forestofglory

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is the kind of that is easy to read for a little bit and then put down (which what I did) but everytime I picked it up I found out something new and interesting.

The book's thesis is that changes in Jewish eating laws have reflexed and often reinforced changes in how Jews have seen themselves in relation to non-Jews and other groups of Jews. Kraemer draws many symbolic parallels between dietary changes and a social changes.

One tantalizing idea that wasn't followed up as much as I'd have liked was interaction between gender and Kosher laws. Kraemer mentions that women generally had less access to religious training (in many times and places they couldn't read Hebrew for example) and that this might have caused women to be extra strict about the laws, but this point isn't dwelt on for long. I think that since women did most of the cooking that their views on keeping kosher deserve more pages.

I liked this book for combining subjects that interest me, for being well written and very readable, for being full of interesting facts. I enjoyed how the book used many sources including archeology, written Jewish law and other historical sources. I thought the book did a good job at painting an engaging picture of a very small part of Jewish history.

So I finished the Sukkah. R found a power drill and yesterday we finished putting up the frame. It's an 8 foot cube. My mom thinks its big -- I'm not sure as these things go.

Then this morning I tacked (with thumb tacks) some old blankets and sheet to make the wall. (They don't go all the way to the bottom of frame in some places -- I'm not sure if that's ok, but it's going to have to do.) Then I went and trimmed the the grape vine and a few other plants to make the roof. It turns out that vines are long but not very stiff (who knew) so I stuck a 2by4 across the top and used that to support the vines. I think it looks pretty now-- not sure how well it will hold up for a week.

So I've decided to build a Sukkah(*) this year. I've never done this before -- but it should be exciting and fun. If you happen to have advice that would be helpful. The internet says a sukkah should have two and half walls -- what counts as half a wall? If I use an existing structure for the bottom half of the wall does that count? (I'm thinking of using the porch railing.)


(*)Generally translated as booth, a Sukkah is a structure in which one traditionally dwells during Sukkot, which start the 22 at sundown

So passover is coming up. I'm excited. I've been invited to two Seders after three years of missing them.

However I'm a bit worried about what I will pack for lunch. I mostly take sandwiches at the moment. And when I don't I generally take some other baked goods. So if you have suggestions for veggie, non-grain stuff that can be eaten cold, that would be very helpful.

Also if you celebrate passover and you want to tell me about what you traditionally eat, or what you are planing to eat this year I would enjoy hearing about it.