Circumcision According to Judaism
The focus of this article will be confined to Jewish practices and traditions alone to maintain relevance to the title. The New Testament may make a contribution to a more …
The Significance of the Menorah for Hanukkah Celebrations
Every year on the 25th day of Kislev, Jewish people around the world celebrate the holiday of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. In homes all across the world, families light …
Buyers Guide to Jewish Jewelry
The best and most efficient way to buy Jewish jewelry is to buy it beautifully crafted by an artist’s hand. David Weitzman is an Israeli artist, who has devoted over …
Rabbis of the Talmud
Rabbi Yochanan and Raish Lakish: Living with Torah It is a tale with a sad ending. It begins with sunshine and light but it ends with darkness and despair. It …
The History of Judaism
In my opinion, the history of Judaism would be incomplete unless one refers to Israel as its nation of origin and its means of transference to the Jewish People. Judaism, …
The last Days of Israelites in Egypt Remembered at Passover
The dramatic conclusion to the Israelites’ sojourn in Egypt has been remembered by their descendants through the millennia at Passover. Whether in obedience to a Divine commandment, as an exercise …
Jewish History and Faith Revealed in Purim Celebrations
Throughout the book of Esther, “the name of God is not there, but His finger certainly is”, wrote Matthew Henry the Bible scholar. His providence is obvious quietly, but sovereignly …
The True Meaning of the Passover Celebration for Jews
The Jewish tradition of Passover celebrates the liberation of Jewish slaves by Moses over three thousand years ago. Almost everyone knows the story, but it is worth retelling. Spring is …
Jewish Kosher Dietary Laws
Have you ever seen a kosher label in the grocery store and wondered what it meant? Two different brands of the same product sit side by side on a shelf, …
Jewish History and Faith Revealed in Purim Celebrations
Esther and the Celebration of Purim The book of Esther tells the story of how two members of the Diaspora community in Persia turn the tables on an anti-Semite’s plan …
The Meaning of Yarmulkes in Judaism
There are two basic approaches to dealing with the issue of the head-covering worn by Orthodox Jews, the Kipa (Hebrew) or the Yarmulke (Yiddish, often pronounced “Yamaka” in New Yorkish). …
Shabbat Sacred Time
Within a minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years there are cycles. It is the rhythm of life that often goes unnoticed. Each of my children became part of the …
Hanukkah Family Games
One Hanukkah tradition includes playing games with chocolate coins called gelt. There are a couple of games you can play with the kids using these chocolate coins. The first game …
A Celebration of Freedom
Few can imagine the persecution that has been a constant enemy of the Jewish people. Surely God in all of His creation never intended for there to be such a …
Guide to Jewish Prayers and Blessings
To a devout Jew, there is a blessing for everything. For anyone who has seen the classic film “Fiddler on the Roof” who can forget Tevye’s singing speech about tradition? …
How Israelis Honor Passover
The term ‘to celebrate’ Passover (Pesach in Hebrew) would be more appropriate than ‘honor’. Pesach is an 8-day holiday that commemorates the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt where they …
Divisions of Modern Judaism Origins of Reform Conservative Judaism
Despite claims that may say otherwise, Judaism has more or less been monolithic in its tenets and is a closed system based on the divine revelation that occurred fifty days …
Honor your Father and Mother Jewish Qualifications on this Commandment
The Torah itself doesn’t tell us much about Avrohom Avinu‘s early life. Most of the lore on that period comes from the Midrash, the compilation of Biblical commentary and exegesis …
Tips for Planning a Jewish Wedding
If you’re thinking of planning such an event today, your choices are unlimited. You could opt for a somber, super-religious, five-hour Orthodox wedding, all recited and sung in the Hebrew …
Traditional Hanukkah Activities
Since Hanukkah and Christmas are celebrated around the same time, it is only natural that Jewish kids and Christian kids compare their respective holidays: how many presents are given, what …
Past and Future Judaism
The origin of Judaism is perhaps best illustrated in an ancient letter found in the great Cairo “geniza”. This letter describes a debate that took place nearly 1000 years ago …
Hebrew Names for Girls
If you are of the Hebrew faith, you may want to give your newborn child a name in accordance to the religion. Today, depending on what part of the world …
The Sequence of Holy Days in Jewish Life and Practice
Celebrating the Zionist Festival Jerusalem-It’s the 29th of Cheshvan, not a particularly noteworthy day for most Jews in the world. But for Jews from Ethiopia, this date has long been …
Overview of the different Hanukkah Traditions
In every tradition there is an interpretation that resonates deep within our souls. The tradition of the menorah is one of those. No one shares the same belief or interpretation …
Do Prayers Work
I truly believe in prayer. I have experienced it working in my life. I don’t think the power to answer prayer lies in God. I believe it is people using …
How Jews have been Treated as Scapegoats Past and Present
To put it bluntly, the enemies of the Jews have used as an excuse the words of the Bible to say they were guilty of killing Jesus and the prophets. …
Principle Concept and Symbolism of Kabbalah
Spiritual concepts can sometimes be tricky to explain, but here goes… The Ten Emanations, also known as the 10 sefirot of the Tree of Life configuration is one of the …
The Covenant in Judaism
A conundrum that plagues most modern scholars and Liberal Arts students is whether or not to believe in religion through the teaching of the scriptures, or those of the religious …
Lighting the Menorah
I was first allowed to accompany my mother in lighting the candles when I was five years old. She gave me a red shmata (headscarf) that looked quite a bit …
Best Texts for the Haggadah in English for Passover
Haggadah: Telling The Story Haggadah is the Hebrew word for “telling the story.” Traditionally, the word is used to refer to an actual book from which the traditional stories and …
Jewish Food an Overview
Like all aspects of Jewish life what is and is not allowed when it comes to food is determined by the Torah and the Talmud. From the beginning, God set …
What is Halacha
Halakhah (as spelled here: Most people spell it “halacha”) is a Hebrew word meaning “The Way”, and is used to denote the rules by which the Jewish religion is governed. …