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…
Purim: Celebrating Community
In what surely is one of the strangest, shocking and surreal of teachings, our Sages have noted that Yom Kippurim (which is what the Torah calls Yom…
Terumah: The First of Adar
The first of Adar is a very special day. “Just as when Av begins one decreases rejoicing, so too when the month of Adar begins, one…
Chanukah: The Lights and The Lights
"The mitzvah of kindling Chanukah lamps is a very beloved mitzva” (Laws of Chanukah 4:12). So writes the Rambam living in the…
Yom Kippur: Where is the Golden Calf?
Yom Kippur marks the day that G-d forgave the Jewish people for the sin of the golden calf. And precisely because G-d forgave the people on this day…
Rosh Hashanah: Looking Ahead
The haunting, powerful and frightening words of Untenah Tokef – who shall live and who shall die – is for many the emotional highlight of the High…
Tisha B'Av: Avoiding a Recession
When we think of Tisha B’Av many images enter our mind – this year sadly more than in the past. Tisha B’Av is the day we mourn our historic tragedies…
Shavuot: A New Torah
“Every day they [the mitzvot of the Torah] should be like new”. With the exception of Coca-Cola, we like that which is new. We tend to associate new…
Acharei Mot: From Pesach to Yom Kippur
“And G-d spoke to Moshe after the death of the two children of Aharon when they came close before G-d and they died” (Vayikra 16:1). The Torah…
Pesach: A Second Chance
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 …
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…
Pesach: Why Eat Matza
“Rabban Gamliel would say: Anyone who does not say these three things on Pesaḥ has not fulfilled his obligation, and these are they: [the korban…
Purim Thoughts: Far, Far Away
The decree has been promulgated and publicized through the empire. 127 provinces have received “hurried” instructions that they should “destroy,…
Sukkot: The First Sin
“And you shall take for yourselves on the first day, the fruit of the hadar tree, date palm fronds, a branch of a braided tree, and willows of the…
Yom Kippur: Sinning Under Duress
“For the sin we sinned before You, b’ones u’beratzon, under duress and willingly. So begins the litany of al chets, the double acrostic…
Rosh Hashanah: Come Together
“Ubechen, Please G-d instill pachdecha, terror upon all Your works and eimatecha, Your dread upon all that You have created”. So begins the Amidah on…
Tu B'Av: Time to Dance
Our holidays form natural units, as none truly stand alone. The 49 days of the omer link Pesach to Shavuot. We begin the holiday cycle by…
Tisha B'Av: Before the Law
“Rav Yochanan said: Jerusalem was destroyed only because they followed the laws of the Torah” (Bava Metzia 30b). The Talmud is incredulous at such an…