SEPTEMBER
KOSHER MARIJUANA? Do Jewish mystical teachings regard marijuana as a method of getting closer to G‑d? Of course, there is the fact that marijuana is still against the law in many places, but there are obviously some exceptions for actions done for spiritual purposes that normally would be against the law. Before your soul came down into this world, it was high. The ultimate high. So high, there was only one way she could get higher: by squeezing herself into a bloodand-bones body and coming to live down here on planet Earth.
this into my gray-matter brain and to get my blood-filled heart pumping over it. That’s where the high comes from: from reaching deep within, all on your own. Who knows, maybe marijuana and other psychotropic drugs open up the doors of perception for the soul. Maybe it gets a short relief from sweating away at its mission down here. But it’s a high that lies. And for the soul, it makes the long journey down here into a bad trip. “This is high?” she says. “For this I could have stayed above and been much, much higher!”
"The real high can happen only by working with the body, not escaping it"
Here’s the gameplan: Soul descends and invests within walking, talking body. Body thinks for itself and doesn’t want to listen to soul. Soul feels trapped, oppressed, forced into doing things it can’t stand. Soul reaches within to find hidden powers. Soul works with body. Gradually, soul refines body. Body becomes soul-like. Soul discovers its quintessential being. Let my soul try every way it can to bring 14 // SEPTEMBER
The real high can happen only by working with that body, not escaping it; by prying open the doors of your perception step by step, stretching its limits a little more each day, engaging your senses, limbs, heart, mind and stomach in beautiful, divine acts daily. That’s the path to getting high and staying there.
STRAWBERRY / BANANA TOOLBOX: A blender 1 banana 1 cup strawberries ½ cup of vanilla yogurt ½ cup of milk 2 teaspoons honey 1 cup ice A pinch of cinnamon for garnish Large plastic cups in various colors HOW TO: Blend ingredients together. Pour into cups and enjoy!
FRUIT SMOOTHIES
Final Say: Find the ultimate high by empowering your body to work with your soul, not against it. THE HIGH SCHOOL CLUB MADE EASY // 15
TATTOOS
FALAFEL
What’s wrong with tattoos?
The Torah warns against tattoos in Leviticus 19:28:“You shall not make cuts in your flesh for a person [who died]. You shall not etch a tattoo on yourselves. I am the Lord.”
to insulting G‑d’s handiwork. Secondly, in ancient times it was customary for idol-worshippers to tattoo themselves as a sign of commitment to their deity—much like an animal that is branded by its owner. On many occasions the Torah forbids practices that emulate pagan customs to prevent the Jewish people from adopting idolatrous practices.
"Mutilating G-d’s work is rejecting His handiwork."
There are two general explanations for this prohibition. First of all, the human body is G‑d’s creation, and it is therefore unbefitting to mutilate G‑d’s handiwork.¹ This is seen from the juxtaposition of the prohibitions of cutting and tattooing. One must believe that G‑d, the greatest artisan of all, formed him or her in the most fitting way, and one must not change this form. Changing one’s body (unless it is for health reasons) is tantamount
The covenant of circumcision is unique in that is is a physical sign on our bodies of our relationship with G‑d. Making other marks on one’s body would weaken and cheapen this special sign.
TOOLBOX: 1 15 oz. can chickpeas, drained 1 medium onion, finely chopped 1 tablespoon minced garlic 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped 1 teaspoon coriander 3/4 teaspoon cumin 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons flour oil for frying (canola or vegetable) HOW TO: 1. Combine chickpeas, garlic, onion, coriander, cumin, salt and pepper (to taste) in medium bowl. Add flour and combine well. 2. Mash chickpeas, making sure to mix ingredients together. You can also combine ingredients in a food processor. You want the result to be a thick paste. 3. Form the mixture into small balls, about the size of a ping pong ball. Slightly flatten. 4. Fry in 2 inches of oil at 350 degrees until golden brown (2-5 minutes). 5. Serve falafel by itself, or with hot pita bread with veggies, hummus, or tahini sauce.
