The secret Jewish history behind your chocolate bar 🍫

The secret Jewish history behind your chocolate bar 🍫

Chocolate has its origins in pre-Columbian Meso-American societies, particularly in the religious ceremonies of the Mayans. Recipes for drinking chocolate from this period connect the deep affinity for chocolate to Central and South American cultures. 

This week's specials: see pictures and links for more information

As Sephardi and Crypto Jews settled in New Spain in the mid-1600s, they became part of the existing chocolate culture, contributing to its development and incorporating chocolate into their culinary traditions. This migration played a role in spreading and shaping chocolate practices in the Americas.

Rabbi Deborah Prinz, the author of “On the Chocolate Trail: A Delicious Adventure Connecting Jews, Religions, History, Travel, Rituals, and Recipes to the Magic of Cacao,” unveils a fascinating nugget about hot chocolate. The original hot chocolate had no milk; that addition came much later with the invention of powdered milk. Even more intriguing, Jews played a significant role in introducing chocolate as a beverage to Europe and various parts of the Americas.

Later in the 1700s (December 16, 1773, to be exact), a group of colonists disguised as Native Americans tossed British tea into the Boston Harbor as a protest against unjust taxes. After all the tea was dumped, colonial Americans needed a new drink, which was  when hot chocolate gained popularity. This shift was facilitated by the presence of 18th-century Jewish immigrants, who brought their chocolate making know-how to places like New York and Newport, Rhode Island.

Which is your favorite design?

Source: Kveller

Rosh HaShanah Starts Sept. 11

It's coming! The Jewish New Year starts in two months. We're invited to slow down, gather with loved ones, and welcome a fresh beginning. Rosh HaShanah begins at sundown on Friday, September 11, ushering in a season of reflection, gratitude, and hope for the year ahead. More than simply marking the start of a new calendar year, Rosh HaShanah is a time to pause, appreciate life's blessings, and set heartfelt intentions for the months to come. Families and friends gather around beautifully prepared tables to share festive meals, reconnect, and celebrate the traditions that have been passed down through generations.

Many beloved customs make Rosh HaShanah meals especially meaningful. Apples dipped in honey symbolize the wish for a sweet new year, while round challah represents the cycle of life and the continuity of the seasons. Pomegranates, with their many seeds, remind us of abundance and the hope that our good deeds will multiply in the coming year. The sound of the shofar calls us to reflection and renewal, encouraging us to look forward with compassion, purpose, and optimism. Whether your celebration is a large family gathering or an intimate dinner, creating a warm and welcoming table becomes part of the holiday itself.

A thoughtfully decorated holiday table helps transform an ordinary meal into a treasured family tradition. Elegant table runners and coordinating napkins add beauty while creating a welcoming space where stories are shared, blessings are spoken, and memories are made. Whether your style leans toward timeless blue and white, modern heirloom patterns, or subtle botanical designs, your holiday décor can reflect both your personal style and your connection to Jewish heritage. 

Check out my new Modern Heirloom Table Linens section

As you prepare your home for Rosh HaShanah, may your table be filled with laughter, meaningful conversation, and wishes for a sweet, healthy, and peaceful New Year. 

God Bless America by Irving Berlin

Jewish songwriter, Irving Berlin, who was born in imperial Russia, the son of a cantor, and who arrived to America as a kid, became the writer of so many songs from the Great American Songbook, including “God Bless America.”

The song was written by Berlin, while he was a soldier in New York to raise funds for Camp Upton, where he was stationed. 

Although Irving Berlin wrote God Bless America in 1918, the song didn't find its moment until 1938, when Kate Smith performed it on her Armistice Day radio broadcast. For both Berlin and Smith, it wasn't meant to celebrate war—it was a heartfelt prayer for peace.

Over the decades, God Bless America has become so much more than a patriotic song. It has comforted us during difficult times, inspired the Civil Rights Movement, brought Americans together after 9/11 through Celine Dion's unforgettable performance, echoed through baseball stadiums, political gatherings across the spectrum, the halls of Congress, even outer space—and it's even been sung in Yiddish.

