Two more incidents can be added to the list of anti-Semitic hate crimes that seem to be never ending: a temple in Arizona and a Chabad center in California have been vandalized.

I don’t consider it a coincidence that these horrible attacks took place during Hanukkah. It seems like every Jewish holiday stirs up animosity. When the U.N. is passing outrageous resolutions that condemn Israel and the Secretary of State is making inaccurate, anti-Israel speeches, it’s no wonder that this continues to happen!

It’s very obvious that a bias exists. When groups and individuals knowingly make false and/or misleading statements about Israel, it hurts the entire Jewish community, no matter where in the world they live. Instead of furthering their own agendas, these folks should be more concerned with the truth…

Like all Jewish Americans, I love both America and Israel. It hurts my heart horribly to see the current state of U.S.-Israeli relations falling to a rock bottom low. I can only hope that the next administration will do things differently. More than ever, Israel needs our support!

Here’s a bit of news that I can hardly believe: The Jewish Lady was honored with an award, rating #23 on the list of the Top 50 Jewish Blogs! To be included with huge, influential Jewish groups like JTA, ADL, and The Jewish Press is truly remarkable. I was also super excited to see that my friend, Sew Jewish, made the cut.

None of this would’ve happened without the love and support of my readers. Thank you all so very much. TJL would be nothing without you and every single reader is important to me. Obviously, I don’t blog for awards; I blog because I love it, but it’s really nice to see that others enjoy my ramblings.

Think Hasidic women have no freedom, no career, no life at all? Rachel Freier proves it’s only a stereotype. She has just become the first Hasidic woman judge in NYC. While Reform and Conservative judges have become quite common, it’s a wonderful step forward for the Orthodox community.

I think this quote from the Judge sums up her philosophy, and it’s certainly something I agree with: “One of my missions is to prove to the girls out there that you can be devotedly religious and not have to compromise your standards to be successful in the business or professional world.”

Opening a restaurant is a leap of faith. Most chefs dream about it, and those who actually do it, try to pick the ideal menu and location for success. Chef Jason Marcus is an exception to the rule. In 2010, he and his wife opened “Traif” a non-kosher establishment that served up tons of bacon and shellfish. While those foods may be popular in most areas, they most certainly are not wanted in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn! This Orthodox enclave didn’t think the menu—or its creators–were anything to celebrate. (The fact that Marcus is also Jewish only added to the chaos.)

Inevitably, it became a huge controversy. Instead of causing a terrible crash and burn like most predicted, it attracted a lot of media attention, positive reviews, and a non-kosher clientele. 6 years later, the restaurant is still going strong and has even inspired a web series. 

Traif: An Unkosher Series is a lighthearted, funny show that features an excellent cast. I was invited to preview the first 3 episodes and found it most enjoyable. The main difference is that the location has been moved from NY to Los Angeles, but that doesn’t detract from the message. An added twist is that the fictional chef also hosts a late night cooking show which adds to the silliness.  Another unique aspect is that each episode focuses on a special dish or ingredient—some of which have been inspired by the real chef Jason—and the recipes will be on the series website for fans to recreate at home.

Traif’s public release will be on December 23rd. This is one that’s definitely worth watching, provided you have a sense of humor. (Yes, Kashrut is a serious issue, but it’s ok to feature another perspective.)