Thursday, February 28, 2013

The Top 10 Jewish Football Players

  1. Lyle Alzado: One of the most feared football players of all time. 
  2. Benny Friedman: Considered football’s first great passer and first team All-American in 1925 and 1926. 
  3. Sigmund Harris: All-American quarterback from 1902-1904, leading Minnesota to a 37-3-1 record. 
  4. Ron Mix: Second AFL player to be named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 
  5. Sid Luckman: Nine seasons as quarterback for the Chicago Bears, and won four NFL championships. 
  6. Marshall Goldberg: Four-time NFL All-Pro in 1941, 1946, 1947, and 1948. 
  7. Harry Newman: Started playing pro football in 1933 for the New York Giants. He was one of the highest paid football players of his time. 
  8. Charles “Buckets” Goldenberg: 13 years with the Green Bay Packers, named the league’s All-1930s team. 
  9. Benny Lom: Played from 1927-1929, he was one of the greatest triple-threat (runner, passer, kicker) players of all time. 
  10. Harris Barton: First round draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 1987.

The Top 10 Jewish Basketball Players

  1. Dolph Schayes: Named to 12 consecutive NBA All-Star games from 1951-1962. 
  2. Nat Holman: In 1950, American sportswriters named him the third greatest player of the first half of the 20th century. 
  3. Max Zaslofsky: Led the National Basketball League in scoring in 1947 with 1007 points. 
  4. Max “Marty” Friedman: Played 20 years (1908-1927) for the New York Whirlwinds and considered one of the best defensive guards of his time. 
  5. Barney Sedran: Only 5’4” and considered one of the greatest basketball players of the 1910s and 1920s. 
  6. Larry Brown: 5’9” guard and winner of a gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. 
  7. Sam Balter: Member of the 1936 Olympic basketball team, and only the Jewish-American to win a gold medal at the Berlin Olympics. 
  8. Leonard Rosenbluth: Led the Tarheels to a 32-0 season in 1957, defeating Wilt Chamberlain’s Jayhawks. 
  9. Danny Schayes: Averaged 13.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game while playing for the Nuggets in 1987-1988. 
  10. Art Heyman: Made the NBA All-Rookie Team in 1963.
A fascinating story of one of the greatest basketball teams, 
the South Philadelphia Hebrew Association.

The Top 10 Jewish Baseball Players

  1. Sandy Koufax: Famously known for not participating in a World Series game because it was on Yom Kippur. One of only two Jewish baseball players in the Hall of Fame. 
  2. Henry “Hank” Greenberg: The second Jewish baseball player in the Hall of Fame. First Jew voted “Most Valuable Player” in the major leagues. 
  3. Shawn Green: Of Jewish players, only Hank Greenberg had more home runs, and Buddy Myer had more hits. 
  4. Al “Flip” Rosen: Played for the Indians. In 1953, he was the first unanimously selected “Most Valuable Player.” 
  5. Charles “Buddy” Myer: Had the highest American League batting average in 1939 with a .349. 
  6. Harry Danning: Played for the New York Giants. Hit greater than .300 for three consecutive seasons (1938-1940). 
  7. Sidney Gordon: Known as a power hitter, and had one of the top slugging percentages in the National League. 
  8. Lipman Pike: First professional baseball player. Accepted $20 per week to play for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1866. 
  9. Steve Stone: Winner of the Cy Young award in 1980. 
  10. Ken Holtzman: Pitcher for the Cubs, Yankees, A’s and Orioles. American League All-Star team in 1972 and 1973.
While we may different on the rankings, 
click above to see an entire book on Jewish baseball players.

The Top 10 Largest Hasidic Sects

  1. Satmar: Hungarian Hasidic sect with perhaps 130,000 members. Known for being anti-Zionist because they believe that the state of Israel should only be established when the messiah comes. 
  2. Ger: Once the largest Hasidic sect in Poland, this sect is still one of the largest in the world and based out of Jerusalem. 
  3. Chabad-Lubavitch: Known for their outreach programs that try to bring non-observant Jews into a more observant lifestyle one mitzvah at a time. 
  4. Viznitz: A Ukrainian Hasidic sect with members centered in Bnei Brak and Haifa in Israel, and Monsey, NY. 
  5. Bobov: A Galician Hasidic sect with members now located around the world. 
  6. Belz: This Hasidic sect comes from the Ukraine. 
  7. Breslov: Members of this sect participate in self-seclusion as one of their ways of praying to G-d. 
  8. Karlin: Known to cry out in loud voices to G-d. 
  9. Sanz-Klausenburg: Hasidic sect that originated in Transylvania, Romania. 
  10. Skver: Stresses abstention from excessive earthly pleasures. 

