Blog Archives

Chanukah 2018: 5th Night is About Books & Movies That Inspire You

December 6, 2018 by Rabbi Jill Zimmerman 3 Comments

Tonight we light the 5th candle. Here's the question: what five books have been influential or made a difference in your life? If you want, you can also include movies that make you laugh or cry. Here are mine (it was very difficult to only choose five): Torah- especially the stories in Genesis & the wisdom gained from wrestling with the imperfect Continue Reading

Chanukah 2018, Fourth Night Is About FOOD

December 5, 2018 by Rabbi Jill Zimmerman 2 Comments

Tonight we light the 4th candle of Chanukah. Our discussion question tonight should be SUPER FUN: What four foods are comforting to you (bring you light). They don't *have* to be Chanukah food, but if that is what comes to mind, all the more perfect. When I published a Zimmerman Family Cookbook many years ago, I reached out to members on both Ely's and my Continue Reading

Chanukah 2018, Third Night Is About Inspiration

December 4, 2018 by Rabbi Jill Zimmerman Leave a Comment

Tonight we light the 3rd candle. The question is: What three musicians, poets or artists give you inspiration? My 3 are*: 1) Chava Mirel whose voice and soul touches mine very deeply. Her inner light shines through all she does. I just love this woman. 2) Slow Meadow - I discovered his music on InsightTimer as a meditation & was so moved that I Continue Reading

The BEST Potato Latkes Ever (I promise!)

December 3, 2018 by Rabbi Jill Zimmerman 5 Comments

Here's the deal: I like my latkes thin, crispy and traditional (read: russet potatoes.) This is my winner recipe for the best potato latkes that I've been using for years. I deem it "excellent" as you can see by my photo. :-) It's a recipe by Nach Waxman that I found in the The New Basics Cookbook by Sheila Lukins and Julee Rosso. Here are the Continue Reading

Messengers of the Most High: A 9/11 miracle

September 13, 2018 by Rabbi Jill Zimmerman 6 Comments

What Happened First It is bedtime on this second day of Rosh Hashanah - 9/11/2019, but I can't go to sleep before putting this story to paper. What happened today will forever be a reminder of grace, miracles and the unexplained mystery that weaves throughout our lives, that sometimes I’m lucky enough to catch a glimpse. As one of the rabbis leading, I had Continue Reading