Final Say: Your body is G-d’s creation, and should be respected and cared for. Mutilating G-d’s work is rejecting His handiwork.
¹ Some students might follow up with a question about piercings. Body piercing is not a new phenomenon. In fact the Torah mentions nose rings and earrings. Do body piercings, for the purposes of beauty, fall under the prohibition against self-wounding? Not all forms of wounding are prohibited. Obviously, surgery needed for health consideration is not only permitted but mandated. Wounding is permitted when it is intended to benefit the person, therefore the prohibition against wounding is only when it is intended to pain and degrade the body (Iggrot Moshe Choshen Mishpat 2:65-66). Piercings for the sake of beauty and ornamentation would therefore be permitted, but if they are associated with a subculture of masochism and self-destruction, they would violate the prohibition against wounding.
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CANDIED APPLES
WHAT IS LIFE’S PURPOSE? What is the purpose of life? Why are we here, and what are we meant to accomplish? One of the most important conversations that children have amongst themselves is what they want to be when they grow up. Every child from a young age knows that they want to be a ballerina, an astronaut, a doctor, or even Superman. They set a goal in their minds, or in other words, a purpose. Now, think of it on a much larger scale: G-d set out with a purpose for creation. When it comes to our individual purposes in the world, we can look at it in two ways. The first is to look at G-d’s intention for creation as a whole. When G-d created the world, He was creating a physical place in which he could dwell. The purpose of every soul is to elevate the physical world and make it an appropriate place in which G-d can dwell. G-d created every single being with the ability to turn the world over into a spiritual place.
creating a home for G-d, every soul has a unique and individual purpose of it’s own. G-d created every individual to undertake a unique mission in the world, a duty that each person must accomplish during his or her time on earth. How does one know one’s own specific purpose? The answer is that everything happens by Divine Providence, and if a person is presented with a certain opportunity, this is certainly sent from Above and should be treated as if it is the purpose of one’s soul’s descent.
"If a person is presented with a certain opportunity, this is certainly sent from Above"
We look to the Torah for guidance with our purpose. The Torah makes us constantly aware of our duties in life; it gives us a true definition of our purpose, and it shows us the ways and means of attaining this goal, both in spiritual and physical means. Final Say: Just as each person has a specific purpose, skillset or career, so too, each moment has a specific mission.
TOOLBOX: 15 apples 2 cups white sugar 1 cup light corn syrup 1 1/2 cups water 8 drops red food coloring Cookie Sheets Oil for greasing cookie sheets Craft sticks HOW TO: 1. Lightly grease cookie sheets. Insert craft sticks into whole, stemmed apples. 2. In a medium saucepan over mediumhigh heat, combine sugar, corn syrup and water. Heat to 300 to 310 degrees F (149 to 154 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms hard, brittle threads. Remove from heat and stir in food coloring. 3. Holding apple by its stick, dip in syrup and remove and turn to coat evenly. Place on prepared sheets to harden.
Besides for the general purpose of 18 // SEPTEMBER
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AN INVITATION TO MY LIFE I’ve learned that Rosh Hashanah is about coronating G-d as king. That’s a pretty lofty concept. I’m pretty a downto-earth person. How does this esoteric concept affect my relationship with G-d? Rabbi Shmuel Munkes was traveling before Rosh Hashanah and was stranded in a small village over Shabbat. The next morning the entire village woke up before sunrise to go to the synagogue to recite Selichot, the prayer that opens the High Holiday season, but Rabbi Shmuel remained in bed, fast asleep. Rabbi Shmuel’s host went to wake him up. “What's the matter with you?” he cried. “If I hadn't woken you, you would have slept through the entire Selichot!” “Selichot?” asked Rabbi Shmuel. “What is Selichot?” Rabbi Shmuel’s host was beside himself. “Are you making a mockery of me? The entire village is now in the synagogue, praying and begging G-d to bless them with a good year...” “You're going to the synagogue to pray?” asked Rabbi Shmuel. “What's so urgent that can't keep until morning? What are you praying for?” “There's so much to pray for, Reb Shmuel,” sighed the villager. “I pray that the cow should give enough milk to keep my children healthy. I pray that the oats should fetch a good price on the market this year, for soon I shall have a daughter to marry off. I pray that my horse should not break a leg, G-d forbid, as happened the year before last...”