* The actual numbers of each Hasidic sect are largely unknown, as there is no official census. These ten sects have significant numbers, though the rank order may be incorrect.

Learn more about what Hasidism is form this book.

The Top 10 Jewish Sects

  1. Orthodoxy: While there are many branches of orthodoxy, all orthodox groups adhere strongly to the commandments as set out by the Torah and Talmud. 
  2. Conservative/Masorti: Conserves many, but not all of the commandments. Considered a middle ground between Orthodoxy and Reform. 
  3. Reform/Progressive/Liberal: These movements generally do not require adherence to the laws between man and G-d, only between man and man. 
  4. Hasidism: A branch of orthodoxy that follows that teachings of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov. 
  5. Reconstructionism: Believes that Judaism is a civilization that is constantly evolving. 
  6. Pharisees: A predecessor sect to today’s rabbinic Judaism. 
  7. Sadducees: Contemporaries of the Pharisees, did not believe in the divinity of the Oral Law. 
  8. Essenes: Small splinter movement that believed in abstinence from worldly pleasures. Many believe that they wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls. 
  9. Karaism: Splinter religion from mainstream Judaism that follows only the written Torah, and not the Oral Torah (Talmud). Some believe they have their roots from the Sadducees. 
  10. Samaritanism: This splinter religion has a slightly different version of the Torah. They claim they are the original Israelite religion before the Babylonian Exile.
Learn about the different Jewish sects in in this book.

The Top 10 Jews With Messianic Followings


  1. Jesus of Nazareth: With over two billion followers, it’s hard to deny this man the number one spot! 
  2. Shabbatai Zvi: 17th century Ottoman rabbi who many believed to be the Messiah. He converted to Islam which largely disbanded this sect. 
  3. Simon Bar Kochba: Leader of a rebellion against the Romans in 132 CE. Founded a short-lived Jewish state for three years. 
  4. Jacob Frank: Claimed to be the reincarnation of Shabbatai Zvi and King David in the late 18th century. 
  5. Menachem Mendel Schneerson: Last rebbe of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement who died in 1994. 
  6. Shlomo Molcho: Early 16th century Portuguese mystic. He was burned at the stake when he refused to convert to Catholicism. 
  7. Abu Isa: 8th century Persian whose followers believed he was the messiah. He taught that Jesus and Mohammad were true prophets to their own people. 
  8. David Alroy: 12th century Jew who led an uprising in Iraq and asked his followers to follow him to Jerusalem, where he would be king. 
  9. Abraham Abulafia: 13th century Spanish Jew who claimed to be the messiah and travelled to Rome in order to convert the Pope to Judaism. 
  10. Eve Frank: Daughter of Jacob Frank who many believed to be the incarnation of the female aspect of G-d as well as the reincarnation of the Virgin Mary.


You think 10 Jewish messiahs is a lot? 
Check out this book that talks about 50 past Jewish messianic claimants!

The Top 10 Events That Will Happen When the Messiah Comes


  1. There will be universal knowledge of G-d. 
  2. A king form the Davidic dynasty will be reinstated. 
  3. The dead will be resurrected. 
  4. The Sanhedrin (a group of rabbis and judges that can make binding decisions regarding Jewish law and life) will be reinstated. 
  5. The Third Holy Temple will be established. 
  6. The sacrificial system will be reinstated. 
  7. The 10 Lost Tribes will return to the land of Israel. 
  8. The observance of the Jubilee will be reinstated. 
  9. The land of Israel will be expanded to the boundaries promised to Abraham. 
  10. There will be eternal peace. 
Click above to find out more about messianic times.

The Top 10 Jewish Articles of Faith

  1. G-d exists. 
  2. G-d is one and unique. 
  3. G-d has no flesh. 
  4. G-d is eternal. 
  5. Prayers are to be directed to G-d and no one else. 
  6. The words of the prophets are true. 
  7. Moses’ prophecy is greater than all other prophets. 
  8. The written and oral Torah were given to Moses. 
  9. There will be no other Torah. 
  10. G-d knows the thoughts and deeds of people. 

