‘Strange turn of events made me do it,’ rabbis say of penning Oct. 7...
One of the images in a mournful poem by the seventh-century rabbi Eleazar ben Kalir, which is a central kinah prayer chanted on the Tisha B’Av fast day, refers to the silenced words of Temple singers.
Giving literary form...
KKJ-JNF unveils rare photos of Tisha B’Av from early Israeli statehood
Tisha B’Av, the pinnacle of the Jewish mourning period for destructions of the First and Second Temples, will be observed this year from sundown on Aug. 13 until nightfall on Aug. 13. It is...
Meron and other holy sites close for Lag B’Omer
This year’s Lag B’Omer celebrations in Israel will see significant changes due to the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah in the north of the country, and recent emergency measures taken by Israeli authorities.
The traditional pilgrimage...
It’s Lag B’Omer: Time to get your grill on
Lag B’Omer, which this year begins at sundown on Saturday, May 25 and ends at nightfall on Sunday, May 26, is the day between Passover and Shavuot. According to the Talmud, a plague that...
A rabbis’ conference at the seder?
What will be the single most popular question at seder tables around the world this year?
Probably the same as every year: “When do we eat?!”
Seriously speaking, have you had your fair share of questions...
The Passover seder and the plague of loneliness
Passover means a lot of things to a lot of people. It is the Jewish Thanksgiving, bringing together extended family for an unrivaled feast and lively discussion. It is a forum for sharing and...
New Haggadah promises Passover seder that isn’t as ‘dull as matzah’
The Jewish nonprofit JewBelong, known for its blunt and pink billboards, released a free, downloadable Passover Haggadah that contains a “blessing for anyone who isn’t Jewish” and the “10 plagues of antisemitism.”
The 40-page booklet follows the traditional...
From one coast to the other: It’s Passover ‘to go’
My head is spinning. A Passover seder meal totally planned and nearly completely prepared on the East Coast and then flown to the West?
For Gloria and Bob Spitz, it’s no big deal. Gloria says,...
Purim, the Oscars and dying to fit in
Purim celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish nation from the genocidal decree that was enacted by the Persian King Achashverosh through the dastardly machinations of his wicked advisor Haman. Haman’s plan called for the...