Chanukah
Chanukah, the festival of lights, is a Rabbinic celebration that begins on 25 Kislev. Chanukah celebrates the miracle of the oil in the Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees’ defeat of the Greek army as well as the Jew’s freedom…
Tag Judaism
Jewish Literacy – Biblical Era: Creation (Part 2)
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) The Name of God used in this very first passage of the Torah does not use the personal Name of God (the tetragamatron – ה-ו-ה-י).1 Rashi explains that…
Jewish Literacy – Biblical Era: Creation (Part 1)
“‘In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth’ (1:1). The first and most important fact established in the Bible’s opening chapter, indeed in its opening sentence, is that God, and God alone, created the world. This assertion represents…
Rashi on Parsha Noach
Genesis 6:9-10 9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was in his generations a man righteous and wholehearted; Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah begot three sons, Shem, Ham, and Yaphet. Rashi states that the insertion of Noah’s…
Rashi on Parsha Bereishit
“‘In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth’ (1:1). The first and most important fact established in the Bible’s opening chapter, indeed in its opening sentence, is that God, and God alone, created the world. This assertion represents…
Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah
Sukkot, the Harvest Festival, occurs on 15 Tishri (in September or October). The word Sukkot means booths, and refers to the temporary dwellings (sukkah) that we are commanded to live in during this holiday. Sukkot is also a harvest festival,…
Parsha Nitzavim
This week’s parsha is Nitzavim: Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20 Nitzavim (29:9-30:20) – (Ones Standing): Haftorah: Isaiah 61:10-63:9 (Ashkenazi); Isaiah 61:10-63:9 (Sephardi) 29:9-14: Renewal of the covenant 30:11-14: The Torah is accessible 29:15-28: Warning against idolatry 30:15-20: Choose life 30:1-10: The eventual repentance…
Parsha Ki Tavo
This week’s parsha is Ki Tavo: Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8 Ki Tavo (26:1-29:8) – (When You Enter): Haftorah: Isaiah 60:1-22 (Ashkenazi); Isaiah 60:1-22 (Sephardi) 26:1-4: First fruits 27:11-26: Blessings and curses 26:5-11: Declaration 28:1-14: The blessing for fulfilling the commandments 26:12-15: Confession…
Book Review: Exploring Sephardic Customs and Traditions
Book Review: Exploring Sephardic Customs and Traditions Exploring Sephardic Customs and Traditions Editor: Rabbi Marc D. Angel Publisher: Ktav Publishing House, Inc. Year: 2000 Pages: 69 plus addendum Sephardic Customs and Traditions is a brief overview of various important customs…
Parsha Ki Teitzei
This week’s parsha is Ki Teitzei: Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19 Ki Teitzei (21:10-25:19) – (When You Will Go): Haftorah: Isaiah 54:1-10 (Ashkenazi); Isaiah 54:1-10 (Sephardi) 21:10-14: The woman of beautiful form 23:20-21: Interest 21:15-17: The firstborn’s inviolable right 23:22-24: Vows to God…