Jewish life is all too often rather chaotic. Yet Pesach and Yom Kippur, the two central holidays of the year[1] teach the importance of seder, order…
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Pesach: What Should We Read
It is hard to argue that there is a more impactful and important rabbinic decree than that of kriat haTorah, the weekly public reading of the Torah.…
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Pesach: Time is Relative
“Could it be from Rosh Chodesh?” the authors of the Hagadah ask, raising the possibility that one might celebrate the Pesach[1] and tell the story of…
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Pesach: Egyptian Economic Activity
Moshe Rabbeinu was our teacher par excellence. As a great pedagogue, he understood the importance of teaching subject material in a timely manner. “…
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Pesach: Don't Forget Yosef
The eating of karpas has long baffled our commentators. Why exactly do we dip a vegetable in salt water just as we are ready to begin the…
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Parshat Hachodesh: Timing is Everything
“In the first month of the second year on the first of the month, the Tabernacle was erected” (Shemot 40:2). Sefer Shemot concludes with…
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Pesach: Good and Comfortable
Seemingly, one of the more depressing debates in rabbinic literature is one that the houses of Hillel and Shammai argued about for two-and-half years…
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Pesach: The Simple Wise Son
Much ink has been spilled and much discussion ensued in trying to analyze the difference between the question of the chacham and the rasha. On the…
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Last Day(s) of Pesach: Reach for the Top
As we all know too well, there is often a gap between the ideal and reality. In trying to implement our goals, we all too often fall prey to conflict…
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Pesach: Have You Left Egypt?
“In each and every generation, one must see oneself as if they had left Egypt”. In Judaism, we not only commemorate the past, we…
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Pesach: Preparing to Eat
Twice a year, on Yom Kippur and at the Pesach seder, we conclude with the prayer L’shanna haba’ah b’Yerushalayim. It is…
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Pesach: Hope for the Best
Pesach is the Jewish holiday of hope. It marks the beginning of the Jewish (lunar) year – and new years are always times of hope. It is celebrated in…
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Pesach: Now that is Slavery!
Our images of Egyptian slavery are those of forced labor and murder by a ruthless tyrant and his many followers. Despite Joseph literally saving…
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Pesach: A Seder in Sedom
"He made a feast for them and baked matzah and they ate" (Breisheet 19:3). The "angels" had come to Sedom to rescue Lot from…
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Pesach: Old Questions, New Answers
“Chanoch lena’ar al pi darcho, train each child according to their way” (Mishlei). It is at the Seder that we analyze the questions of the “four…
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Pesach: The Wise and Wicked
The Seder night brings together Jews from all orientations and perspectives. The future redemption of the Jewish people, a theme which is central to…
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Shabbat Hagadol: Redemption is Near?
Historians and sociologists have long debated whether it is historical trends that determine the course of events, the historical personalities being…
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Pesach: Looking Forward
There is something most beautiful about a holiday that celebrates our past being focused on future, on our children. Pesach marks the founding of our…