* Judaism does not have a single creed that all Jews believe in. A famous rabbi, Maimonides, listed 13 articles of faith in his commentary on the Mishnah in the Middle Ages. There was controversy when he proposed these articles, but eventually they became accepted as normative. Since this is a Top 10 list, I had to exclude the last three from the list above. The last three get honorable mention here: 11) G-d will reward the good and punish the wicked, 12) The messiah will come, and 13) The dead will be resurrected.

Learn more about the thirteen articles of faith by clicking the book above.

The Top 10 Commandments

  1. I am the Lord Your G-d, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. 
  2. Do not make idols. 
  3. Do not take the Lord’s name in vain. 
  4. Observe the Sabbath and keep it holy. 
  5. Honor your father and mother. 
  6. Do not murder. 
  7. Do not commit adultery. 
  8. Do not steal. 
  9. Do not bear false witness. 
  10. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife. 

* There are 613 commandments in the Torah. The commandments on the tablets that Moses brought down are known as “The Ten Commandments.” However, there are actually more than 10 statements that could be interpreted as commandments within “The 10 Commandments.” This is why the Jewish version of “The 10 Commandments” is slightly different than the Catholic version, which is different from some Protestant versions. The commandments listed above are abbreviated from the full set of statements according to Jewish tradition.

This is probably the most famous movie that has the Ten Commandments in it. 
Click above to see or download the movie.

The Top 10 Jewish Prophets

  1. Moses: Considered the greatest of all of the prophets. Spoke to G-d on Mount Sinai and gave the Torah and Ten Commandments to the Jewish people. 
  2. Abraham: Considered the father of the Jewish people. 
  3. Isaiah: Considered the most universal of the prophets. Affirmed principles of justice and morality. 
  4. Joshua: Led the Jewish people into the Holy Land after their exodus from Egypt 
  5. Samuel: First prophet to prophesize inside the Land of Israel. Anointed King Saul and King David. 
  6. Jeremiah: Credited with writing several books of the Tanakh: The Book of Jeremiah, 1st and 2nd Kings, and the Book of Lamentations. 
  7. Ezekiel: Revealed the prophecies of the destruction of Jerusalem. 
  8. Elijah: Defended the worship of G-d over the main pagan god, Baal. When Elijah returns, he will usher in the messiah. 
  9. Deborah: Prophet and only female judge in the history of Israel. 
  10. Jonah: Famous for being swallowed by a whale (actually a fish) on his way to prophesize to people of Nineveh. 

* The Talmud teaches that that there were hundreds of thousands of prophets, some Jewish, some not. There are 55 Jewish prophets according to tradition.


The Top 10 Rabbis


  1. Moses: Known as Moshe Rabbenu, meaning, Moses Our Rabbi. He gave the Jewish people the Torah and Ten Commandments from G-d. 
  2. Maimonades: Moses ben-Maimon, also known as the Rambam was a medieval Spanish rabbi who is considered one greatest Torah scholars of all time. 
  3. Nachmanides: Moshe ben-Nachman, also known as the Ramban, was a Catalan rabbi, kabbalist, physician, and Torah commentator in the 13th century. 
  4. Rashi: Medieval French rabbi who’s commentary on the Talmud is known for being short, concise, and brilliant. 
  5. Hillel: Involved in the development of the Mishnah and Talmud. Stated that the Torah’s essence is, “What is hateful to you, do not do to others.” (The Jewish “Golden Rule.”) 
  6. Akiva: 1st and 2nd century rabbi. A main contributor to the Mishnah and Midrash, and considered a founder of rabbinic Judaism. 
  7. Ba’al Shem Tov: Founder of Hasidism in the 18th century. 
  8. Joseph Caro: 16th century rabbi who wrote the Shulchan Aruch, a codification of Jewish law. 
  9. Shimon bar Yochai/Moses de Leon: Yochai is traditionally believed to be the writer of the Zohar (book of Kabbalah), though many believe it was written by de Leon in the 13th century. 
  10. Shammai: First century contemporary of Hillel. Known for having a strict interpretation of Jewish law.
Learn more about famous rabbis from the book above.

