Here on the upper east side we have many different types of Jews, some more religous some less, some more traditionally clothed some less, some closer to judaism than others. While we are not as bad as many completely ultra orthodox communities in terms of welcoming those who do not look exactly like we do, we still have our prejudices. Who eyed the lady not wearing a hat or sleeves to shul? Who has judged the man who pronounces the bracha at his aliyah to the torah with a strange accent? These are our brothers and we must love and accept them no matter where they are from or what they choose to observe. In fact acceptance is actually the best way to affect a person and encourage them to become more religious. Furthermore, religion cannot be judged by the material of ones kippah or the country of ones ancestors. Somebody's different minhagim (especially in terms of livush) do not make them less religious than you. If your ancestors are from Spain there's no reason for them to parade around in a furry streimel and thick bekeshe. I'm pretty sure avrham aveinu did not wear a white shirt, black pants and black hat. In fact, if he were to walk into your shul today you'd probably screaming and tell him to go fine a mosque.
Instead of judging people by what their outer appearances tell us, we should communicate with them directly. Speak to the person. Ask them how they are doing. Be a friendly, sociable person. Find out why they have wandered into your shul. Up here, people often are visiting sick relatives in the hospital. They neglected to pack their fancy shabbat suit. Does that mean they deserve a death glare? to be left with twenty feet of space around them at all times? Everyone (Jew or non Jew) deserves to be treated with respect.
One of the most important things to do to tackle this problem is to properly educate our children. CHildren have a natural acceptance. A child of two does not blink twice at someone who looks different than people they are used to seeing. Yet by hte age of five or six children begin to shy away from people who look different. Unfortunately in many very religious neighborhoods children have been bred to take this to the extreme. They are so scornful of anyone that looks different. They label any stranger a "goy" (which to them is akin to a swear word) give the slightly different looking person a death glare when they walk into their neighborhoods and giggle behind strangers backs. Some even throw stones. Is this appropriate behaviour? Is this what will bring our temple back?
And where did these children learn all this? Well, perhaps from their parents who will refuse to talk to a lost woman who needs directions because she is not wearing a sheitel. Or the storekeeper who sends the guy wearing to the head of the line so that he will get out quickly and stop tainting the place with his presence. You do not protect your children by teaching them this hate you deprive them of their temple. You also make their world seem strict and binding and some long to get out. Others are so afraid of being branded as "other" that they will take al sorts of abuse and remain quiet.
A Jew who is friendly to another Jew creates a positive impression, altering some of that other Jews negative stereotypes bout religious people. You bring people closer together instead of tearing us apart.
May we all look a little less critically at our neighbors and a little more critically at ourselves.
by Susie Fishebein: The original cookbook that set off the Kosher by Design Craze. I have enjoyed many of the recipes in this book, but here have been some that are just terrible. She will occasionally ask for a rare ingredient tht ccan be difficult to locate but I have that substituions are generally well tolerated. I amhighly disappointed that there is not a photograph of every recipe as I like to see what the prototype is (even if my version looks different). It helps you know what you are aiming for and gives you a good visual when you decide what to make. I'd give this 4 out of 5 stars.
by Susie Fishbein: What clock this lady is using I am unsure. Each of the reciipes comes with a "prep time" and "cook time" but these are highly inaccurate. Plus if the prep time is calculated using time saving gadgets then there should be a cleanup time as well. Tat food processor is not going to wash itsself. That said, some of the recipes are time saving and the ones that aren't still usually taste pretty good. Some of my favorite recipes originated in this book. Again, you will have to make substitutions for some of the more bizarre items. Especially some the time saving premade stuff that you cannot find in every grocery store. An improvement over the original in the picture department. Every recipe has an accompanying photograph. She also has a nice section on building block recipes and good ingredients to keep on hand in your home at all times. I give it 4 out 5 stars.
