Haggim
Pesah – Last Day
By Simcha Raphael, PhD Yizkor – Remembrance of Souls on the Eighth Day of Passover On the eighth day of Passover we recite Yizkor prayers in memory of deceased family members. In our contemporary society, we think of Yizkor as … Continue reading »
Pesah
By Rabbi Heidi Hoover More than a decade ago, shortly after my conversion to Judaism, I was working as a religious school tutor. One day at about this time of year, I was having a conversation with a colleague about … Continue reading »
Hanukkah
Hanukkah: In Praise Of The Righteous Gentile By Irwin Huberman Often at this time of the year, it feels as if the entire world is enveloped in darkness. Daylight is at a premium. Cold air chills our bones. And especially … Continue reading »
Sukkot
By Rabbi Margaret Frisch-Klein Sitting in a private bathroom stall on Rosh Hashanah at the synagogue, I notice a sign for a hotline for domestic abuse. At first I am saddened that we need such signs. Then I am relieved … Continue reading »
Rosh HaShanah
Connecting with God By Marian Kleinman In the story of the sacrifice of Isaac we read on Rosh HaShanah, the sacrifice asked of Abraham can be explored as symbolic of relationships such as the relationship between ourselves and God. In … Continue reading »
Simhat Torah: The Rebirth of the Word
As we approach Simhat Torah and prepare to read of the death of Moses and the creation of the world, I always find myself experiencing a feeling of anticipation and even exhilaration, as if something extraordinary were about to happen. In … Continue reading »
Shemini Atzeret
The three pilgrimage festivals – Pesah, Shavuot and Sukkot – are mentioned several times in the Torah – in Parshiyot Mishpatim, Ki Tisa, Emor, Pinhas, and Re’eh. But it is only in two of these parshiyot – Emor and Pinhas … Continue reading »
Yom Kippur
By Rabbi Margaret Frisch Klein Ashamnu, Bagadnu, gazalnu, dabarnu dophi ….. We beat our chests as we repeat this list of sins in our liturgy over and over again during Yom Kippur. It is an alef-bet listing of sins, said … Continue reading »
Rosh HaShanah
By Rabbi Katy Allen Look in the mirror. You are unique, but your two sides are not so different from each other. Compare the patterns of the two sides of your face. Do you see the connection? Like every other … Continue reading »
Pesah
Shabbat Hol HaMo’ed Pesah By Margaret Klein We’ve cleaned, cooked, celebrated. We’ve had seders that lasted until midnight. Now it is time to celebrate again. Shabbat in the middle of Passover. A double celebration. We don’t want to sound like … Continue reading »