By Rabbi Jeffrey Schesnol All Jewish holidays have changed over the centuries. Their histories reflect the changes in beliefs, lifestyle, and socio-economic-political circumstances of the Jewish people. Originally, Hanukkah, which means dedication, was only a Maccabean holiday to celebrate the defeat of their Seleucid overlords and reclaimed the sacred Jerusalem temple and their rededication of…
(Note: Jewish holidays start at sunset the evening before the first day of the holiday) Hanukkah Nov. 29-Dec. 6, 2021 The flames on the Hanukkiah brighten each of the eight nights of the festival of Hanukkah. The holiday celebrates the victory of the Maccabees, Jewish military leaders who rebelled against the Greek-Syrian King Antiochus, who…
By Whimsy Anderson, N.D. Every year we hear suggestions intended to help people have an easier fast on Yom Kippur. Many of the suggestions can be quite helpful; others are not. This year I have decided to compile a list of what I hope will be helpful suggestions based on a naturopathic medical perspective. Before…
What comes to mind when you think of the “forbidden fruit” described in the Garden of Eden – the one that Eve is said to have eaten and then shared with Adam? If you guessed an apple, you’re probably wrong. In the Talmud, when listing the possible “fruits” that may have been products of the…
The Jewish Future Pledge is a worldwide movement inspiring Jews of all backgrounds to commit that from the charity they leave at their passing, at least half is earmarked to support the Jewish people and/or the State of Israel. The Pledge is not a fundraiser for a specific Jewish organization. It is a moral commitment…
Photo: Bnei Menashe immigrants in Shavei Israel’s absorption center in Achziv tasting a gefilte fish for the first time. Photo credits: Laura Ben David, courtesy of Shavei Israel. More than 500 Bnei Menashe immigrants from India, descendants of a lost tribe of Israel who made aliyah over the past year, are gearing up for their…
By Richard H. Schwartz, Ph.D. Rosh Hashanah is the time when Jews take stock of their lives and consider new beginnings. Perhaps the most significant and meaningful change that Jews should consider this year is a shift away from diets that have been having devastating effects on our health and the health of our increasingly…
Photo: One way or another, the holidays are all about food. Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90 By Naama Barak You’d think that with summer finally being over and the kids firmly placed back in school, life would be back on track here in Israel. If only. This is because we’re gearing up toward one of the…
The Orthodox Union’s (OU) Women’s Initiative has launched its virtual Yemei Ratzon program offering ideas and inspiration in preparation for the upcoming High Holidays. The program offers shiurim by world-renowned Torah scholars and a month-long learning series on Teshuvah, Tefillah, and Tzedakah. The shiurim series features a series of lectures on Selichot night August 28:…
With a full moon in the night sky, it’s a perfect time to celebrate Tu B’Av, the Jewish Day of Love. The holiday starts this evening of July 23 at sundown and continues through July 24. Historically, Tu B’Av marked the beginning of the grape harvest and Yom Kippur marked the end. During the Second…
