Shape and Bake Cookies

Chanukah is in the air!
This cookie dough is simple and delicious!! Take out some Chanukah cookie cutters and go to town and shape those cookies!! Surprise family and friends with something special this Chanukah!!

Monthly Insights with Rabbi Wolfe

Thoughts on Chanukah – why do we focus on the miracle of the oil instead of the fact that our army defeated a much larger and more powerful army?

Humans of Olami: Romeo-Adan Ventura

What happens when someone is born to a Jewish family, but that family does not practice? Is that person still Jewish? The answer is yes. And Olami’s Romeo-Adan Ventura knows first-hand what it’s like to be a “reconnecting Jew.” Thanks to Ventura’s curious nature, his willingness to explore and educate himself, and his own personal courage, he was able to find his true home within the Jewish community, even though it wasn’t a community he knew growing up.

Do It With A Genuine Smile

Humanity, with all its remarkable achievements and intellectual prowess, remains inherently bounded by certain limitations. Even the most brilliant scientists or those who possess double Ivy League degrees in engineering find themselves reliant on professionals like accountants for tax assistance and doctors for medical diagnoses. This interdependence is a prevalent theme throughout the human lifecycle, vividly exemplified when a newborn depends entirely on their parents for sustenance and safety. As the infant matures and evolves, they embark on their unique journey towards success and personal development.

Humans of Olami: Danielle Gyles

Danielle Gyles did not grow up Jewish. In fact, she grew up in the small Colorado town of Pueblo, where there is not a large Jewish population. “I love my hometown,” Danielle explains, “But it’s definitely one of those small towns that people don’t really understand. It was a blue-collar town for a very long time, and when the mill went under a lot of people lost their jobs. For a long time the city was scrambling trying to figure out how to keep their citizens.”

Wise Words with Sara Wolfe

When everything feels too big, or too much to handle, what do we do?
Enjoy this short video from Sara Wolfe

Standing with Israel 

We find ourselves nearly a month into the tragic conflict between Israel and Gaza, which was provoked by the sadistic and bloodthirsty acts of Hamas terrorists. The horrors of that day weigh heavily on our hearts, and we continue to pray daily for the return of the hostages still being held in Gaza by Hamas. We pray also for the swift and decisive success of the Israel Defense Forces, a quick resolution to the fighting, and a sustainable peace between Israel and Israel’s neighbors.

Humans of Olami: Stephen Shuman

2020 was a difficult year for everyone, and the isolation left so many feeling disconnected and without community. Stephen Shuman is just one of many Young Jewish Professionals who found themselves seeking more connection during the Pandemic and in the years that followed. Thankfully, he found a place and a home within the Olami community – one that will keep him connected, no matter where he moves in the future.

Succot with Rabbi Tzvi Alyesh

During Rosh Hashanah, we meditated on our dreams, ambitions, and goals for the New Year. On Yom Kippur, we contemplated our imperfections, and we atoned for the ways in which we mistreated others. Between the two holidays, we ascertained what we wish to achieve, and we prayed on how we can aspire to be the best versions of ourselves. We were constantly looking inward and outward, reflecting and dreaming. Now, it is nearly time for Sukkot.

Humans of Olami: Ethan Geller

When Ethan Geller asked his family for help to go to New York to study at Yeshiva, he was met with a surprising suggestion. “You should go to Israel,” his father said. “I’m like, you’re joking,” Ethan responded to his father. What started as a surprising dream turned into a quick reality, and soon Ethan found himself studying in Israel at Aish in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Rosh Hashanah Symbolics

It is traditional to eat simanim, auspicious foods at the holiday meal on both nights of Rosh Hashana. These foods symbolize our hopes and prayers for a sweet new year!

Parshat Ki Seitzei with Rabbi Tzvi Alyesh

Recently, the Torah in Parshat Ki Seitzei teaches us about a fascinating law and the subject of appropriate moments for leniency. First, let us put the story in context. Unfortunately, there will be times in our history when we will need to go to battle to fight enemies who seek our demise and want to annihilate us.

Photo Round Up: July 2023

From two fabulous Challah Bakes to a meaningful Break-the-fast, Olami Denver Experience has been very busy this month! Take a look at all these fabulous photos from this month at Olami.

Humans of Olami: Kaila and Mendel Boxer

So far, nearly half a dozen couples have met and been married thanks to Olami Denver Experience. One of those couples, who also provide a great deal of leadership throughout the Jewish community in Denver, is Kaila and Mendel Boxer – another couple who came together during one of Rabbi and Sara Wolfe’s fabulous Shabbos dinners.

From PBs Kitchen: Onion Rolls

Here is a mouth watering onion roll recipe! It is delicious as is or add your favorite spread – creamy cheese/Humus, and makes a flavorful additional to any soup!

Tisha B’Av- A Day of Growth

This year we commemorated Tisha B’Av, which began July 26th at nightfall, for a full 25 hours until the night of the 27th of July. It is a day of intense mourning and lamentation; we sit on low chairs, fast for the entirety of the day, read elegies and dirges, follow strict limitations on washing and rubbing ointments, and restrict the physical with our spouses. Overall, it is a very somber day when we grieve the loss of both the first and second Bais Hamikdash, our holy Temples.

Humans of Olami: Andrew Markowitz

The day of Andrew Markowitz’s Bar Mitzvah it snowed. It snowed so much that it grew into the biggest December snowstorm on record in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. Perhaps that was just a little foreshadowing of the future that Andrew would be exploring many years later. Today, Andrew works in Meteorology, learning and growing in his field while also spending a great deal of his free time with Olami Denver Experience as both a participant and a leader. So both Judaism and weather became important aspects of his adult life.

Recipes for The Nine Days

Some awesome recipes for keeping suppers delicious and filing during the nine-day period leading up to Tisha B’Av.

“The Nine Days,” the first nine days of the Jewish month of Av are days of mourning. We are mourning the destruction of our holy temple. During this period, we refrain from eating meat / chicken and drinking wine. The exception to this rule is when meat and wine are eaten as part of a meal celebrating a mitzvah or on Shabbat.

The Three Weeks

The Three Weeks, commencing on July 5th at sundown this year, bear immense significance in Jewish history and observance. A fasting day, known as the 17th of Tammuz, falls on July 6th, commemorating five catastrophic events, including the breach of Jerusalem’s walls by the Romans. This event marked the onset of looting, burning, and murder within the city, plunging it into chaos