Signs of Our Past: Rabbi Michael Strassfeld's Unique Jewish Memorabilia

By Albert Stern / BJV Editor

RICHMOND – On Sunday, June 2 at 4 p.m., the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires will host its major donors for an private viewing of the unique collection of historic Jewish signs, advertising, children’s books, and ephemera assembled by Rabbi Michael Strass…

Super Sunday 2019 – Kicking Off Federation’s Best Year Ever!

Co-chairs Larry Frankel and Elisa Schindler-Frankel intend to make it happen

Looking for a meaningful way to bring more goodness into our world? How about making a difference in the lives of seniors, young people, and vulnerable Jews all over the world?

On May 19, the Jewish Federation of …

Jewish Festival of Books: The World Needs Beautiful Things

By Avi Dresner / Special to the BJV

Anyone who has ever known a child, who likes to pick up random things of apparently no value or significance - in short, anyone who has ever known or been a child - will recognize Bezalel, the protagonist of Rabbi Leah Rachel Berkowitz’s children’s bo…

Shavuot Teaches Us Not to Waste Opportunities

 By Rabbi Seth Wax

As we move into the end of the spring semester and toward the summer months at the college campus I work at, students have begun to talk excitedly about their plans for after classes end. One of the joys of interacting with them means that I get to hear about the faraway…

Jewish Taste: Ottolenghi Strikes Again, But Makes it a Lot Easier This Time

By Carol Goodman Kaufman

Simple is not just the title of this newest cookbook by Israeli chef Yotam Ottolenghi. It is the chef's attempt to help readers prepare fabulous recipes at home with a minimum of fuss.

Sounded good to me. As much as I love to cook, I admit that Ottolenghi's Jerusal…