The Top 10 Jewish Rites of Passage

  1. Circumcision: Symbolizing the covenant between G-d and the Jewish people. Nothing welcomes a boy into the Jewish people like a bris (the ritual circumcision ceremony). 
  2. Bar/Bat Mitzvah: The coming of age ceremony at age 13 for boys and sometimes age 12 for girls, where the young Jew takes on the responsibilities of being a Jewish adult. 
  3. Baby Naming: Fortunately, we have no female circumcision in Judaism, but we don’t want to leave the girls out. The baby naming brings the Jewish soul into the girl. 
  4. Pidyon haBen: When the first born son of an Israelite woman is 30 days old, this is a special ceremony that redeems him. 
  5. First Mikvah: A spiritual cleansing by immersing oneself in a ritual bath. 
  6. Wedding: This ceremony transitions a person from one stage of life to the next. 
  7. Children: Nothing makes a person mature faster than having to take care of a child. 
  8. Upsherin (First Haircut): Traditionally, a boy gets his first haircut after turning three years old. 
  9. Confirmation/Graduating Hebrew School: There are various ceremonies in some denominations when a person has finished additional Jewish education. 
  10. Second Bar/Bat Mitzvah: Jewish tradition says that your life starts over again at the age of 70. Therefore when a person reaches the age of 83, there is a second bar/bat mitzvah.
Learn more about the Jewish rites of passage in this popular book.

The Top 10 Holiest Sites and Cities in Judaism

  1. Holy of Holies: While not existing in its original form today, it was the inner sanctuary of the Temple, where the high priest entered on Yom Kippur and the Ark of the Covenant was kept. 
  2. Western Wall: Today, the last standing remnant of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. Jews pray at this wall every day since it is the closest place to the original Temple. 
  3. Jerusalem: The city of the First and Second Temple, the holiest of the four holy cities. 
  4. Hebron: The second holiest city in Judaism. 
  5. Safed (Tzfat): Another holy city in Judaism. Center of Jewish mysticism (Kaballah). 
  6. Tiberius: The last of the holy cities in Judaism. The Jerusalem Talmud was compiled here and this city was the home of the Masoretes. 
  7. Cave of the Patriarchs: In Hebron, the burial place of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob and Leah. 
  8. Tomb of the Matriarchs: Burial location in Tiberius of several biblical women including Zipporah (wife of Moses), and Elishiva (wife of Aaron). 
  9. Joseph’s Tomb: Near Nablus, the site of Joseph’s burial. 
  10. Mount of Olives Cemetery: On the eastern end of Jerusalem, this cemetery has about 150,000 graves. Considered the most sacred burial ground in Judaism.
Learn about the Jewish holy sites in this book.

The Top 10 Enemies of the Jewish People

  1. Hitler: Leader of the Nazis who oversaw the murder of six million Jews. 
  2. Pharaoh: Some believe the Pharaoh in the book of Exodus to be Ramses II. He oversaw the enslavement of the Hebrews in Egypt, only releasing them after the Ten Plagues. 
  3. Haman: Vizier of the Persian empire who tried to kill all the Jews under the rule of King Ahasuerus (the story of Purim). 
  4. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella: Started the Spanish Inquisition in 1480 CE leading to the torture, killing, and expulsion of Jews from Spain. 
  5. Czar Alexander III: As Emperor of Russia, he launched attacks on Jews with pogroms. 
  6. Antiochus IV Epiphanes: Ransacked Jerusalem and killed 40,000 Jews in three days. He is the leader that the Macabees revolted against (the Hanukkah story). 
  7. Sadaam Hussein: Launched unprovoked Scud missiles into Israel during the first Gulf War. 
  8. Nebuchadnezzar II: He conquered Jerusalem and sent the Jews into exile in Babylonia after the destruction of the Second Temple. 
  9. Herod the Great: Considered a madman (and technically Jewish), who murdered his own family and several rabbis. 
  10. Nero: Sent in soldiers to restore order in Jerusalem in 66 CE, which led to the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem and eventually the destruction of the Second Temple.
Click the book cover above to link to this very popular book on the reason for antisemitism.

