Splitting The Sea | |  A collection of real-life, inspiring, and often miraculous shidduchim stories
Mordecai Plaut
11/03/2004
I read the book before I met the author at the Tzefat Writers' Conference this month. And that's why I eagerly offered to do a review in exchange for a complimentary copy. It's a book I'd like to own, to have around, to refer to when occasional people come to the house asking for help in their shidduchim.
...Splitting the Sea is her first work, a compilation of stories and articles, most of which are written up by Tamar. It is definitely not just another book on shidduchim, which would probably sell in any case since everyone is interested in this subject. But, as she points out, her book has a unique angle. It doesn't throw advice at you or tell you not to be picky, if you happen to be that single, unattached male or female hoping to find the Right One but very, very discouraged by well-meaning people.
No, it doesn't tell you to be openminded, nor does it preach, for that matter. It DOES tell you never to give up because we are not running this world. Hashem is, and it is He Who can split the sea for everyone when the time comes. "For some of us, it is a very short journey and for others the journey is long and complicated..."
| | Taste Of Challah | |  Book Review: A Taste of Challah
Ezra HaLevi
10/29/2007
IsraelNN.com) Kosher cookbooks have been advancing for quite a while, but a new book specifically about challah, braided Sabbath breads, brings them to a whole new level.
...The book is quite unique in its successful combination of midrashic sources, halacha, original recipes, stunning photography and practical format. Who knew that pull-apart challah represents the unification of the twelve tribes of Israel and the reenactment of the miraculous show breads from the Holy Temple? | |  Home Baked Challah a Growing National Phenomenon
Menachem Lubinsky
06/04/2007
...Baking the challah bread, say food sources, has become increasingly popular amongst Orthodox, Conservative and even Reform Jews. A newly opened upscale “Kitchen Couture” in Boro Park, Brooklyn yesterday featured Tamar Ansh, a popular recipe developer and food columnist whose latest book “A Taste of Challah” (Feldheim Publishing, May 2007) is receiving rave reviews. Although she lives in Israel, Mrs. Ansh has been appearing at many lectures throughout the country to promote her new book... | |  Season to Taste: Dinner Table Books
By Adeena Sussman
07/01/2007
In a taste of challah (feldheim), Tamar Ansh explains the significance of bread baking in the Jewish tradition and offers insightful tips. For instance, before braiding halla, she suggests flattening each piece of dough into a large circle, then rolling them into individual logs for professional- looking results. The collection also features recipes for centerpieces such as baskets and wine bottle holders made out of halla, quick breads and unusual offerings including Kubaneh and pretzels. Recipes to try: Baked Pitas, Whole Wheat Challah. | |  A Taste of Challah, by Tamar Ansh
Giora Shimoni
06/13/2007
Surprise! That is what I felt when I opened A Taste of Challah by Tamar Ansh. With the growth of my family, I became a devoted member of the "why spend hours baking something that costs pennies to buy" club. But after leafing through this gorgeous book, I quit the club forever. A Taste of Challah – A Comprehensive Guide to Challah and Bread Making, Tamar Ansh teaches and inspires.
With clear, detailed instructions and more than 350 photographs, the cookbook enables novice bakers to create beautiful and delicious loaves. In addition, the Jewish laws, blessings, rituals and stories in the book are encouraging of Jewish women. The book makes a gorgeous gift for anyone - from bat mitzvah girl to senior bubbe - who likes to bake and wants to add Jewish flavor to their home. | |  Getting A Taste of Challah
BY: Jennifer Daddario
07/12/2007
Cleveland native Tamar Ansh just wanted to learn how to make her challah look and taste better.
What began as a simple search for a book on challah making, however, turned into a five-year project, gathering recipes, creating her own book, and eventually getting it published. The result is A Taste of Challah: A Comprehensive Guide to Challah and Bread Baking (Feldheim Publishers, 201 pages, $34.99).
