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Ethel G. Hofman

Ethel G. Hofman

Ethel G. Hofman is a widely syndicated American Jewish food and travel columnist, author and culinary consultant.

Decorate holiday tables with dreidels of all sizes and colors. Photocopy song sheets to “Maoz Tzur” (“Rock of Ages”). Finish the pumpkin pie before a new round of sweets arrives. Continue the tradition and the story.
Once a way to use up old cheese and stale bread, it became the “go-to” dinner-party dish in the 1960s and ’70s.
With the tastes of summer lingering on our palates, make the menu fresh, local and lighter than the traditional brisket and kugels.
It’s been a while since we’ve entertained a crowd, but now’s the time to bring it on. Start with Shabbat dinner and celebrate all weekend long.
On Lag B’Omer, kids come armed for a marshmallow roast, while adults can relax and enjoy conversation in the cool of the evening.
With coronavirus vaccinations ramping up throughout the country, this may be the last time we have to spend celebrating in our small bubbles, restricted from family and friends.
Take heart! Solo, duo or within a “bubble,” we can still enjoy the holiday, albeit at home instead of parading around at synagogue, in school or down the halls of the Jewish community center.
Maybe it won’t be so bad to curl up in an armchair and watch the giant ball drop virtually in New York’s deserted Times Square. Or to snack while continuing with whatever show you happen to be binge-watching, leaving leftovers for Shabbat.
During World War II, when Britain was battered and bombed by Nazi Germany, people were able to be together, to sympathize with hugs and shoulders to lean on. Not so during COVID, but we create that feeling virtually, as we also light the candles from afar.
With people advised not to travel by the nation’s health authorities and COVID-19 cases on the rise, a more solitary affair is in the works. But don’t give up on the holiday fare!
We can eat every meal in the sukkah, even if it means schlepping foods in from the kitchen. After all, time is what we have right now. And it sure beats a Zoom call.
This Rosh Hashanah is like no other. Masks, gloves and social distancing are the norm. Families are apart. Children are restless, and seniors are sad. Still, there is a collective coming together.