Counting the Omer

The Omer lasts 49 days, ending in the harvest festival of Shavuot. In ancient Israel, Jews would follow the Biblical commandment to bring the first sheaf (literally, omer) of the barley harvest to the priest, and then count 49 days until Shavuot, which celebrated the first fruits of the agricultural season and which is considered by the Sages to mark the anniversary of the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Since the destruction of the Temple, Jews observe the Omer period by counting each day of the Omerand reciting a blessing.

(Click here to print just the image)

NCSY’s Six Flags Great Adventures Chol Hamoed Program

If you live anywhere from Philadelphia to Monsey, NCSY’s Six Flags Great Adventures program is an excellent choice for Chol Hamoed. Tickets are currently available on the NCSY Great Adventure website and if you buy in advance, you can save $5 off each ticket. Orders can be picked up at the park or office and can also be shipped via USPS.

The NCSY Six Flags event will take place on the first day of Chol Hamoed, Thursday, March 28, 2013, and will include only the Great Adventures amusement park. Tickets are priced at $40 apiece, but can be purchased for only $35 when ordered online through the program’s website. Parking can also be ordered in advance for $15, a $7 discount off the regular park price of $22.

Tickets ordered through NCSY’s website can be shipped via USPS for an additional charge of $6. Orders can also be received at the office for no charge and purchases that do not include a parking pass can be picked up at the park on Chol Hamoed.

Located in Jackson, New Jersey, Six Flags Great Adventures is only an hour from Philidelphia and 90 minutes from Monsey, making it an excellent Chol Hamoed destination for anyone in the Northeast United States. Detailed travel instructions are available on NCSY’s website for those traveling from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

There’s Still Time Left to Sign Up for Pesach on the Mountain!

Pesach is just a week away, but there’s still a limited number of reservations available at Pesach on the Mountain’s unique Pesach program. The Passover hotel is located in Nita Lake Lodge, the world renowned resort in Whistler, British Columbia. It offers exquisite accommodations and a number of fun and exciting entertainment options.

Whistler is home to the largest ski range in North American and Pesach on the Mountain offers a range of unique Chol Hamoed activity options, like skiing, snowboarding, zip lining, and dog sledding. The Passover hotel is also providing a number of entertainment options, including speakers like Rabbi Manis Friedman and Dr. Miri Frued-Kandel, and popular acts like ventriloquist Don Bryan and 8th Day, the hottest band on today’s Jewish music scene.

Pesach on the Mountain’s top-notch selection of entertainers is matched only by the exquisite accommodations and amenities it offers. Even the smallest rooms measure at least 500 square feet and include an in-room kitchenette, gas fireplace, and a luxurious bathroom, providing enough space to ensure comfort throughout the lengthy stay. The rooms also offer breathtaking views of the mountain, lake, or local terrain, for a peaceful ambiance that is ideal for the nature-lover.

There are currently only eight studios and five one-bedroom suites left, so call today to be sure space doesn’t run out!

Purim Cards – Giving to Friends, Family, and the Needy

Purim cards exemplify the true giving spirit of Purim. They are sent to family, friends, and acquaintances and engender the same warm feelings as mishlaoch manos without the sugar rush, excess packaging material, and mounds of food that will likely just be thrown out when Pesach rolls around.

In addition, in the spirit of Matanos L’evyonim, Purim card campaigns are run by charities and the proceeds go directly to the needy around the world. In some cases, like the Matan B’seter Bambi cards, the money you spend can actually be used to fulfill the mitzvah as the donations are given to the poor on Purim day.