The Top 10 Righteous Gentiles

  1. Raoul Wallenberg: Swedish diplomat who saved tens of thousands of Jews during the Holocaust by issuing Swedish passports. 
  2. Oscar Schindler: German industrialist who saved 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust by employing them in his factories. 
  3. Carl Lutz: Swiss vice-counsel in Budapest credited with saving over 62,000 people during the Holocaust by issuing Swiss passports. 
  4. Dimitar Peshev: Bulgarian Deputy Speaker who prevented the deportation of Bulgaria’s 48,000 Jews. 
  5. Jose Castellanos Contreras: Salvadoran diplomat who helped save 40,000 Jews by providing them with fake Salvadoran nationality papers. 
  6. Aristides de Sousa Mendes: Saved 12,000 Jews by defying orders and issuing Portuguese visas free of charge. 
  7. Georg Ferdinand Duckwitz: Warned the Jews in Denmark about the pending Nazi plan to deport them, which led to 6,000 Jews quickly escaping to Sweden. 
  8. Ho Feng-Shan: Chinese diplomat in Vienna who saved over 1,000 Jews. Known as “China’s Schindler.” 
  9. Irena Sendler: Saved about 2,500 children by smuggling them out of the Warsaw Ghetto. 
  10. Chiune Sempo Sugihara: Japanese diplomat who saved thousands of Jews by issuing visas for Jews to go to Japan.

* A "Righteous Gentile" is a term used to describe a non-Jewish person who has gone out of his or her way, to save the lives of Jewish people, usually risking his or her own life in the process.


Schindler's List was an Academy Award winning Best Picture.  It is probably the most famous story of a Righteous Gentile.  Click the image above to get the DVD/Blu-Ray

The Top 10 Worst Years for the Jewish People

  1. 1939-1944 CE: Six million Jews are killed in the Holocaust, about 80% of European Jewry. 
  2. 422 BCE (Traditional Jewish Date)/586 BCE (Modern Scholarship Date): Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem. First Temple destroyed. 
  3. 70 CE: Romans destroy the Second Temple and about two million Jews are killed. 
  4. 1429 BCE: The Hebrews are enslaved in Egypt. 
  5. 555 BCE (Traditional Jewish Date)/722 BCE (Modern Scholarship Date): Northern Kingdom of Israel is conquered by the Assyrians. The “Ten Tribes” are exiled and lost. 
  6. 1480-1492 CE: Spanish Inquisition begins in 1480, leading to the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492. 
  7. 1348 CE: The Black Death begins in Europe and leads Europeans to massacre Jews due to their belief that the cause of the Black Death is the Jews. 
  8. 796 BCE (Traditional Jewish Date)/930 BCE (Modern Scholarship Date): The United Kingdom of Israel splits into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judea 
  9. 1144 CE: Jews are first accused of using blood from Christian babies for use in Jewish rituals (blood libel). Leads to widespread massacres. 
  10. 1648-1667 CE: The Chmielnicki Massacre and its aftermath killed about 100,000 Polish and Ukrainian Jews.
Click above to get one of the most popular books on Jewish history.

The Top 10 Things to do on Lag B'Omer

  1. Light Bonfires: Commemorates the intense light that Rabbi Shimon ben Yochi brought to the world. 
  2. Shoot Bows and Arrows: Symbolizes rainbows, which were not seen during Shimon ben Yochi’s time. 
  3. Go to Rabbi Shimon ben Yochi’s Tomb/Go to Meron: Shimon ben Yochi died on this day and his tomb is in Meron. 
  4. Children’s Parades: The Lubavitcher Rebbe started this tradition as a sign of Jewish unity. 
  5. Eat Carob 
  6. Get Married 
  7. Get a Haircut 
  8. Dance 
  9. Listen to Music 
  10. Party 

* Lag B'Omer is the 33rd day of the Counting of the Omer, on the 18th day of the month of Iyar. The Omer is the 49 day period between the holidays of Passover and Shavuot, and is a time of semi-mourning. Because it is a time of semi-mourning, several activities are not allowed (marriage, haircut, dance, party, listen to music) except for the 33rd day of the Omer, the day of passing of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochi, who is traditionally said to have written the Zohar (the book of the Kabbalah). In Judaism, death dates are celebrated more than birth dates, because when you celebrate on the death date, you are celebrating everything that this person accomplished during his or her life.

Not too many books on this holiday, 
but click above to see a children's book on Lag B'Omer and Shavuot


The Top 10 Things You Wish You Could do on Shabbat, But Can't

  1. Driving: Driving involves creating fire in an engine, and starting a fire is prohibited. 
  2. Watching T.V.: Even if you’re watching, “The 10 Commandments,” you’re still not allowed. 
  3. Turning on/off Lights: Lots of people get around this buy putting their lights on timers on Shabbat. 
  4. Buying Anything: You can’t carry money on Shabbat so you can’t buy anything. 
  5. Using Your Computer: No Facebook, no Microsoft Word, no Wikipedia, nothing! 
  6. Using the Phone: No cell phone, no house phone, no voice over IP, no GoogleVoice, no Skype. 
  7. Turning on a Fan, Air Conditioner, or Heater: All involve using electricity, so it’s prohibited. 
  8. Using an Oven/Microwave: Cooking and baking are not allowed. 
  9. Turning Your Alarm Clock Off: If you forget to turn off your alarm for Shabbat, you’ll be regretting this mistake Saturday morning. 
  10. Taking Photographs: Whether it’s digital or not, no photos allowed. 

