About the Author


Rabbi Akiva Gersh

Akiva Gersh has been working in the field of Jewish and Israeli Education for over 20 years. Originally from New York, he moved to Israel in 2004 and from 2007-2020 taught Jewish History and Modern Israel at the Alexander Muss High School in Israel. He has since taken his Israel education work online through his business @Israel, providing courses, classes and virtual tours about Israeli history, society and culture. Akiva also teaches extensively about the connection between Judaism, animal welfare and veganism and shares many of these teachings on his "Vegan Rabbi" pages on Facebook and Instagram. Akiva holds a BA in Religious Studies from Brown University, an MA in Jewish Education from Yeshiva University and rabbinic ordination from Yeshivat Sulam Yaakov in Jerusalem. He and his wife Tamar live in Pardes Hanna with their four children.


Why Bread Is Dipped Into Salt

The significance of salt in Judaism.

What Does Judaism Have Against Shellfish?

We are what we eat.

The Truth About Eating Bugs

What Judaism has to say about bugs.

How to Have A Unique Jewish Food and Wine Party

Celebrate like the kabbalists.

Symbolic Foods Tell the Story Of Our People Better Than Words

I am Jewish, therefore I eat.

Attitude of Gratitude: It Is Good To Give Thanks

How to live a meaningful and spiritual life.

Lab-Grown Meat: To Be or Not to Be?

Understanding the ethical questions about lab grown meat.

The Joy of Fasting

Yom Kippur is a time to experience a reset and a chance to start all over again.

Speaking Words of Wisdom

How to use meal time to bring heaven and earth closer.

Why Do We Fast?

The connection between tragedy and fasting.

Israeli Food is so Jewish, Here’s Why

The foods that make up the Israeli cuisine tell the story of the Jewish people.

Is Eating Supposed To Be Spiritual?

Eat to fix the world.

Adam and Eve Were Vegan

In the Garden of Eden, God had a different idea about how people should eat.

Shabbat as Social Action

As I learned more Torah, I started to understand that Judaism’s goal is to radically and completely change the world.

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