Purim cards from Matan B’seter Bambi (pictured above) benefit the poor of Israel. The organization is run entirely by volunteers, so there is no overhead, and all donations are hand delivered to those in Israel who are living without bread, milk, and food for their babies. To order cards, call 732-901-BAMBI (2262) or send an email to cards@mbbambi.com.
The proceeds from Yad Eliezer’s Purim card campaign are also given out to Israel’s needy. Cards are available in packages of one, ten, 20, or 50, and the organization also runs an extensive campaign for those who want to donate without purchasing cards.
Chai Lifeline offers five different Purim card designs, any of which can be ordered at a rate of $20 for 10 cards. In addition, the organization offers two free eCards that can be used to tell friends and family “Happy Purim!”.
Bonei Olam provides financial and emotional support to couples suffering from infertility. Two designs are available and its Purim cards can be purchased with a minimum donation of $5 per card.

Mishloach Manot Gift Basket Ideas

Homemade and hand packaged mishloach manot are always great, but sometimes it’s easier and quicker to buy something readymade – especially if you’ll be shipping the package across the country! Whether you’re buying for your high school BFF, your rabbi, or a business associate, we’ve got ideas for you:

Broadway Basketeers are the specialists. With almost 20 different gift basket options, they’ve got something for everyone on your list. Plus, they have a huge variety of generic packages that can be used for mishloach manot should you need even more options.
Jwines’ gift baskets are for the discriminating on your list. They’re built around some of the store’s most popular wines and filled with candy and food that perfectly complements the bottles’ flavors. There’s even a non-alcoholic and kid-friendly version should you need it.
Need a gluten-free option? Check out the Gluten Free Shoppe’s creations. Prices range from $54 to as low as $5.99 so you can get healthy mishloach manot in whatever sizes you need.
Probably one of the cheapest options available, Eichler’s has prepackaged hamantashen that make a compact and pretty mishloach manot.
Choclicious sells loose candy and nuts if you want to make your own mishloach manos, but has also created a number of prepackaged gift boxes that can be sent out as is. If you want one, you’ll have to hurry – they’re going quickly and some of the designs are already out of stock.

Kosher Nutrition Bars from Grab1 Bar

Grab1 Nutrition Bars were created as a quick, convenient, and healthy way to combat cravings. These kosher nutrition bars offer between eight and ten grams of protein and are less than 200 calories each, for a snack that is filling without being fattening.

The kosher nutrition bars come in six flavors, including the all new Berry Blast. Offering a taste of mixed berries, creamy yogurt, and crunchy crisps, the Berry Blast Grab1 Bar is high in fiber and low in cholesterol and makes an excellent guilt-free treat. Classic flavors from Grab1 include Cookie Crunch, Caramel Deluxe, Peanut Butter, Caramel Crunch, and Chocolate Crunch. For those who are new to the world of Grab1 Nutrition Bars, the company sells an introductory box of assorted flavors. Available for just $19.95, the box has an array of 20 different kosher nutrition bars so that new customers can try all the flavors Grab1 has to offer.

Grab1 Nutrition Bars are compatible with a variety of popular weight management programs like LA Weight Loss, Weight Watchers, or Medifast. Its products are also ideal for the kosher consumer, as they are certified kosher by the chof-k. The Chocolate Crunch and Chocolate Mint bars are pareve, ideal for any time of day or night, while the other flavors contain dairy and are cholov yisroel.

Kosher Gift Baskets from Chocolicious

Chocolicious is more than just a chocolate store. Offering a wide range of candies, nuts, dried fruits, and other foods, Chocolicious has kosher gift baskets, platters, and packages for every occasion.

Visitors to the Chocolicious website can browse for candy by color, occasion, type, or price. There are also nuts, dried fruit, chocolate, and candy available by the pound for those who want to create their own kosher gift basket or arrangement.

For the chocolate lover, Chocolicious offers a variety of goodies, including truffle squares, soft blend bars, Viennese crunch, and jelly rings. There are many different chocolate covered nuts available and the company also sells covered pretzels, cranberries, coffee beans, and raisins. Many of the chocolates come in a multitude of colors so that customers can easily create a platter that is color coordinated to match an event’s theme.

Shoppers who want to buy a ready-made platter can sort Chocolicious’ inventory by event. There are blue packages for a shalom zachar and pink arrangements for a Kiddush. The bar mitzvah, engagement, and sheva brachos gifts are elegantly arranged and look beautiful on any desert table.

