NEW YORK (JTA) – Cooking has been a passion for me, and passing on my knowledge and experience to a new kosher audience is one of my greatest joys.

HOPCATONG, N.J. – I grew up in the Elmwood area of Providence, which had a large Jewish population. Temple Beth Israel, a Conservative synagogue,  stood in the middle of the residential area on Niagara Street. The synagogue was within two blocks of our house, and I recall walking there for services, Hebrew school, Sunday school and the other activities we attended. Back in the late 1950s and early 1960s, no one worried about walking through the neighborhood at any time of day or night.

PROVIDENCE – Careful readers of the Aug. 3 issue of The Jewish Voice & Herald might remember that Rabbi Elan Babchuck, the new rabbi at Temple Emanu-El in Providence, loves to cook.

PROVIDENCE –  School lunches may be nearly universal, but what children consume in those lunches can be remarkably varied. Choices may range from simple sandwiches and fruit to full meals.

In keeping with the back-to-school theme of this issue of the paper, here are some recipes from near and far.