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Ditalini (& holidays) are like a lot of mini-windows!

There’s an old question about classic Jewish holiday study, especially in Chassidic texts. When it comes to Passover, we learn how fundamental of a holiday it is, and without which there would be no other Jewish holidays. Then comes Shavuot, … Read the rest

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The Shabbos CandleLighting Matchbooks

This year marks 40 years since the Lubavitcher Rebbe launched his Shabbos Candle-Lighting campaign in 1974. It’s also 40 years since my parents, Rabbi Yisroel and Rochel Rubin, moved to Albany NY on Sukkot of that year (Hoshana Rabba to Read the rest

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A Sukkah in Tashkent: The Barrel & A Dot

It was just a few of us in the Sukkah at the end of Shabbos of Sukkot, when Raizy’s father shared with us memories of his family’s Sukkah in Tashkent, then Russia:

by Rabbi Shlomo Galperin

My father served in … Read the rest

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My Favorite Kohelet Verses

I’ll be honest. Kohelet (known as Ecclesiastes) isn’t my favorite book in the Bible. It’s kind of a dismissive, almost depressing work, sobering and reflective but it is just not uplifting. Its for this reason that many communities read it … Read the rest

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Sukkah as a Makers Space

Makers Space is the new rage in schools and organizations the world over. It’s a creative hands-on lab with 3-D printing and other tools to transition ideas and concepts into real world tangibles.

Two UAlbany students recently founded the Future … Read the rest

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Homecoming on Sukkot & My Glasses Confusion

It’s kind of ironic to be celebrating UAlbany’s Homecoming weekend out here in the Sukkah…

On second thought, it’s quite meaningful. Sukkot is a homecoming of sorts. It helps us refocus and reorient our priorities, to rethink what home is … Read the rest

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Sliced Challah, Bamboo Schach & Even Spread

There was a little mixup this year with the Challah order we made from the New Mount Pleasant Bakery in Schenectady (which we get in additon to the Challah baked here at Shabbos House). They make  very large and rich … Read the rest

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Eat with Both Hands

Subs sandwiches, especially when stuffed properly, are one of those busy messy foods that you need to eat with both hands. Like Felafel it needs full-contact, total engagement. This is no finger food, you need both hands to keep it … Read the rest

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YK: Take5

Based on the “Confusing Internal & External Batteries” story that Rabbi Mendel shared at Neilah, our Yom Kippur appeal this year isn’t about feelings and character and other internal areas.

SONY DSCWe are calling our Appeal: “Take5”. Take5 is the name … Read the rest

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YK: Confusing the Internal & External Batteries

For about a half year now, my laptop battery has been charging less and less, until its gotten to the point that I can only use it while its plugged in. Finally I ordered a replacement battery online, but when … Read the rest

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