The national award-winning Matzo Chronicles offer light-hearted reflections on family, food, memory, and guilt — in short everything Jewish. The column addresses timely topics and timeless concerns. It’s like a soul-satisfying bowl of matzo ball soup with a pinch of Nora Ephron and a sprinkling of salty Sophie Tucker!
Karen’s column, which garnered a national award from the National Federation of Press Women, appears in J. The Jewish News of Northern Nevada, The Intermountain Jewish News, The San Diego Jewish World, and The Times of Israel.
Read on for a hearty helping of The Matzo Chronicles.
- OPINION | After friend’s assisted death, I wonder: Is there a ‘right’ way to die?on April 30, 2025
Indisputably, people are living longer lives, but longevity without health is not necessarily a blessing. I just lost two close friends. Now, in addition to mourning the passing of their
- FIRST PERSON | I found hope in the founding of the War Refugee Boardon February 4, 2025
The holidays are long over. I’ve scraped the menorah of its drippy wax. I’ve washed and ironed the hand-embroidered tablecloth. Only the extra weight and the credit card bills remain
- FIRST PERSON | Reality gobbled up our plan to host Algerian tourists for a holidayon December 30, 2024
How does the old saying go? The best-laid plans of mice, men and hostesses often go awry. My husband and I were scheduled to host eight Algerian exchange visitors for
- FIRST PERSON | What I learned hosting a Jordanian exchange student in my homeon October 29, 2024
Here in the United States, politics are fraying the bonds between families and among friends. How then can strangers of profoundly different backgrounds stand a chance of getting along? This
- FIRST PERSON | In Jewish tradition, I’m not just old — I’m wiseon August 12, 2024
I just celebrated my 70th birthday. The transition to a new decade is undoubtedly a milestone. You might wonder, do I have angst about aging? Well, a little. But mostly
- FIRST PERSON: Tulips, inner turmoil and missing Jews on my trip to Europeon May 28, 2024
Many trips to Europe are filled with exhilarating tours of castles and cathedrals, museums and moats, art and architecture. I love these trips, but during my most recent travels in
- FIRST PERSON: With modern medicine, I could love to 100. But do I want to?on February 7, 2024
Does the thought of a super long life thrill you or chill you? Once upon a time, the idea of living to be 100 was extraordinary. Now, while hardly commonplace,
- Broadway’s ‘Harmony’ includes origin story of San Francisco cantoron December 26, 2023
Updated Dec. 27 I was in New York recently to see a jolly round of nine shows. A surprise favorite was the musical “Harmony” about the Comedian Harmonists, an internationally
- MATZO CHRONICLES: I'll use Diamond in a pinch — but Morton is the kosher salt for meon November 13, 2023
I come from a long line of Morton Coarse Kosher Salt users. My mother bought it. My grandmother bought it. My sisters-in-law bought it. Even my non-Jewish mother-in-law bought the
- FIRST PERSON: A goody two-shoes tries on a liar’s pants — and loves the fiton July 31, 2023
How does the old saying go? Cheaters never prosper. Liars never win. Or is it the other way? Cheaters never win. Liars never prosper. In any case, I confess. From