Columbia's October 7th Blush Sauce

Columbia blames a template for its "October 7th Blush Sauce." A dining-hall pasta sign listed it Wednesday, the third anniversary of the Hamas attack. Columbia Dining's Vicki Dunn called it "an unfortunate mistake," and the signs came down. One reply on X asked about the "Oct. 6 Ranch Sauce." ¹

Hochul signs New York up for the federal scholarship tax credit. Her Friday decision lets New Yorkers take up to $1,700 off their federal taxes by giving to scholarship groups, some of which help kids attend Jewish schools. Agudath Israel's Yeruchim Silber called it a "tremendous day." The UFT's Michael Mulgrew called it a failure of leadership. ²

Netanyahu's chief of staff reportedly asked to change an Oct. 7 timestamp. In a January 2024 transcript Channel 12 aired Saturday, Tzachi Braverman tells a stenographer to log Netanyahu's secure call with his military secretary at 6:29, when the attack began, instead of 6:40. "Tzachi, I'm prohibited from changing it," she answers. Channel 13 reports prosecutors lean toward closing the case. ³

Hanukkah Barbie sold out, so Mattel is selling you her sweater. The doll was gone from major retailers within hours of release. Weeks later Mattel put out an $80 adult version of her blue-and-yellow knit: menorah, dreidels, Jewish stars, snowflakes, and a row of Barbie script logos down the sleeves. It's unisex, small through 2XL. The doll's version lights up, and the $80 one for grown-ups does not. Her gingham pants and shearling boots aren't part of the deal either. Rabbi Yael Buechler, a school rabbi in White Plains who wrote it up for Kveller, said it was "like Mattel read my mind." ⁴

Today is Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan, the start of the one month with no holidays. That's one explanation for its full name, Marcheshvan: mar can mean "bitter." Another reads mar as "a drop of water," for the rains. Saturday's parsha is Noach, so the Torah agrees on the rain. ⁵⁶⁷