Writing
I write on Russian-Jewish food, Soviet-Jewish food, immigration, culture and history. I've also written on technology, books, parenting and occasional randomness like dictators. Find my work in The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, Heated, Tablet Magazine, the Forward, the Walrus, Saveur, Today's Parent, Canadian Jewish News, and others.
Book News!
My essay, "The Secrets of Soviet Cuisine," was included in a Jewish food anthology — The 100 Most Jewish Foods: A Highly Debatable List, out March 2019, published by Tablet Magazine.
Articles
Defining Soviet Jewish Cuisine
Under communism, Soviet Jews ate plov, pork-laden sosiski, and ‘herring under fur coat.’ But does that make those dishes ‘Jewish food’?
Matzo of Hope: The war in Ukraine gives new meaning to the Passover ritual
This year, our fourth Seder matzo, a symbolic throwback to the rallying calls for our freedom from the USSR will take on new meaning.
Hamantaschen of Our Own
Jews from the former Soviet Union didn’t grow up with the 'typical' holiday treats—so I tried to imagine what we might have made for Purim.
Where the Russian Grocery Store Means Abundance
Russian grocery stores are more than just Russian food. They bring together foods from 15 countries to tell the story of Soviet history and food policies, and Russian immigration to North America.
TweetYourShabbat Embraces Diverse & Imperfect Shabbat Dinners
How a Twitter hashtag gives us a snapshot of where our current Jewish food moment, and helps us shed some of the guilt of going all-out every Shabbat.
Christmas will be OK—take it from this Jewish mom
When lockdown started, a Passover seder on Zoom seemed ridiculous. But two high holidays and a few tech snafus later, this mom can attest to the resilience of holidays.
We Fled Anti-Semitism In The Soviet Union. Now I Fear For My Children — In America.
After Pittsburgh and Poway, I'm terrified that for my children, the stories of violent anti-Semitism that we left behind in the "Old Country" will feel more real than they ever did for me.
O yolka tree, o yolka tree
Why my Soviet grandparents' New Years cards looked distinctly Christmas-y to my Canadian-raised eyes — and a primer on why many Russian-Jews still put up New Year's trees.
How To Prep Your Freezer For Winter, Russian-Style
Uniquely designed for long winters and scarcity, Russian cuisine is infinitely more varied than borsch and caviar. Here’s some staples to get you started.
Soviet / Russian / Jewish
Why Russian Jews Don't Want to Hear About Being Saved
The Forward - A history that condescends: While the big names of Soviet Jewry are commemorated, the experiences of regular Russian Jews is lost.
New Doc Details 1970 Refusenik-led Escape Attempt to Israel
Tablet Magazine - ‘Operation Wedding’ is directed by Anat Zalmanson-Kuznetsov, whose parents led the Leningrad plane hijacking that was ultimately foiled by the KGB.
+ The outtakes
Ghosts of Soviet Holocaust Cinema Finally Escape From the Censors’ Files
Tablet Magazine - Long-lost and suppressed classics with complicated depictions of the Shoah find champion in Olga Gershenson's new book on a "phantom industry".
Soviet Emigres Get Stuck in the Past in 'Stateless'
Tablet Magazine - What is the authentic Soviet-Jewish immigration story? By focusing on their departure only, a new documentary by Michael Dror misses what the immigrants became.
Mother Russia and the Jews: An A-Z Guide
Jewcy - When Israeli president Shimon Peres travelled to Russia for the opening of Moscow's new Jewish museum, he made a point of thanking Putin for 1,000 years of Russian hospitality, conveniently forgetting a few key details of Russian-Jewish history. I've helpfully listed them in A-Z form.
+ The outtakes: A few more reminders of Russian-Jewish history that didn't make it into the original
A Desperate Campaign to Remember Soviet Jewish War Heroes Races Against Time
The Forward - A Soviet Jewish war veteran and his "museum" tucked away in a cramped Toronto apartment.
Rootless Cosmopolitans Gather in Upstate New York
eJewish Philanthropy - I spend a weekend with Russian-Jewish "community initiators" and come up with some thoughts on rootless cosmopolitans, language and the ever-conflicted Russian-Jewish identity.
Limmud FSU US: An Immigrant Community Comes Into Its Own
eJewish Philanthropy - On a weekend spent speaking Russian, or my first time at Limmud FSU.
Compelled to "Do Jewish"
Ethnic Aisle - On circumcisions and mixed-faith relationships.
A Soviet Soup Tastes Like Freedom in the New Country
The Forward - Kharcho, a traditional Soviet Georgian soup, is "reclaimed" as a Jewish Shabbat meal.
Soviet/Russian Jewry Reading List
Jewish Book Council - A list of books on the Soviet-Jewry movement and immigration, selected for the Jewish Book Council
Technology / Dictators
Hitler? There's an app for that
Tablet Magazine - Developers are creating Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini iPhone apps that offer little more than propaganda. And Apple’s gatekeepers approve them.
Why Didn't Faceboook Waive Sponsored Post Fees for Hurricane Sandy Relief? [PDF]
TechPresident - Facebook has turned down the spigot on Page traffic and replaced it with promoted posts. How did this new "pay to play" structure affect Hurricane Sandy relief efforts?
Post-Dictatorship: Ten Tyrants Who Have Reached Retirement [PDF]
Walrus Magazine - The cozy "retirements" of some of the last century's most notorious dictators
The debate: Should you post about your kids on Facebook?
Today's Parent - I may be all over social media, but my child isn't.
Runway Robot Debuts Old Stereotypes
Bitch Magazine - The Japanese runway supermodel robot meetsBattlestar Galactica.
Books
Graphic Truths
Walrus Magazine - Explores the trend towards non-fiction graphic novels, featuring books by Joe Sacco, Marjane Satrapi, Rosalind Penford
Oh, Canada! [PDF]
Saveur Magazine - Culinary historian Elizabeth Driver's new Canadian cookbook bibliography.
Soviet-Jewry Reading List
Jewish Book Council - A list of books on the Soviet-Jewry movement and immigration, which I curated for the JBC.
Food
Oh, Canada! [PDF]
Saveur Magazine - Culinary historian Elizabeth Driver's new Canadian cookbook bibliography
A Soviet Soup Tastes Like Freedom in the New Country
The Forward - A traditional Soviet Georgian soup is "reclaimed" as a Jewish Shabbat meal.
Apples to Oysters: From Bonavista to Vancouver [PDF]
Edible Toronto - Book review and interview with food writer Margaret Webb
Anita Stewart's Canada: Celebrating Our Gastronomic Mosaic [PDF]
Edible Toronto - Book review and interview with cookbook author Anita Stewart
Raising Animals That Are Deer To His Heart [PDF]
Edible Toronto - Profile of Ontario elk farmer John Rietkerk
Rose Murray's Taste of Canada: A Culinary Journey [PDF]
Edible Toronto - Book review and interview with cookbook author Rose Murray
Delving Between the Covers of Canada's Culinary Culture [PDF]
Edible Toronto - Book review and interview with culinary historian Elizabeth Driver