Jewish Holidays

Matzah Ethics

Watch on YouTube   We’ve eaten matzah during this Passover week because the Torah/G-d requires it and forbids chametz (leavened bread).  As my nine-year old grandson proudly told us during our family seder, the tr... Continue Reading »
Apr 02
Posted in: Torah Commentary, Jewish Holidays , Jewish Rituals, Ethics

Passover Food Drive for Hungry Jews in Ethiopia

Shalom.  As many of you know, I have been involved in helping the Jewish communities in Ethiopia for some years, including making three visits there and forming anJie: Aiding Needy Jews in Ethiopia.   I invite you to please participat... Continue Reading »
Mar 10
Posted in: Jewish Holidays , Events and Announcements

Pesach's Socialist Message

“From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.”  What might this phrase, a slogan usually associated with Karl Marx, albeit with much older antecedents[1], have to due to Pesach? Socialism/communism’s fundamental goal was t... Continue Reading »
Apr 29
Posted in: Torah Commentary, Jewish Holidays , Ethics

Ki Tetze: Confessions of an Unrepentant Sinner

The “Ten Days of Repentance” ("High Holy Days") are rapidly approaching, but I already know that they offer me less than complete repentance for my sins.I know this because I am, and will remain for the rest of my life, an unrepentant sinner. I know ... Continue Reading »
Aug 28
Posted in: Torah Commentary, Jewish Holidays , Jewish Rituals

Ve'etchanan: "Handling" the Truth

Ve'etchanan: "Handling" the Truth
“Opium of the Masses” [das Opium des Volkes] is how Karl Marx famously (or infamously, depending upon one’s perspective) referred to religion, although the phrase did not originate with him.     His philosophy... Continue Reading »
Jul 31
Posted in: Torah Commentary, Focus on Prayers, Jewish Holidays

Tisha B'Av Observance? Learn and Decide!

Tisha B'Av Observance? Learn and Decide!
Tisha B’Av (Ninth Day of the Month of Av) – the culmination of the "three weeks" and the saddest day of the Jewish year -- commemorates numerous tragedies in Jewish history.  It occurs this year on July 25th.... Continue Reading »
Jul 23
Posted in: Jewish Holidays , Jewish History, Jewish Rituals

Shavuot: Learn, Baby, Learn!

Shavuot: Learn, Baby, Learn!
Poor Shavuot!  It is surely the “Rodney Dangerfield” of major Jewish holidays. Yes, of major Jewish holidays. The Torah commands us to celebrate three pilgrimage festivals; Pesach, Sukkot, and Shavuot.  But Shavuot gets short... Continue Reading »
May 21
Posted in: Torah Commentary, Jewish Holidays , Jewish Rituals, Israel

Behar/Emor: Consistently Inconsistent

Behar/Emor: Consistently Inconsistent
I’ve returned to Israel, where this week’s Torah reading is B’har. Back in America, though – and everywhere in the Diaspora, – this week’s Torah portion is Emor, which was read last week here.   The diverge... Continue Reading »
May 08
Posted in: Torah Commentary, Jewish Holidays , Israel

B'reshit: In the (New) Beginning, the Holidays Were Over!

B'reshit: In the (New) Beginning, the Holidays Were Over!
I’ve just returned from celebrating a raucous Shimini Azeret/Simchat Torah holiday (these are the same day in Israel) in Efrat, the only town (pop. about 10,000) among smaller enclaves in the Gush Etzion “block” of Jewish settlement... Continue Reading »
Oct 17
Posted in: Torah Commentary, Jewish Holidays , Israel

Mi’yom l’yom: A Holocaust-Independence Day “Connection”?

Mi’yom l’yom: A Holocaust-Independence Day “Connection”?
As the current eight-day interval between Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) and Yom Ha’azmaut (Israeli Independence Day) began earlier this week, I found myself pondering the validity and, if valid, the meaning of the following “sim... Continue Reading »
May 02
Posted in: Torah Commentary, Jewish Holidays , Israel
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If charity cost nothing, the world would be full of philanthropists.
Jewish Proverb