Discovery of Bar Kochba-era coin declared at Lag B’Omer
As Jews across Israel and around the world celebrated Lag B’Omer, a holiday commemorating the life of anti-Roman Torah sage Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, Israeli authorities announced that they had found a symbol of...
Hundreds of thousands make Lag B’Omer pilgrimage to Rebbe Shimon’s gravesite
Hundreds of thousands of Jews from around the world ascended to the Tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, lovingly called “Rebbe Shimon,” for Lag B’Omer on Wednesday night and through Thursday, marking the yahrtzeit of the...
In Israel, Lag B’Omer leads to Meron
The Torah lists three pilgrimage festivals: Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot. Yet the largest annual Jewish pilgrimage these days will take place this week during the lesser known holy day of Lag B’Omer, or the...
Today, 75 years of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising are commemorated. A history of resistance...
It is 75 years since the beginning of one of the most heroic deeds of the Jewish people: the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, during which less than a thousand Jews confronted the powerful Nazi army...
300 Intel drones to light skies over Jerusalem at Israel Independence celebration
Brian Krzanich, CEO of Intel, will join Israel for Wednesday night’s 70th-anniversary celebrations, bringing along 300 Intel drones to help put on a massive light show in the skies over Jerusalem.
“I am excited to...
College parties like no other, bringing Israel into the mix
In the weeks leading up to Yom Ha’aztmaut—Israel’s Independence Day—on April 19, pro-Israel students from more than 160 university campuses across North America have been holding parties and celebrations for the Jewish state’s 70th...
Walking in the footsteps of those who battled in 1948
Members of the Israel Defense Forces and Israeli civilians are jointly commemorating the decisive battles of the 1948 War of Independence ahead of national celebrations of Israel’s 70th year of Independence.
“When you study the...
Bulgarian foreign ministry hosts Balkan Jewish leaders for special Passover dinner
SOFIA - The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry hosted the Organization of Jews in Bulgaria ‘Shalom’ and representatives of the Jewish communities of Greece, Macedonia, and Serbia on Thursday for a special Passover dinner.
In a message...
Counting of the Omer
Counting of the Omer (Hebrew: ספירת העומר, Sefirat HaOmer, sometimes abbreviated as Sefira or the Omer) is an important verbal counting of each of the forty-nine days between the Jewish holidays of Passover and Shavuot as stated in the Hebrew Bible: Leviticus 23:15–16.
This mitzvah ("commandment") derives from the Torah commandment to count...
Passover isn’t Passover without food and (Israeli) wine pairings
Nearly every Jewish holiday puts food and wine at the center of the celebration. There is a common phrase that describes Jewish holidays thus: “They tried to kill us, we survived, let’s eat.” A...