by Jamie Geller: She promises to keep you out of the kitchen and she means it. If you follow the recipes as directed they are pretty quick. However I find suggestions like using fingerling potatoes which are about 3 dollars more expensive per pound in order to save time on cutting regular potatoes absolutely ridiculous. And she too neglects cleanup time. Her writing style also irks me. It comes off as condescending plus she's trying too hard. It may work well with someone who has never been in the kitchen before but it bothered me. This is another book without a photo for every recipe. She gives a handy set of premade menus for each holiday as a suggestion. The recipes that I have tried have been very hit or miss. Some were terrible and a waste of good ingredients while others were all right. Nothing yet has blown me away. 2 and 1/2 out of 5 stars.
by Poopa Dweck: This book is a visual masterpiece. Every photo is gorgeous although shockingly not every recipe has a photo. Syrian cuisine is a great addition to anyones cooking repetoire and the book also comes with an explanation on Jewish Syrian culture. This is a large book, but that's the way I like 'em/ Alas, the syrian half of my family has informed me that some of the recipes are a little of and you should ask friends in the know for corrections or get "Deal Delights" to supplement. Most of the recipes I tried have been good but a few did in fact need correcting. 4 and 1/2 out of 5 stars.
by Esther Blau, Tzirell Deitsch and Cherna Light: The original kosher cookbook. The lubavich cookbook is a great starter book for any Jewish home. Not only does it have recipes it has sections on candle lighting, kashrut, and other jewish laws. I remember pulling it off the shelf as a little girl when we needed to check if we made a shehecheyanu at candle lighting or not. The recipes are fair quality and cover almost everything you could ever need. There are no photographs. 3 and 1/2 out of 5 stars.
by the French Culinary Institute: A great read tolearn about culinary technique, especially french tecnique. The book is down to earth and very informative. HOwever a lot of it is geared towards profesional kitchens. This not a kosher book so many of the recipes cannot be used as is. A very heavy tome. 3 and 1/2 out of 5 stars.
by Martha Stewart: Another great book for kitchen how-to's and theory. This book has great step by step photos inllustrating specific techniques and recipes which makes things lot easier. Again, not a kosher book so you have to adapt things. Martha is also not known for being practical or time saving. Who has a home kitchen blowtorch for making creme brulee? I'd probably get kicked out of my apartment building. But sometimes that's part of Martha's charm. I like watching even if I can't do it myself. 3 and 1/2 out of four stars.
by Kumfoo Wong: A thin, specialized book. Not for those who have no time. However it is a very fun project for a rainy day. I mad some of the veggie sushi's and they were great. I had to go to brooklyn for the ngredients but that was ok. I also am not going to make anything with raw fish, as I don't trust my home kitchen and fish provider to be up to the standards required to do this safely. Some of the illustrations are hand drawings instead of photographs which makes them open for interpretation but you can usually figure it out. 3 and 1/2 out of 5 stars.
: A great baking book. It has explanations on baking theory and hw to pick ingredients as well as recipes for alost kind of baked good. Everything I have made from this book has turned out great. Sometimes the ingredients are pricey and the recipes time consuming but the results are always worth it. You must adapt things if you want pareve recipes. There are few photos, which in my mind is the one great lack of this book. 4 out of 5 stars.
by Joanne Hayes, Lori Stein and Maura Webber. This book was given to me by my CSA and it has helped me use my weekly produce. There also sections on cooking with meat, poultry and fish although these are smaller. The helpful sections on produce storage and selection can be used in every household. Absolutely no pictures and they do try and seel you on CSA (which I love) and organic (I am not willing to pay extra money for it). The recipes I have tried worked out pretty well and since most recipes have vegetarian options there is less adapting neded than in your typical non-kosher cookbook. 3 out of 5 stars.
. It's been a week and here are the results:
which comes with it's own light system. It's pricey, but it'll fit almost anywhere. If you've got a cheaper option feel free to let our readers know! 
. 2)You cannot request specific items on specific weeks. You get what is produced. So if you are craving avocado and you don't get one in this weeks share, you may have to resort to food emporium. 3)CSA's tend to be run by sustainable, organic agriculture methods. This means you MUST CHECK FOR BUGS. Wash you produce thoroughly just before use (this extends it's life as washing in advance promotes rotting). You may want to consider a salad spinner for quick drying of lettuce.
