Holidays

Yom Kippur’s focus on forgiveness highlights humility, fallibility, soul-searching faith, compassion, thoughtfulness, being considerate, accepting responsibility and magnanimity.

We are humans. We have failings. We make mistakes. It is how Hashem created us. But, we have also been given a wonderful gift: Teshuva/repentance.

On Rosh Hashanah, one is expected to plan a spiritual and behavioral road map for the entire year. So when one hears the shofar blow,the trip begins

In every generation, the shofar blow is not like other sounds. Those sounds we listen to with our ears, but to the shofar we listen with our souls. ALL Jews always thirst for this cry of longing.

What are the main changes when Tisha B'Av falls on Shabbat or Sunday?

Napoleon said referring to the Jews, "Certainly a people which has mourned the loss of their Temple for so long, will merit to see it rebuilt!"

On Shavuot, the Nation of Israel approached the Temple rejoicing in our blessings, rejoicing in each others' blessings; In Rashi's famous words, "As one person, with one heart."

As Lag B’Omer bonfires blaze across Israel, we know that the holy essence of Am Yisrael guarantees that the Nation will return to its roots no matter how secular it looks on the outside.

No marriage has lasted so long, been so deep in its commitment and so overwhelming in its love as the one between the Jews and their homeland-more than 3,500 years and going strong.

The new prayer, titled "Al Hanisim le'Yom Haatzamaut" (For the Miracles for the Day of Independence), was composed by Chief Rabbi Ben-Tzion Spitz, and Dr. Avi Shmidman

Jews of the exile cannot truly understand Passover, a festival of national faith, of a free people returning from exile to their home.

The song only became popular with Sephardic and Mizrachi Jews much later, and it was eventually translated into Ladino, Arabic and other languages. But what is it doing in our haggadah?

The Passover legacy contributed to the foundation of the culture, justice and liberty of the USA, and the support of the American people towards the Jewish state.

Pesach, the holiday that symbolizes the formation of the Jewish people, reminds us that sometimes we need to remove the evil inclination entirely so as not to fall victim to it.

What shall we be free of this Pesach? It is the holiday of Freedom, isn’t it?

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Amalek is seared into Jewish consciousness as the ultimate enemy of Israel and the source of Haman

Some background-History, Halacha, hidden truths. Happy Purim to all!

The entire Book of Esther's a story of masks-Esther, Mordechai, and Haman-even God-conceal something

Purim gives us a framework to understand our lives and remain optimistic in the midst of all the darkness

Purim's lesson, relevant today & always, is about our belief that God is always present in our lives

It's nice to step back and appreciate the mitzvah in a fresh and minimalist way.

We cannot ask God to listen if we continue to shut our ears to Him.

Perhaps the greater miracle of Chanukah was the Chashmonaim's envisioning a miraculous Jewish future

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Hanukah Cheer from David Herman, Jerusalem's troubadour.

The 10 year reign of Shlomtzion, one of only 2 women to rule over Judea, was peaceful & prosperous

The great Jewish mistake was thinking the more we became like others, the more accepted we'd become