Hanukkah started tonight; so, I thought I would share a thought or two about it. Why did the sages make Hanukkah a holiday? The obvious answer is the two miracles: defeating the Greeks and the oil lasting 8 days. However, we have had other miracles like these that the sages did not turn into holidays: Joshua stopping the sun and the defeat of Cicero two name just two. So why did the sages make a holiday of Hanukkah? The answer … Continue reading
The Torah really does not have a beginning and an ending. Today (Sunday) is the end of Succot, and on its heals is Simchat Torah which means, “Happiness of Torah.” On Simchat Torah we finish reading the Torah, and start again to read the Torah. We also dance with the Torah and celebrate simultaneous endings and beginnings. If there was only one thing to learn from the Torah, then this cycle would be a circle. However, when you read the … Continue reading
We are about to enter into the holy days of Succot (tabernacles) and I thought I would share a few words on the topic. When I was in Israel, I heard a lot of talk regarding these holy days as to the meaning of the 4 species of trees that we wave, and with the meaning of the succah itself. At the beginning of one Succot in Israel, a different type of question came to me. Why does Succot happen … Continue reading
Hello everybody, This was originally written on October 11, 2005. However, it is still relevant today and I hope gives you a fresh and more joyful perspective on what Yom Kippor is really about. Well here it is, the evening before Yom Kippor. I wasn’t planning on writing anything for the day, but during yeshiva (a school for the study of Torah) today, as we talked about the day, I realized that I did have some thoughts I wanted to … Continue reading
Hello and welcome to the days of returning. We are now in the 10 days between Rosh haShanah (head of change in Hebrew) and Yom Kippor (Hebrew for day of atonement. It is also called Yom haKipporim which means: the day like Purim). These 10 days are called days of repentance, however the Hebrew word for repentance, tshuvah, really means an answer or a return. You see, on Rosh haShanah we invoked the beginning of change. Now we are in … Continue reading
Hello everyone, As today is erev Rosh haShanah (the day before the Jewish new year), I thought I would share a few thoughts. A study partner of mine a couple of years ago observed that most people call Rosh haShanah, “Judgment day,” and when you think of a judgement day, you think of somber clothes and going to court and fear of what the verdict will be. However, we look at Rosh haShanah as a day of joy and celebration … Continue reading
We have entered the Jewish month of Elul which is the month before the Jewish new year… well one of the 4 Jewish new years. We Jews are a bit funny that way. We celebrate the new year on the 7th month of the year. And then there is the new year for the trees, and the new year that actually is at the beginning of the year, and lastly a new year for the vegetables and animals. Crazy really. … Continue reading
Imagine that you have been told that you have a terminal illness and that you will die in exactly one year. How does this make you feel? Now, imagine one year has gone by. It is the night before the day of your death. All your affairs are in order. You’ve made a will and made amends, and had time to tell the people that you love how you feel. You lie down in your bed and as you drift … Continue reading
Hello everybody, This week we start the final chapter in the drama that we call the Torah. The book is called D’varim (Deuteronomy) which means “words” in Hebrew, for these are Moshe’s (Moses) final words to the family of Yisrael before they go and take the land haShem (god) has promised them. This week’s parsha (weekly Torah portion), btw, is also called D’varim. 🙂 So, what does Moshe tell the people? Before I start, remember that he is talking, not … Continue reading
I hope everybody has been enjoying their summer. Currently we are in the Jewish month of Tammuz, in the middle of a period called: The 3 weeks. This is a 3 week period from the 17th of Tammuz until the 9th of the month of Av, and it is the worst period of time in the Jewish year wheel. Both days are fast days and the 9th of Av (tisha b’Av) is the day that the 2 temples got destroyed, … Continue reading