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“I don't understand,” interrupted Rabbi Shmuel. “Since when do grown men wake up in the middle of the night to ask for a bit of milk?”
ROUND CHALLAH
Our sages explain that because the spiritual world is essentially more connected with its divine source, it is difficult to freely choose to serve G-d when our spiritual selves are awed and overwhelmed by G-dliness. On the other hand, when we invite G-d into our physical lives, when we serve Him through physical deeds and materials, we are truly choosing to submit to Him, for this kind of service goes against the nature of our physical selves.
TOOLBOX: 2 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C) 1 tablespoon active dry yeast 1/2 cup honey 4 tablespoons vegetable oil 3 eggs 1 tablespoon salt 8 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon poppy seeds (optional)
Crowning G-d as king means accepting Him as sovereign in all areas of our lives, including— and primarily—our most mundane needs and requirements. Seen in such a light, our needs are not personal needs, and our requirements are not selfish requirements.. We ask for money to observe the mitzvah of charity; for strength to build a Sukkah; for food to keep body and soul together so that our physical lives may serve as a “dwelling in the lower realms" that houses His presence in our world.
PREP: Prepare challah dough beforehand. See recipe: 1. In a large bowl, sprinkle yeast over barely warm water. 2. Beat in honey, oil, 2 eggs, and salt. 3. Add the flour one cup at a time, beating after each addition, graduating to kneading with hands as dough thickens. 4. Knead until smooth and elastic and no longer sticky, adding flour as needed. 5. Cover with a damp clean cloth and let rise for 1 1/2 hours or until dough has doubled in bulk.
Final Say: This Rosh Hashanah, when we pray for material good, we are inviting G-d into our real, everyday, routine lives. Asking for our physical needs may seem selfish, but in truth it are only so that we can fulfill our divine mission of making this world a more kind, G-dly place.
HOW TO: 1. Preheat oven at 400 F. 2. Divide the dough in half, and further divide each half into thirds and roll out each third into logs of equal length. Lay the pieces out in front of you. 3. Braid the three strands together from the middle. 4. Once the three strands have been made into a braid, bring the two ends of the braid together, turning the challah dough into a circle. 5. Glaze challah loaves with egg glaze and bake for 35-40 minutes until the tops and bottoms are golden.
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OCTOBER
THE JOY OF SIN?
SALAD BAR
I find Yom Kippur depressing. Why spend a day focusing on our sins and failures? Do we need to be reminded how far we are from being perfect? Yom Kippur is a celebration of being human. And being human means being imperfect.
"Rather than be depressed by failings, we celebrate them. Every sin, every slip up, every failed attempt at living up to our calling is another opportunity to grow and improve."
Human failure is so predictable, G-d has placed on the calendar an annual day of forgiveness. It is not an optional holiday for only those who happen to have sinned. Yom Kippur comes every single year for every single person. It is as if we are expected to sin, that there will always be mess-ups for which we have to make amends. G-d is so not surprised by our failings that He allows a clean-up day every year. We
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were never meant to be perfect. For all of us who are not perfect, Yom Kippur is our day. Rather than be depressed by failings, we celebrate them. Every sin, every slip up, every failed attempt at living up to our calling is another opportunity to grow and improve. Failing at our mission is itself a part of the mission. Yom Kippur is the day G-d thanks us for being human, and we thank G-d that we aren't perfect. If we were, we'd have nothing to do.
TOOLBOX: 1 each English cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced 2 pt fresh red cherry tomatoes 2 diced bell peppers, yellow and red 1 pkg baby carrots 15 oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed Bag of seasoned croutons 1 cup small black pitted olives Bags of various types of salad greens Bottled dressings in various flavors UTENSILS Small bowls for each ingredient Serving bowls Serving spoons Forks and knives Plates HOW TO: Arrange ingredients around a table. Enjoy creating your own salads!