* There are thirty-nine specified prohibited activities on Shabbat. Through rabbinic legal analysis, these thirty-nine activities have been expanded to encompass activities that did not exist in biblical times, but are in our modern times. Many of the prohibited activities can be done by putting devices on timers, and also having a non-Jew (a Shabbos goy) do them for you.

Click the cover above to see a book on a guide to observing Shabbat.

The Top 10 Things to do at Shabbat Dinner

  1. Lighting Shabbat Candles: This act brings in Shabbat the prayer for it is traditionally sung by the women of the home. 
  2. Kiddish: This blessing is said before drinking wine, and thanks G-d for bringing forth the “fruit of the vine.” 
  3. Motzi: This blessing is said before eating bread. It thanks G-d for bringing forth bread from the earth. 
  4. Blessing Over the Children: The father blesses his sons and daughters and asks G-d to make his sons like Ephraim and Menashe, and his daughters like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah. 
  5. Washing Hands: After you drink the wine, and before you do the motzi, you should wash your hands for a spiritual cleaning. 
  6. Song for the Wife (Eshet Chayil): The husband sings this song that praises his wife for all she has done for the family. 
  7. Eating Chicken: While not a law, it seems like no Shabbat meal is a real Shabbat meal without some kind of chicken. 
  8. Birkat HaMazon: The grace after the Shabbat meal. 
  9. Devar Torah: A little Torah teaching during the meal is good for the soul. 
  10. Singing: There’s lot of singing at the end of Shabbat dinner.
Click the cover above see the Shabbat dinner cookbook on Amazon.

The Top 10 Plagues

  1. Death of the Firstborn: The firstborn sons of the Egyptians were killed by the Angel of Death. Many Jews do not realize that the Angel of Death also killed the first born cattle as well. 
  2. Darkness 
  3. Locusts 
  4. Hail 
  5. Boils 
  6. Pestilence (Livestock Disease) 
  7. Flies or Wild Animals 
  8. Lice 
  9. Frogs 
  10. The Waters Turned to Blood

* The ranked order above is the reverse chronological order of the Plagues that befell the Egyptians, since the Plagues were said to increase in severity. The Pharoah would not let the Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt. It was only after G-d inflicted ten plagues on the Egyptians that Pharoah finally decided to let the Hebrews go.

Click the book cover above to get the story of Passover 
and learn more about the Plagues.

The Top 10 Passover Foods

  1. Matzah Ball Soup: A dumpling made from ground up matzah, eggs, and oil, then rolled into a ball and dropped into some chicken broth. 
  2. Charoset: Every Jewish ethnic community has their own special recipe. Ingredients often include: apples, red wine, walnuts, dates, figs, raisins, and cinnamon. 
  3. Gefilte Fish: A combination of carp and pike fish rolled into a ball of deliciousness. Usually eaten with horseradish. 
  4. Matzah Brei: Matzah, softened and stir fried with egg, and often eaten with cinnamon and sugar for a sweet version, or salt and pepper for a non-sweet version. 
  5. Matzah Kugel: Just like the real thing, only it uses kosher for Passover noodles and kosher for Passover bread crumbs. 
  6. Matzah (plain): Matzah is supposed to be “The Bread of Affliction,” but some people find it delicious by itself. 
  7. Matzah Pizza: Add some kosher for Passover spaghetti sauce and some cheese on top of a piece of Matzah, and voila! 
  8. Manischewitz Coffee Cake: Some say this coffee cake tastes better than “real” coffee cake. 
  9. Macaroons: Meringue-like cookie made with almonds and coconut. 
  10. Egg White “Bread” Rolls: We clever Jews figured out a way to make bread rise without yeast...egg whites!
Click above to get the New York Times Passover Cookbook on Amazon!