Berlin once described the song as "an expression of gratitude for what this country has done for its citizens, of what home really means."

I've been watching some of the 250th birthday celebrations with fireworks and drones happening in DC and all over America. I'm thankful that Irving Berlin, an immigrant who loved his adopted country, gave us a song that continues to remind us of the hope, unity, and gratitude that bring us together as Americans. 

I pray that America comes together in unity to celebrate freedom. Happy 4th of July weekend! 

Shelamzion Alexandra, the Jewish queen

Shelamzion Alexandra, the Jewish queen who ruled Judea from 76 to 67 BCE, brought stability to a war-torn region, yet she was largely erased from history by later male narratives. 

Shelamzion’s story broadens our sense of what Jewish leadership can look like. She was not a mythic savior or a biblical archetype, but a real woman who ruled with courage, piety and intellect. She reminds us that Jewish history includes not only kings, prophets and rabbis, but also queens, prophetesses, and wise women whose leadership upheld and sustained their communities.

"Her name itself offers an ancient Jewish prayer: Shalom Zion — the peace of Zion. In a world still yearning for peace, her legacy invites us to imagine leadership rooted not only in strength, but also in gentleness, justice and care."

Source: Myjewishlearning  

Kveller magazine has discussed the resurgence of Mah jong. ... [Mah jong is having a moment, but so is pickleball, arts and crafts, (especially for Jewish-American women), offering social connection, intergenerational bonding, mental stimulation, and a way to blend Jewish identity with American life through regular gatherings, shared rituals (like unique cards and symbols), and even charitable fundraising. It evolved from a popular Chinese game into a tradition, providing a sense of community, tradition, and a fun outlet for storytelling and connection for generations of families.] 

I remember my mom playing, and I hope to learn soon. I've included items from our MahJong Collection above. 

Which item(s) are your favorites in this blog?  

Gifts for Weddings and Anniversaries

Our Wedding Anniversary is coming up next week. Here's a photo from our 50th Anniversary party. 

If you're celebrating anything, get the chocolate cake from Costco. It's fabulous. 

Here are items I'm promoting this week. These can all be gifted for a Wedding or Anniversary gift or a just because gift. 

Handmade Hamsa Necklace 

Abstract Olives Table Runner for Newlyweds

for Mahjong Lovers

Comment to tell me which of the 3 is your favorite design?

Shop for other gifts

Gloria Steinem: Jewish American Heritage Month

Gloria Steinem, a Jewish American woman, became one of the most influential voices of second-wave feminism, helping reshape the conversation around women’s rights in America during the 1960s and 1970s.

Born in 1934, Steinem came from a family deeply rooted in activism. Her grandmother, Pauline Perlmutter Steinem, was a leader in women’s suffrage, education reform, and even helped rescue family members during the Holocaust. Building on that powerful legacy, Gloria became a journalist, columnist for New York magazine, and co-founder of Ms. magazine, using her platform to bring women’s liberation into the national spotlight.

Through her writing, activism, and leadership—including speaking at the historic 1977 National Women’s Conference—Steinem helped inspire generations of women to demand equality, opportunity, and lasting social change.

Funny MahJong Zippered Pouch

Sassy Cat Coffee Mug

Debra Messing - actress - Jewish American Heritage Month

This week, I'm saluting Emmy Award-winning actress Debra Messing.  

She launched her own podcast about social justice during the pandemic called “The Dissenters.” She shared why the surge of antisemitism and racial strife in our country made her conversation with a 93-year-old Holocaust survivor particularly poignant. “Why don’t people protest against antisemitism?” she said. “People flood the streets for racism. When you look at Charlottesville the Nazis were screaming about two groups – Black people and Jews. We really are the most natural allies in the world.

Messing has been a vocal supporter of Israel since the October 7 attacks.

Mahjong Zipper Pouch 

Black Cats Holding Mah Jong Tiles