Judaism

Chanukah Holiday

The Hanukkah/ Chanuka (take your pick) holiday is likely the most mysterious on the Jewish calendar. Why celebrate finding a bottle of oil at all? And even if you’re going …

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Jewish Dating Etiquette

If you’re totally clueless about Jewish dating customs, rent the DVDs of 1971’s “Fiddler on the Roof” and 1996’s, “The Mirror Has Two Faces“. “Fiddler”, set at the end of …

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Parashah Bo Moses and the Ten Plagues

The following commentary on “Parashah Bo” (Exodus 10:1-13:16) deals with the last three of the Ten Plagues. For the first seven plagues, see commentary on “Parashah Va’era”. “ADONAI said to …

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A brief History of Jewish Music

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord” The Jewish people have always taken this phrase very seriously. While there are not typically choirs found in a Jewish service – only …

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Jewish World to come

Death is when our souls leave most of the constraints of the physical world and gradually become closer and closer to G-d for an infinity of time. Each step of …

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Dubno Maggid

The Maggid of Dubno, Rabbi Yaakov (Jacob) Kranz, was born circa 1740 and died in 1804. He was a major figure on the European Jewish scene. He was a contemporary …

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What Food is Eaten on Hanukkah

Traditional Hanukkah recipes and menus The Jewish festival of Hanukkah celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucids. The Maccabees entered the Temple to light the menorah (branched candelabra) …

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Reflections on the Torah

Comic, But Not Funny: The One Comic Portion in the Chumash Comedy? In the Chumash? Somehow, we do not think of comedy when we think of Chumash or of the …

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Antisemitism in the US Today

Antisemitism, like any form of prejudice, is alive and ‘well’ in the USA. Being raised Jewish in the 60’s I encountered this disturbing phenomenon first hand. Things have progressed from …

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Lost Jews Return to Judaism

They stared after her as she made her way carefully through a crowd of rambunctious children dashing to and fro in the tiny courtyard sandwiched between somewhat shabby apartment buildings. …

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The most Important Mitzvah

There has been much debate over what is Judaism’s most central and important Mitzvah (Commandment). There are some very good arguments for any of a dozen different Mitzvoth. The following …

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Converting to Judaism

During my own conversion into the world of Judaism, I realized that very little guidance was available to those hoping to convert. I found myself bewildered by books explaining Jewish …

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Joshua Hero or Villain

Joshua is an unsavory character, and even the old Talmudic scholars tended to gloss over him as if embarrassed by his brutality. There is little of the prophecy, and none …

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How American Jews deal with Christmas

The United States is predominantly Christian. 95% of Americans celebrate Christmas, and half of those Americans identify Christmas as a strongly religious holiday. Nearly all Americans who celebrate Christmas engage …

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World Religions Judaism

World Religions Report – Judaism The history of Judaism spans centuries of time and has been filled with triumph, pain, and a sense of continuous wandering as people who have …

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What is the Succoth Festival

The Festival of Succoth (Sukkot) is also known as the ‘Festival of Booths’, ‘Feast of Tabernacles’, ‘Festival of the Harvest’ or as it is commonly referred to, the Jewish Thanksgiving. …

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The Symbols of Passover

The Passover ONCE a year on the Biblical date of Nisan 14, Passover night, Jehovah’s dedicated people gather together in all parts of the earth in harmony with Jesus’ command: …

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Judaism in the Middle East

How is Judaism in the Middle East different from Judaism in the rest of the world? It may surprise Americans and Europeans, who have only tangential contact with Judaism. It …

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