...“Challah is not just bread,” the author continues. “By making the dough and then performing the mitzvah, a woman causes tremendous blessing to come into her own home, into the challah itself, into her famiy’s lives, and even into the whole world. It is something on a highly spiritual level.” | |  Taste of Challah
08/18/2007
Who can resist the mouth-watering fragrance of freshly baked challah, wafting through a Jewish home? Yet how many potential bakers are intimidated by the seemingly esoteric art of challah and bread baking? This book unlocks the secrets of challah baking, making delicious, perfect challos, breads, rolls, and other yeast-dough treats accessible to all. Beautiful photographs, inspiring stories, and easy-to-follow instructions make this a book to treasure-a gift that will enhance every kitchen. Aside from the heavenly taste and smell of home-made challah, it is a special mitzvah given to women and is a very fulfilling pursuit. This book will clue you in to this soul-satisfying mitzvah and transform you into the baker you never thought you could be! Includes an indispensable chapter on the Seven Steps to Amazing Challah-an in-depth, kitchen-tested guide to systematically achieve great results and avoid potential pitfalls, plus several illustrated braiding techniques to put finishing touches on your delectable masterpiece.
| |  Making Challah Enriches Lives of Jewish Women
Zalman Pinson
08/30/07
On Fridays and during the High Holy Days, as the Stockton Chabad rabbi's wife kneads the golden dough, she thinks of Sarah, the wife of Abraham.
....There is much tradition in the making of challah and there are rules governing all aspects of the bread making. Tamar Ansh touches on these in her book “A Taste of Challah: A Comprehensive Guide to Challah and Bread Baking” (Feldheim Publishers, $34.99).
Ansh also provides a window into what a personally enriching experience making bread from scratch can be through stories from those who make challah weekly. | |  The blessings and customs for separating challah
Judie Jacobson
08/29/2007
As is the custom when lighting Sabbath candles, many women take a few moments fulfilling the mitzvah of separating the challah to whisper a prayer for their children, their loved ones, for Israel and for all Jewish people.
In addition to one’s own personal prayer, the following blessing is recited after the dough is prepared and before it has been shaped into a loaf:
Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to separate challah (from the dough).
...In her book “A Taste of Challah,” Tamar Ansh discusses the laws and customs that accompany the mitzvah. | |  The Blessing of Bread
09/06/2007
"And there was a continual blessing in her dough." So begins A Taste of Challah: A Comprehensive Guide to Challah and Bread Baking, the latest book by Tamar Ansh.
Almost every culture has its own traditional breads. However, there is something mystical and unique about the special Jewish bread called challah. The skill of baking and braiding this item has been passed down through the generations, survival upheavals and migrations, and continues to this day.
Ansh said that she wrote the book to "demystify" the process -- "so that everyone, everywhere, can enjoy baking challah and bread." | |  New volumes for the holiest time of the year.
Sandee Brawarsky - Jewish Week Book Critic
09/07/2007
Tamar Ansh combines the mystical and the practical in “A Taste of Challah: A Comprehensive Guide to Challah and Bread Baking” (Feldheim). Illustrated with full-color photographs that highlight the finished breads as well as the step-by-step directions, the book includes recipes for woven and braided round challahs for the holidays, symbolizing the cyclical nature of the year and eternity of life. Following tradition, Ansh, who lives in Jerusalem, adds sugar, raisins and a sprinkle of cinnamon to her challah at this time of year, making her home fragrant with sweetness and freshly baked bread. | |  Goodies that make you want to challah
Judy Bart Kancigor
09/09/2007
"A Taste of Challah" is a step-by-step primer to making the perfect loaf, and challenges you -- indeed entices you -- to forego that store-bought challah and make it yourself. Its more than 350 photos guide you through the challah-making process with detailed instructions for creating everything from the Shabbat braided challah to challah napkin rings, flower challah rolls, even an intricate lattice-woven challah basket...
...But what distinguishes this book most is its overriding sense of awe that this is no ordinary loaf. We see it in the quote by Rashi that opens the book -- "And there was a continual blessing in her dough" -- in the prayers and blessings included and the excursus on the laws of separating the dough, the obligation to separate a small piece of dough and sanctify it. | |  Round breads of Rosh Hashana symbolize cycle of Jewish year
Carol Lollis
09/07/2007
...Ansh is the author of a new book devoted to the subject of challah. Published by Feldheim Publishers at $34.99, it's called "A Taste of Challah," and if the word "taste" suggests a morsel rather than something more complete, then the subtitle "A Comprehensive Guide to Challah and Bread Baking" makes absolutely clear that this is not the case.
Every step of making challah of many kinds is lavishly illustrated. Those complicated braids? This book shows you how to make them. Want to know a number of different braiding patterns or circular shapes? This book will give them to you. Want to make little individual-size challahs? The book has them too. It also has instructions for making a woven basket of challah dough, napkin rings of challah, a challah wine-bottle holder and a long challah called a simchah challah for when there are lots of guests... | |
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