Chocolicious also sells arrangements for holidays, including Tu B’shvat fruit platters and Purim gift baskets. There are Shavuos, Succos, and Chanukah themed platters and the company even sells holiday baskets with a red and green motif, ideal for business associates and the like.

Israel’s Strictly Kosher Market to Close at End of March

According to a recent article in the j.weekly, Israel’s Strictly Kosher Market will close its doors at the end of March, making San Francisco the only major city in the United States without a kosher market. Though there will still be a handful of kosher eateries in the general Bay Area, there won’t be a place where local residents can pick up fresh kosher groceries.

Israel’s Strictly Kosher Market has been providing the Jewish denizens of San Francisco with kosher food for the past 65 years. Owned by Faina Arvutina, the grocery has served as a gathering place for many of the Russian-speaking Jew in the area. With the market’s close, Jewish consumers will have to rely on national chains like Costco or Trader Joes to find the items they need.

In addition to providing the community with fresh cooked Kosher foods, Arvutina has also made a name for herself as a place where children can receive a bit of free food. Israel’s Strictly Kosher Market is also known as a resource for those who are having trouble making ends meet, with Faina often giving out free food to those who can’t afford to buy groceries.

Though the market will be closing, Faina Arvutina hopes to continue to service the community with her catering service and told the j.weekly that she is looking forward to preparing foods for weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, and other celebrations.

Hurricane Sandy Benefit from Schnapps Wine & Liquor

This Sunday, January 6th, Schnapps Wine & Liquor will be hosting a wine tasting event to benefit the victims of Hurricane Sandy. The event will take place in Kol Eliyahu Synagogue at 805 Avenue T in Brooklyn, NY, and is scheduled to last from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. The entrance fee for the benefit is $45.00.

Together with Hayat Catering, the Jewish Press, Ajax Union, and a host of other businesses, Schnapps Wine & Liquor created this event to help those who had suffered in during the storm. Hurricane Sandy devastated places like Mill Basic, Far Rockaway, Bays Water, Sea Gate, and Bel Harbor, and the company hopes that this benefit will raise enough money to help the families get back on their feet. All donations (including the entrance fee) are tax deductible and proceeds go directly to families in need.

The benefit is a whiskey tasting event and will feature a wide range of Schnapps Wine & Liquor’s most popular whiskies, including Macallan, Catoctin Creek, Corsair, Glenmorangie, Highland Park, and Angel’s Envy. In addition to whiskey tastings, the event will feature live music and catered kosher food.

To sign up for the benefit, visit the Schnapps Wine & Liquor whiskey tasting event on Facebook. More information can be obtained by calling 718-336-7707 or emailing schnappsny@gmail.com.

Custom Jewish Art and Ketubahs from Chaim Bernath

Chaim Bernath creates custom ketubahs and other kinds of Jewish art. Each hand drawn piece is one of a kind, designed with a specific client in mind.

The artist uses gold-tone illumination, pencils, inks, and pastels to create a ketubah that combines a multitude of styles and colors. When creating the design, Chaim Bernath incorporates Jewish motifs and themes as well as classic lines and illustrations. He also includes quotes from the Talmud or Bible in many of his creations. He combines age-old traditional styles with modern and contemporary tastes to create a ketubah that personifies the new couple’s connection to their past as well as their hopes for the future.

Though Chaim Bernath is most well-known for his ketubahs, he also specializes in creating unique works of Jewish art. He has pieces with the text of yehi ratzon, akdamus, and eishet chayil as well as designs featuring Jerusalem and yetziyas Mitzroyim. The artist can also create custom printed masterpieces, like family trees, bar mitzvah invitations, or birthday cards.

Chaim Bernath encourages interested customers to call him to discuss the unique design they want him to create. He works closely with each client to ensure a design that meets their requirements and exceeds their expectations.

http://www.chaimbernath.com/resources/slideshow/intro_14.jpg