When the Hanukkah candles are lit this year once again, Jews around the world will be commemorating two miracles. The first miracle is a miracle of might. A small band of Jewish fighters, led by Judah the Maccabee and his family were...
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One of the more popular customs associated with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is the eating of apples and honey. This is to symbolize hopes for a sweet new year. It is also fitting for the beginning of the fall season when several...
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One of the liturgical poems in the Haggadah is called Dayenu which means “it would have been enough.” With its repetitive chorus and upbeat melody, the Dayenu is often a fan favorite sung during the seder. This year I ask you to join me in...
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It always strikes me as odd that this holiday occurs during the middle of winter. It would seem more appropriate to celebrate the birthday of the trees during any other time of the year when nature’s beauty and bounty are more visible...
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I often tell my school aged children that you can never say “please” or “thank you” too much. It doesn’t get too old and no one will ever fault you for giving thanks and showing appreciation. Actually, the more sense of...
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When the Israelites traveled in the wilderness they lived in temporary dwellings called huts or booths or sukkot. And in commemoration of that time in our Jewish past, we celebrate the holiday of Sukkot, this year set to begin Wednesday...
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Complete Repentance During this season of the Jewish High Holidays, it is our responsibility to do tshuvah (repentance). Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur there are ten days called Aseret Yemei Tshuvah or the Ten Days of...
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Is there something (a person, a cause, an idea) that you want to investigate more fully? Have you had any particularly religious or spiritual experiences this past year? Is there something that you wish you had done differently this...
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Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is celebrated this year by Jews around the world September 9-10, 2010. One of the main special rituals associated with this major holiday is the blowing of the shofar or ram’s horn. During...
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On Tuesday evening, May 18 the Jewish holiday of Shavuot will begin, the holiday where we celebrate the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai by God to Moses and the Children of Israel. One of the traditions associated with Shavuot, is the...
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