The Top 10 Passover Songs

  1. Mah Nishtana: Why is this night different from all other nights? That’s what this song asks.
  2. Dayenu: It would have been enough for G-d to have done just a little for Jewish people, we praise G-d for doing a lot more. 
  3. Echad Mi Yodeah: Explains the Jewish significance of the numbers one through thirteen. Fun to try all in one breath! 
  4. Chad Gadya: Describes the “food chain” from a goat, all the way up to G-d. 
  5. Adir Hu: Expresses hope that G-d will build the Temple in Jerusalem again. 
  6. Eliyahu haNavi: See if you can spot the prophet Eliyahu coming in for a glass of wine that you set out for him. 
  7. Avadim Hayinu: We were once slaves to Pharaoh, now we are free! 
  8. Vehi Sheamda: Every generation our enemies try to destroy us, but G-d saves us from their hands. 
  9. Leshana Habaah: Next year in Jerusalem! 
  10. Ha Lachma Anya: Let all who are hungry come share in our Passover meal. 

* Honorable Mention: Kadesh Urchatz (singing the order of the Passover seder), Al Achat, Mimitzraim Ge’altanu, The Frog Song, Let My People Go, Miriam’s Song, The Ballad of the Four Sons


The Top 10 Days of Fasting

  1. Yom Kippur: The Torah actually never says to fast on this day, only to “afflict your soul.” 
  2. 9th of Av: Commemorates the destruction of both the First and Second Temple in Jerusalem. 
  3. 17th of Tammuz: Commemorates several tragic events, one of which was the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem that eventually led to the destruction of the Second Temple. 
  4. Fast of Gedaliah: Commemorates the assassination of Gedaliah, a righteous governor of Judah. This fast is the day after Rosh Hashanah. Just when you thought you had another week to prepare for the Yom Kippur fast, this one sneaks up on you! 
  5. 10th of Tevet: Commemorates the beginning of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem that led to the destruction of the First Temple in Jerusalem. 
  6. Fast of the First Born: First born children are supposed to fast to commemorate not being subjected to the Tenth Plague that killed the first born Egyptians. 
  7. Fast of Esther: Commemorates the fasting of the Jewish people so that Queen Esther had the courage to confront the king. 
  8. 7th of Adar: Some Jews fast on this day, the day Moses died (he was also born on this day too). 
  9. Wedding Day: There is a tradition for the bride and groom to fast the day of their wedding. The fast is broken with the first glass of wine during their wedding ceremony. 
  10. Personal Fast Day: A person can fast any day for the purpose of a personal need or request.


The Top 10 Jewish Prayers and Recitations

  1. Shema: This is undoubtedly the most important prayer in Judaism. It states, “Hear O Israel, the Lord our G-d, the Lord is one.” It is the statement of faith of the Jewish people. 
  2. Amidah: The “standing prayer.” Comprised of 19 individual prayers, ranging from praying for rain, to praying for peace. 
  3. Kaddish: The prayer that exalts and sanctifies G-d’s name. A special version, the Mourner’s Kaddish is said by those in mourning to affirm the mourner’s belief in G-d. 
  4. Barechu: This is the call to prayer in the synagogue. 
  5. Kol Nidrei: Recited at the beginning of Yom Kippur. 
  6. Birkat haMazon: After eating a meal, these prayers thank G-d for the food that we just ate. 
  7. Motzi: Thanks G-d for bringing forth bread from the Earth. 
  8. Kiddush: Thanks G-d for bringing forth the fruit of the vine (i.e. grapes). Said before drinking wine (or grape juice). 
  9. Lighting Shabbat Candles: This prayer, said on Friday night, ushers in Shabbat. 
  10. Shehecheyanu: This prayer is said when one is experiencing or will soon experience a new or unusual event.
Click the book cover above to see this very popular book on Jewish prayer.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

The Top 10 Jewish Summer Olympians

  1. Marc Spitz: Considered by many to be the greatest swimmer of all-time. He won seven gold medals during the 1972 Olympics, and four medals during the previous 1968 Olympics. 
  2. Dara Torres: Only swimmer in Olympic history to medal in five Olympiads. 
  3. Maria Gorochovskaya: She won seven medals for the Soviet Union in the 1952 Olympics as a gymnast, the most medals ever won by a woman in a single Olympics game.
  4. Mitch Gaylord: Won four gymnastics medals during the 1984 Olympics: a gold in team, a silver in vaulting, and a bronze in rings and parallel bars. 
  5. Lenny Krayzelburg: Four-time Olympic swimming gold medalist in 2000 and 2004. 
  6. Kerri Strug: Her performance during the 1996 Olympics helped the United States win its first team gold medal in gymnastics. 
  7. Jason Lezak: Winner of four Olympic gold medals in swimming in the 2000, 2004, and 2008 games. 
  8. Agnes Keleti: Hungarian gymnast who won 10 Olympic medals in the 1952 and 1956 Olympiads, at the age of 31 and 35 respectively. 
  9. Alfred and Gustav Flatow: German gymnastics gold medalist cousins in the first Olympics of the modern games in 1896. First Jews to win Olympic medals. 
  10. Gal Fridman: Won the gold medal for windsurfing in 2004 (first gold medal for Israel in the Olympics.) 
Click the book image to get the book on Amazon.


