Rafael Hope, Author at Amen V'Amen

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15+ Unique Sukkot Gift Ideas You Can Bring to the Sukkah [+ Simchat Torah] (2019)

August 29, 2019Last Updated: August 29, 2019 Rafael Hope 2 Comments

Sukkot – the holiday where we leave our cushy home and dwell for 7 days in a Sukkah (don’t worry, you’re still allowed inside the house during that time… unless you did something naughty).

We eat, sleep and decorate our Sukkah for the Jewish feast of Tabernacles (or the feast of booths) – just as our Jewish forefathers did during the Exodus.

But what if we’re invited to someone else’s Sukkah? Well then… whether you’re planning to sleep in their backyard or you’re just invited for a meal, one thing is for sure: you should NEVER arrive empty-handed.

The real question is: what kind of gift do we get our lovely Sukkot host/hostess?

That’s exactly what we’ll answer today. By the time you leave this guide, you’ll have a list of unique Sukkot gift ideas at your disposal. Guaranteed!

8 Easy [and Cheap] Sukkah Kits You Can Buy for Sukkot (2019)

August 29, 2019Last Updated: November 16, 2019 Rafael Hope 2 Comments

Sukkot

Let’s be honest: not having your own Sukkah on Sukkot sucks.

You walk around the neighborhood and see your Jewish friends & neighbors all chilling in their Sukkah, having a good time…

You think to yourself: “Damn, I wish I had built my own Sukkah”…

How about we avoid that feeling, shall we?

Now, you may be wondering…

… Isn’t it hard to build a Sukkah?
… Doesn’t it cost a fortune?
… Doesn’t it take forever?
… Do I need to be a lumberjack to build one?
… What if I fall down the ladder and break my pinky finger?

The answer to ALL of these questions (including the last one): No.

You see, up until a few years ago, I thought that building a Kosher Sukkah (aka a “Jewish tent”) was a huge chore, so I never bothered trying…

But then one year I mustered the courage and decided: “What the hell, let’s give it a shot. How hard can it be?”.

Turns out – VERY hard – if you’re building one yourself from scratch. But VERY easy – if you’re using a Sukkah kit.

If you’ve got the right Sukkah building kit – it can literally save you hours (if not days) of total frustration.

Turns out, with the right kit, building a Sukkah is not that different than building Legos. And I trust you can handle legos, yes? Good – then you can handle building a Sukkah, even if you’ve never built one.

Now, the only question is you: How do you find the right Sukkah?

Whether you’re looking for an affordable Sukkah or an easy-to-assemble Sukkah kit, the answer is the same: right here, right now.

Let’s begin…

25+ Best Shofar Horns & Kosher Shofar Types from Israel [Kudu, Ram’s Horn & Exotic] (2019)

August 28, 2019Last Updated: August 28, 2019 Rafael Hope 4 Comments

Judaica Rosh Hashanah Yom Kippur

Tuuuuuu (Tekiah).

Tuuu-tuuu-tuuu-tuuu (Teruah).

Tu-tu-tu-tu-tu-tu-tu-tu (Shevarim).

Am I making a Shofar blast, or have I just lost my mind (or both?).

Yep, that’s indeed the “sound” of the Shofar – the famous musical Jewish horn we blow during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

But if you’re reading this – I bet you already knew that :)…

What you probably didn’t know, however, is that there are over a dozen Shofar types out there… and in this Shofar guide – I’ll reveal every one of them (and I’ll even tell where to get them!).

…We’ll start with the most common types of Shofar: the Ram’s horn Shofar and the Yemenite (Kudu) Shofar…
… Then, I’ll introduce you to rare, exotic Shofars that are almost impossible to find (don’t worry, I found some of them)
… Finally, we’ll see what happens when talented Jewish artists decide to decorate a Shofar and turn it into an artistic gorgeous masterpiece.

Excited? You should be!

Let’s blast!

25+ Traditional Rosh Hashanah Gift Ideas for the Jewish New Year (2019)

August 23, 2019Last Updated: September 18, 2019 Rafael Hope 4 Comments

Holiday Gifts Rosh Hashanah

Another year has passed… can you believe it?

It seems like last year’s Rosh Hashanah was just yesterday, yet here we are again!

Well, what are you waiting for? Go grab a seat at the dinner table… on the menu: Gefilte Fish, Apple & Honey, and some fish head. Mmmm sounds yummy (not)!

HOLD IT. Aren’t you forgetting something?

Don’t tell me you’re planning to arrive at a Rosh Hashanah dinner table empty-handed…

Oy vey! That’s not very “Jewish” of you, now is it?

You better load up on a few Rosh Hashanah gifts for your loved ones, quick… Otherwise, you might discover a fish head with your name on it (you know, mafia-style)!

Now, you may be wondering: What’s an appropriate gift you can bring to the Rosh Hashanah dinner table?

Hold your ~~horses~~ apples, honey… You’re about to find out!

Yummy! The Best Traditional Bar/Bat Mitzvah Food (+ Menu Ideas)

July 13, 2019Last Updated: September 24, 2019 Rafael Hope Leave a Comment

Bar & Bat Mitzvah Kosher Food & Drinks

Your guests came all the way to celebrate your child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah… you’re not going to let them starve, are you?

Of course not! You’re like a Jewish mom hosting a Shabbat dinner: feeding and taking care of everyone!

Except…

This time – you’ve got a little more than a few guests on your hands. You’ve got dozens, if not hundreds (or if you’re a Russian Oligarch – thousands) of guests to feed!

Now… The only question (OK, 3 questions) is:

How do you serve so many guests?
What traditional Bar/Bat Mitzvah food should you serve?
Where can you find the best Bar/Bat Mitzvah menus you can use as inspiration?

Those are big questions.

Well, guess what? I’m going to help you answer each and every one of em’!

Excited? You should be!

Let’s get this food fest started…

10 Classy Bar Mitzvah Shoes for a 13-Year-Old Boy (2019)

June 28, 2019Last Updated: August 15, 2019 Rafael Hope Leave a Comment

Bar & Bat Mitzvah

When was the last time you stepped foot (pun intended) in a shoe store?

I remember the days we had to walk all the way to the shoe store, try on 16 different pairs of shoes, only to notice the store owner slowly getting annoyed that we’re wasting their time… Until you eventually had to give in and buy a pair… not because you liked it, but because you felt bad for the store owner.

Thank Goodness – those days are long gone… because today, you can buy any pair of shoes without ever leaving your comfy chair (or bed? or bean bag?).

Including… your boy’s Bar Mitzvah shoes!

Wait. Did I just say boy’s shoes? I’m sorry, I meant man’s shoes.

Because guess what…? Your little “boy”? Not such a boy anymore…

The young man is about to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah – the day he finally transforms from a kid → to a young Jewish adult (at least according to the Torah… hold off on the alcohol there, fella).

One thing is for sure: a Bar Mitzvah boy deserves to show up to his big day wearing a pair of fancy shoes.

That’s exactly why I wrote this article – to help you find the shoes your boy is going to wear as he steps up to the Bimah – and fills you up with pride, joy, maybe even a few tears.

Note: For girl’s shoes – check out our list of favorite Bat Mitzvah shoes.