Final Say: If we were perfect beings, we would have no reason to exist. Yom Kippur is a day that reminds us we’re human, and just how great being human is, even with our sins and failures.
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PIZZA IN THE HUT
DO THE LULAV SHAKE BRING A LULAV AND ETROG WITH YOU. IF YOU ARE ABLE TO HAVE A CLUB MEETING ON SUKKOT, GIVE THE STUDENTS A CHANCE TO MAKE A BRACHA AND SHAKE THE LULAV, OTHERWISE DEMONSTRATE HOW IT IS DONE AND THEN SEGUE INTO THIS QUESTION. What’s with the shaking of all of those branches? It almost looks like they should be doing the Harlem Shake! What’s the significance? The theme of Sukkot is Jewish unity, which is expressed in several ways on this holiday. The mitzvah of the Four Species is all about Jewish unity. Each of the four types represents a different type of Jew: The etrog, a citron fruit, which smells and tastes good, represents a Jew who learns Torah and does good deeds. The lulav, a palm frond, tastes good but does not have an aroma, symbolizing a Jew who has Torah knowledge but does not perform good
deeds. The hadas, or myrtle branch, has a fine aroma but does not have a taste, representing a Jews who performs good deeds but does not have Torah knowledge. Finally, the aravah, or willow branch, has no taste and no aroma, representing a Jew who does not learn Torah or perform good deeds. We bind these four species together, and shake, symbolizing the unity of all types of Jews, no matter their background or level of observance. After all, we’re the same nation.
TOOLBOX: 4 whole wheat pitas (4-6 inches in diameter; pocketless works best) 3/4 cup tomato sauce 1 cup shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese 1/4 cup olive oil Fresh oregano HOW TO: 1. Grill pitas on both sides (about 3 minutes per side) and remove from grill. 2. Spread 2 or 3 spoons of tomato sauce on each pita, leaving a 1/2-inch rim around the edge. Top each pita with 1/4 cup mozzarella. Place on grill and cover with a metal bowl to make the cheese melt faster (about 2 to 3 minutes). 3. Remove pizza from grill. Drizzle with olive oil, then top with fresh oregano.
Final Say: The Four Species represents the unity of the Jewish people, no matter the background or level of observance of a Jew.
"We bind these four species together, and shake, symbolizing the unity of all types of Jews, no matter their background or level of observance." 26 // OCTOBER
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SMILEY FACE COOKIES
THE CHOSEN PEOPLE I am uncomfortable with the concept of the "Chosen People". To suggest that as Jews we are somehow closer to G-d than all other nations smacks of arrogance, elitism, and racial prejudice. How is that any different to anti-Semitism? In the Jewish understanding, chosenness leads not to arrogance, but rather to humility. If it were some human king that chose us to be his special people, then your assumption would be correct—we would become elitists. When a mortal power shows favoritism towards a subject, that subject will become more arrogant as a result -- the closer you are to the king, the more significant you are, and the more significant you are the higher respect you feel you deserve.
petty self-importance fall away when you stand before infinity. Being close with G-d demands introspection and self-improvement, not smugness. This is the idea of the Chosen People—a nation of individuals who have been given the opportunity to sense G-d's closeness, hear His truth and relay his message to the world. All agree that it was the Jews that introduced the world to monotheism and a system of ethics and morals that has shaped the modern view of life and its purpose. And it is the survival of Judaism to this day that attests to the eternal value of this system. To say that this is ethnocentric is absurd for one simple reason: anyone from any ethnic background can convert to Judaism and become chosen. Jewish chosenness is not a gene, it is a state of the soul. Anyone wishing to take it upon themselves is welcome -- as long as they are ready to have their bubble burst.
"The true test of chosenness is how humble you are."
