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…
The Orthodox Union (OU), the nation’s oldest and largest umbrella organization for the North American Orthodox Jewish community, said that its 20th annual Tisha B’Av program on Sunday, July 18 will not only focus on the traditional themes surrounding the destruction of both temples and other historical tragedies but this year will also mourn the…
Photo courtesy Schnepf Farms. AROUND THE VALLEY 4th of July Celebration (Sun. July 4). Fireworks at 8:30 pm; event runs 6-8:30 pm. Free; fee for some activities. Live entertainment, events, swimming (Superstition Shadows Aquatics Center) and fireworks. AJHS Track and Field, 2525 S. Ironwood Dr., Apache Junction. 480-983-2181 or apachejunctionaz.gov. All-American Festival (Sun. July…
Passover Symbolism Through the Lens of Addiction and Recovery By Hannah Prager “Egypt is not just a geographical place. Egypt is a state of being. It’s a state of mind.” said Rabbi Mendy Lipskier. When we celebrate Passover, there is a commandment for us to see ourselves as if we’re leaving Egypt today. Egypt,…
The best-known quote from the Pesach Haggadah is, “why is this night different from all other nights?” Last year, this quote took on a whole new meaning with the onset of the pandemic and the realization that most of us would be having a virtual seder. This year, unless everyone in your group has been…