The Top 10 Most Peculiar Commandments

  1. Do not benefit from an ox condemned to be stoned. Deuteronomy 14:21. The moral of the story is that you should not employ evil oxen. 
  2. Do not eat fruit of a tree during its first three years. Leviticus 19:23. From this commandment comes the tradition that the first haircut of a boy should be after his third birthday. 
  3. Do not wear linen and wool together in a fabric. Leviticus 19:19
  4. Make a guard rail around flat roofs. Deuteronomy 22:8. Nobody likes it when water drips off the roof, not even G-d! 
  5. Canaanite slaves must work forever unless injured in one of their limbs. Leviticus 25:46
  6. Pay wages on the day they were earned. Deuteronomy. 19:13. Your bi-weekly paycheck is an abomination given by your boss! 
  7. A king must not have too many horses. Deuteronomy 17:16
  8. Don’t make baldness between your eyes for mourning. Deuteronomy 14:11. May explain why lots of Jews have a unibrow. 
  9. Do not destroy fruit trees, even in time of war. Deuteronomy 20:19. This takes environmentalism to a new level. 
  10. Do not allow a eunuch marry into the Jewish people. Deuteronomy 23:2. If you want to marry someone Jewish, better make sure your boys can swim!
Contrary to what most people think, there are more than just 10 commandments (mitzvot),
there are actually 613.  Click on the the book cover above to see it on Amazon and learn more.

The Top 10 Best Years for the Jewish People

  1. 1312 BCE: The Jews are freed from slavery in Egypt. The 10 Commandments and the Torah are given to Moses on Mt. Sinai. 
  2. 1743 BCE: G-d makes a covenant with Abraham, the father of the Jewish people. 
  3. 1272 BCE: The Jews conquer the promised land after wandering in the desert for 40 years. 
  4. 1948 CE: The modern state of Israel is established. 
  5. 3760 BCE: Adam and Eve are created in this year. 
  6. 825 BCE (Traditional Jewish Date)/968 BCE (Modern Scholarship Date): King Solomon completes construction of the First Temple. 
  7. 350 BCE (Traditional Jewish Date)/516 BCE (Modern Scholarship Date): The Second Temple is completed under Darius I of Persia. 
  8. 500 CE: The Talmud (oral Torah), was finalized, forming how Judaism is practiced today. 
  9. 167 BCE: The Macabees revolt and win against a much larger Seleucid army and rededicate the Temple. This then leads to the miracle of Hanukkah. 
  10. 356 BCE (Traditional Jewish Date)/425 BCE (Modern Scholarship Date): The Jews are saved by Queen Esther in Persia. 

* Dating events in Jewish history is sometimes tricky. Both the traditional Jewish dates and the modern scholarship dates are included for events where there is disagreement.  Want to know more about Jewish history? Click the book cover below!





The Top 10 Ways to Spell (C)han(n)uk(k)a(h)


          Spelling                      Google Hits
  1. Hanukkah                  20.7 million
  2. Chanukah                  6.5 million
  3. Hannukah                  1.4 million
  4. Chanukka                  1.1 million
  5. Hanukah                   1.0 million
  6. Chanuka                    0.9 million
  7. Chanukkah               0.5 million
  8. Hanukka                   0.4 million
  9. Channukah               0.3 million
  10. Chanukka                 0.3 million

* If you take all combinations of whether (C)han(n)uk(k)a(h) starts with a “C” or with an “H,” whether there are one or two “N”s, one or two “K”s, or whether the holiday ends with an “H” or not, there are 16 possibilities. Some variations are more popular than others (retrieved from http://www.google.com on February 27, 2012).


Someone actually wrote a book with this as the title! 
Click the book cover above to see the book on Amazon.