The Shabbat directly following the fast of Tisha B’av is called Nachamu or “be consoled”. The name is taken from the prophet Isaiah who prophesizes the return of the Jewish people from their exile to Israel. The prophecy begins with the words, “Nachamu, Nachamu”. Whenever there is, what seems to be, a superfluous word in […]
Many of the prohibitions and customs relating to the day of Tisha B’av are the same that relate to a mourner. For example, we sit on the floor and refrain from greeting people. Why then do we not tear kriyah, one of the most fundamental signs of intense mourning, on Tisha B’av? One possible answer […]
This Wednesday night, we will observe Tisha B’av, the day on which both of our holy temples in Jerusalem were destroyed. It is a time of sadness, mourning, and reflection. It’s really almost impossible to feel true sadness and loss for a Temple that has been gone for nearly 2ooo years. No one ever seen […]
My mom, Yehudit Bat Elimelech, left this world on Erev Shabbat, the 18th of Tamuz (July 10th). In the merit of the prayers and mitzvot of hundreds of Jews, she was blessed with a few extra days of strength to spend with her family. She told us that she wasn’t afraid of death, and that […]
Many Jewish ceremonies can only be performed in the presence of a Minyan — a quorum of ten adult Jewish males. The same is true of certain prayers, such as Kaddish, as well as the reading of the Torah. The Minyan represents a core cummunity. The source in the Torah that teaches us that ten […]
On the night of Yom Haatzmaut, my wife and I passed through Kikar Rabin to celebrate with thousands of our fellow countrymen. As we left the square on our way home, we passed some blue and white clad people handing out glossy, colored pamphlets. My instinctive reaction was to politely wave them off and continue […]
Today we remember the more than twenty thousands soldiers and civilians that fell in defense of Israel. It is no coincidence that we celebrate our independence directly following this day, for although Yom Hazikaron (the day of remembrance) is a day of solemn introspection, it is not a day of mourning. We do not sit […]
Today is Yom Hashoah, the day when we remember and honor the sacrifice of our six million brothers and sisters who were murdered during the holocaust, as well as those that survived to rebuild. Here in Israel the day is filled with inspirational and emotional programs and testimonies from survivors. At 10:00am this morning, the […]
One of the most important lessons we can learn from Passover is to literally “pass over” the stuff that really isn’t that important but that constantly seems to stress us out. So, when you feel that anger, frustration, and mega-stress taking over and threatening to ruin your day — “pass over” it. Hop right over […]
During the seder, when the wise son eagerly inquires as to the details of the laws of Pesach, the Haggadah tells us to begin by teaching him the laws of the Afikomen. Out of all of the important laws of Pesach, why is the afikomen chosen? The term “Afikoman” is derived from the Greek work […]