‘We need the joy’: Jews around the world gear up for Purim despite the...
More than 2,000 years ago, when the Jews of Persia triumphed over an existential threat, they celebrated by proclaiming a holiday: They gave charity, the Scroll of Esther recounts, sent each other presents of...
A hollow Holocaust Remembrance Day
It’s an important date on the international community’s calendar. Every year, the United Nations and many other institutions and organizations hold ceremonies on Jan. 27 commemorating the Holocaust. It’s long been clear that much...
Tu B’Shevat highlights challenges being faced by Israeli farmers
As Israelis celebrate the agricultural holiday of Tu B’Shevat on Thursday, Uri Dorman is concerned about the Hamas war's impact on farms near the Gaza and Lebanese borders.
“All those farms are very close to...
International Holocaust Remembrance Day is different this year
As the author of two post-Holocaust novels and a former high school history teacher, my guiding assumption before the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre in Israel was that the Holocaust was a unique event in...
Verter fun der Vokh – Tu BiShvat
Tu BiShvat: דער חמישה־עשׂר(־בשבֿט); דער ט״ו בשבֿט
New year of the trees: דאָס נײַ֜יאָר פֿון די ביי֜מער; דער ראש־השנה־לאילנות
seven species: זיבן מי֜נים
wheat: דער ווייץ
barley: (דער גערשט, ־ן; פּע֜רלגרויפּן (ל״ר
grape: די (ווײַ֜נ)טרויב, ־ן; דאָס טרײַ֜בעלע, ־ך
fig:...
Talking trees
I remember once teasing a friend whose birthday is on Tu B’Shevat, the New Year for Trees. I told him: “Make like a tree and grow up!”
Tu B’Shevat, literally the 15th of the Hebrew month...
Tenth of Tevet fast day to be marked amid war against Hamas
A group of Israeli Zionist Orthodox rabbis which aims to bridge the gaps between religious and secular Jews is calling for an upcoming Jewish fast day to serve as a national day of prayer,...
Herzog lights Chanukah candles at ‘Hostage Square’ in Tel Aviv
Israeli President Isaac Herzog lit Chanukah candles on Thursday night at “Hostage Square” in Tel Aviv along with families of captives being held by Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip.
“Chanukah is a holiday of...
Historic menorah-lighting at US Capitol by leaders of Senate and House
In a historic first, the congressional leadership on both sides of the aisle joined on Tuesday, the sixth night of Chanukah, for the inaugural lighting of the U.S. Capitol Menorah.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.)...
The passion of oil
Chanukah, which is coming to an end this week, mainly celebrates the miracle of the oil. Yes, there were other miracles, too, especially the fall of “the mighty into the hands of the weak,...