But we were chosen by G-d. And the closer you are to G-d, the more you sense your insignificance. While being buddy-buddy with a human leader inflates your ego, a relationship with G-d bursts your selfish bubble. Because G-d is an infinite being, and all delusions of 28 // OCTOBER
So the arrogant person is not acting chosen. The true test of chosenness is how humble you are. While most other religious groups are quite comfortable claiming that they are the best, we Jews will do anything to say that we are nothing special. Now that's what I call a Chosen People! Final Say: The Chosen People were tasked with sharing with the world G-d’s message of morality and ethics, the value of life, and to make this world a more kind and G-dly place. Arrogance and elitism impedes a close relationship with G-d—to be chosen is to be humble.
TOOLBOX:
HOW TO:
COOKIES: Unsalted butter, softened 3/4 cup sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour
1. In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until light and blended, about 2 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. On low speed, beat in flour until dough begins to come together. Gather dough into a ball, flatten into a disc and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight. 2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 3/16-inch thickness. Cut out circles using 3-1/2-inch and 2-1/2-inch cutters. Transfer circles to ungreased cookie sheets. Combine and roll out scraps of dough, and cut more circles. Bake cookies at 350 degrees F. for 14 to 16 minutes, rotating halfway, until just browning at edges. Transfer cookies to a rack to cool.
ICING: 1 box (1 pound) confectioner’s sugar 3 tablespoons powdered egg whites Black and yellow food coloring Water EXTRAS: Large Bowl Hand mixer Baking sheets Ziplock bags
ICING: Combine confectioner’s sugar, powdered egg whites, and 7 tablespoons water in a large bowl. With electric mixer on low speed, beat until blended then increase speed to high and beat 6 minutes. Remove 1 cup icing and tint black with food coloring. Tint remaining icing with yellow food coloring. Mix until smooth. Spread yellow icing onto cookies using a small angled spatula. Let dry completely. Transfer black icing to a resealable plastic bag or a piping bag fitted with a writing tip. Pipe eyes and a smiling mouth onto each cookie. Let dry completely at room temperature before stacking cookies. Makes ten 3-1/2- inch cookies and twelve 1-1/2- inch cookies.
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DO JEWS CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN? Do Jews celebrate Halloween? I know its origins aren't very “Jewish,” but I don't want to feel left out. Let me tell you about a wonderful Jewish holiday: once a year, children dress up as sages, princesses, heroes, and clowns. They visit homes in the community, visit the infirm and the aged, spreading joy and laughter. They bring gifts of food and drink and collect tzedakah (charity) for the needy.
I know how hard it is to be different, but as Jews, we have been doing just that for most of our 3,800 years of history. Since Abraham and Sarah broke away from the pagan Sumerian cult of gods and demons, we have lived amongst other peoples while being very different from them. And we have dramatically changed the world that way.
"demanding instead of giving; scaring instead of rejoicing;"
You guessed it—I’m talking about Purim. It is customary to send mishloach manot, gifts of food, to one’s friends and even more gifts to those in hard times. Flip it over—October instead of March; demanding instead of giving; scaring instead of rejoicing; demons instead of sages; and you have Halloween.
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There’s a proud role: To be a leader and not a follower, to be a model of what should be instead of what is. Final Say: You belong to a people who have been entrusted with the mission to be a light to the nations—not an ominous light inside a pumpkin, but a light that stands out and above and shows everyone where to go. Forget about Halloween and wait for Purim to turn the neighborhood upside down!
POTATO KUGEL TOOLBOX: 8 medium potatoes 2 onions 6 eggs 1/2 cup oil 4 tablespoons. all-purpose flour 1 heaping tablespoon salt 1/2-1 teaspoon pepper HOW TO: 1. Preheat oven to 400° Fahrenheit (200° Celcius). 2. In a large bowl, mix eggs, oil, flour, salt and pepper. Set aside. 3. Coarsely grate the potatoes and onion by hand or food processor. Let stand 3-5 minutes. Squeeze out excess liquid. Add grated potatoes to the egg-flour mixture. Mix by hand only until smooth. 4. Pour into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Bake, uncovered, for 1 hour or until golden brown on top and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.
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