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 …
Reflections Hanukkah and the President
Here’s a phone message that’s guaranteed to get a return call: “This is (Ploni) calling from the White House Chief of Staff’s office. Please call back when you have a …
Ideal Bar Bat Mitzvah Gifts
The ideal Bar / Bat Mitzvah gift should have the following qualities: 1) It should be something the child will use for the rest of their life or at least …
Understanding Jewish Wedding Rituals
Genesis 2:18 says, “It is not good for humanity to be alone.” We are designed to long for loving companionship, to cling to each other and become “one flesh” (Genesis …
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 …
The Culture Jew Preserving Ethnic Identity over Religious Observance
Just One Mississippi Redneck’s Jew Of The Metaphysical, Kaballah, Jerry Falwell, Physics, Tolerance, Forgiveness, Life, Liberty, And Justice For All I am not an expert or authority on religion, new …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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) …
Testimonies What Does it Mean to be a Jew?
As a twenty-something living in a society whose twists and turns down the path of peace and prosperity are full of missteps and miscalculations, to me being Jewish means Tikkun …
Contributions Made by Jewish People
Our world today is a better place due to contributions that have been made by people in all ethnic, religious, and cultural groups. The Jewish people are one of the …
Reflections on the Torah Yosef and Pharaoh
Some thoughts on the Torah portion Mi-Keytz. The portion begins with the phrase Va-yehi mi-keytz shnosayim yomim u-Far’oh choleym, “And it happened at the end of two years that Pharaoh …
The Laws of Kashrut Explained
The Jewish dietary laws are known as the laws of Kashrut. These originate from the Torah or the five books of Moses, but some have been elucidated in the Talmud. …
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 …
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 …
What is Zionism from a Secular Humanism Point of View
“O Jerusalem of gold, of brass and of light, For all your songs I will be your harp.” Traditional Hebrew song “Zionism” is an emotionally loaded word, and like other …
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. …
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 …
The Laws of Immersion Intervening Substances Systematic Presentation Shulchan
When Is Re-Immersion Required? External Body and Hair In Halakha1 there is a distinction between the external parts and hair of a woman’s body and her internal parts and areas …
The different Branches of Worship Traditions and Beliefs in Contemporary Judaism
Judaism is often misunderstood as a religion. All people born to a Jewish mother are considered Jewish. The central belief is that there is one God, and only one God. …
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 …
The Hasidic Movement and its Place in Jewish History
Hasidic Judaism is known in Jewish lore as being the movement that brought joy back to the religion. It was founded by Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer in the 18th century …
Defining the Jewish Diaspora
Sunset tonight begins the 9th day of the month of Av (Tisha B’Av) on the Hebrew calendar. This day is said to be the lowest of all days in the …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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. …
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: …
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 …
Maimonides Rambam Significance to Judaism
Maimonides, was a Sephardi Jew who lived during the time after the Golden Age of Jewry, when Jews were under persecution from not only the revival of tradition philosophy {this …