The very best Tashlich custom is a toss-up

By Rachel Heller
Published on September 24, 2008

On paper, the Rosh Hashanah ritual of Tashlich is about doffing one's sins to start the new year with a clean slate. For Jason Mauro, 16, it's also about beach football

VIDEO: Israel tries to sex up its image

Published on September 18, 2007

Britains' Sky News reports from Tel Aviv on an Israeli advertising campaign to sex up its image.

Fiery holiday lights up Lag B’Omer spirit

By Amy Klein
Published on May 10, 2007

Lag B'Omer, literally the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer -- the period between Passover and Shavuot -- is a relatively minor Jewish holiday that in recent years has become more popular among spiritually seeking Jews. It marks the day that the plague that killed 24,000 of Rabbi Akiva's students ended; it also marks the anniversary of the death of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, who some think wrote the primary Kabbalistic text, the Zohar. The holiday has always been observed by the Orthodox, and in Israel, it's celebrated nationally and is a school holiday, but these days, some non-Orthodox synagogues, Jewish youth and singles groups and others have also taken to the beach to build fires, sing and revel in the fun.

I’ll try it!

By Caroline Cobrin
Published on October 5, 2006

The thing about reaching "I'll try it" is that you are daring to imagine that things can work out for the best, and that you can add another activity to the list of common likes.

Cozy Kosher Surf Shack—Observant Oasis in the ‘Bu

By Adam Wills
Published on August 31, 2006

Situated a quick jaywalk across Pacific Coast Highway from Surfrider Beach and the Malibu Pier, Malibu Beach Grill is a kosher oasis in a town renowned for breathtaking seaside vistas, A-list celebrity sightings and new-age crunchiness.

Jewlicious Conspiracy

By Reina V. Slutske
Published on March 9, 2006

Parents don't understand why 300 young Jews packed the Long Beach Alpert JCC for the Jewlicious sequel on Feb. 17. We came for food and song, complete with banging on the tables and exuberant dancing wherever there was room. At the Sunday night concert, "Jewbilation," you could see the look of shock on the older generation's faces as we jammed to Hebrew heavy-metal songs by the Maccabees. This was not your mom's "Oseh Shalom."

Attending to Gifts

By Linda Bachmann
Published on November 10, 2005

How best can brides and grooms offer their thanks?

Kids Page

By Abby Gilad
Published on September 8, 2005

Kids Page

Kids Page

By Abby Gilad
Published on August 18, 2005

Kids Page

Resorting to Passover at Home

By Judy Gruen
Published on April 7, 2005

My friend Rhonda asked me nonchalantly, "Where are you going for Pesach this year?"

Envisioning the whirlwind travels ahead, my head began to spin. "I'll begin at Target for new shelf paper, sponges, paper goods, cleansers and a new broom. Then I'll dock briefly at Ralphs for the special deal on shmura matzah and whatever else they've got for Pesach that's on sale. Next I'll bully my way in to the kosher market for meat, wine and enough matzah meal to plug up the Hoover Dam. Then I'll get over to Stan's Produce for fruits and vegetables. By that time, I'll have thought of dozens of other things I need, and start the whole thing over again. How about you?"

Latkes With a Muscleman

By Michael Aushenker
Published on December 6, 2001

Why wait till tashlich to celebrate your Judaism at the beach? On Dec. 16, Pacific Jewish Center (PJC) will commemorate its recently wrapped renovations with a rousing Chanukah party.