish life, learning, and Israel.

Chag sameach,

Seth Goren
CEO, Hillel Ontario

Weekly D’var: Tzav

Weekly D’var: Tzav

by | Mar 31, 2023

In this week’s parasha, Tzav, focuses on the laws of sacrifices and priestly duties. The emphasis is on the instructions given to the priests regarding the burnt offerings, the meal offerings, the sin offerings, and the guilt offerings. These offerings were an essential part of the religious practices of the Israelites, and they were intended to symbolize the people’s devotion to God.

As I reflect on this chapter, I am struck by the idea of sacrifice. In today’s world, sacrifice is often viewed negatively. We are taught to prioritize our own needs and desires, and sacrificing them for the sake of others or for a greater cause is often seen as a burden. However, the concept of sacrifice in this chapter of the Torah is different. It is not seen as a burden or a punishment, but rather as a means of expressing devotion and gratitude.

In Tzav, the burnt offering is described as a “pleasing aroma to the Lord”. The idea of a pleasing aroma suggests that the sacrifice is not just a physical act, but also a spiritual one. It is an offering of the heart, a way of expressing love and gratitude to God. As I look around the world today, I see many examples of sacrifice that are motivated by love and gratitude. Healthcare workers, for example, have been sacrificing their own safety and well-being to care for those who are sick during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are not doing this because they are being forced to, but because they feel a sense of duty and devotion to their patients. Similarly, many people have been sacrificing their own comfort and convenience to protect the environment. They are making changes to their lifestyles, such as reducing their energy consumption or using public transportation instead of driving, because they recognize the importance of preserving the planet for future generations. Making sacrifices to show devotion and gratitude is also a way of showing appreciation for the things that we have been given, and a way of giving back to the world.\

As I read this chapter, I am also intrigued by the idea of atonement. The sin offering and the guilt offering were both intended to provide a way for the people to seek forgiveness for their sins. In our modern world, forgiveness and atonement are often difficult to come by. We live in a culture that values punishment and retribution over forgiveness and reconciliation. However, the idea of atonement in this text suggests that forgiveness is possible, even for the most serious of offenses. It requires a willingness to acknowledge our mistakes, to take responsibility for our actions, and to make amends.

In today’s Jewish community, the lessons of Tzav continue to be relevant. The act of sacrifice, whether it be in the form of volunteering, making charitable donations, or participating in community service, is still seen as a way to connect with God and express gratitude for the blessings of life. Similarly, seeking forgiveness and atonement remains a central tenet of Jewish faith and practice. Finally, the concept of sacrifice is particularly relevant during Jewish holidays and festivals, such as Passover and Yom Kippur. During these occasions, we make offerings and engage in rituals that are intended to demonstrate our devotion to God and their commitment to living a righteous life

As I reflect on this parasha, the concepts of sacrifice and atonement may seem outdated or irrelevant in our modern world, but they still have a powerful message to teach us. By sacrificing for others and seeking forgiveness for our mistakes, we can show our love and devotion to the world around us and ultimately make the world a better place to live.

Emily Green
Student, Western Hillel

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