Jewish Holidays

Embark on a journey of Jewish learning and discovery, exploring the depth of our Jewish Holidays resources, where tagged items including audio, programs, and podcast episodes await your exploration.

Shmini Atzeret: Election Day

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Tomorrow is Shmini Atzeret. It is also Election Day in Canada. While that is no doubt unfortunate for (observant) Jews, these days, Election Day is a bit of a misnomer. People have been able to vote for weeks, and some 4.7 million voters, or 1/6 of…
Article
Oct 20, 2019

Shabbat Chol Hamoed: Opposites Attract

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Sukkot is a holiday full of contradictions. At the time we celebrate our harvest, we are bidden to leave the comfort of our home and expose ourselves to the elements of nature. Even the two reasons given for sitting in the sukkah are…
Article
Oct 18, 2019

Yom Kippur: The Day After

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“It was on the next day…” (Shemot 18:13). Apparently, something of significance had happened on the previous day, yet the Torah makes no mention of it. The day, that special day that needs no mention, can be none other than Yom Kippur (Rashi). And…
Article
Oct 10, 2019

Yom Kippur: A Great Day!

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Our society worships greatness. Whether it be athletes, rock stars, actors or successful business leaders, they are showered with wealth and adulation and pampered wherever they go. People pay great sums of money to be in the presence of, or acquire…
Article
Oct 7, 2019

Aseret Yemi Teshuva: I Confess

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Integral to the teshuva process is the act of vidui, confession. One can intellectually know one has done something wrong; one can even feel terrible about it. But unless and until one verbalizes that one has sinned—and for sins against…
Article
Oct 6, 2019

Rosh Hashanah: Early, Late or Just Right

Rabbi Jay Kelman

"And on the seventh month on the first day of the month, it shall be a day of rest. It is a sacred day for remembrance and blowing" (Vayikra 23:24). What the Torah calls a day of blowing (of the ram's horn) is more commonly known as Rosh Hashanah,…
Article
Sep 28, 2019

Tu BAv: Coming Together

Rabbi Jay Kelman

One of the lessons Nehama Leibowitz, z”l, drilled into us during the time I was fortunate to study with her was that if Rashi has two explanations for a pasuk, it means he was not fully satisfied with either. Had he been, he would…
Article
Aug 16, 2019

Shavuot: A Forced Torah?

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Our attitude towards Torah is a most fickle one. On the one hand, the Jewish people demonstrated great faith in following Moshe into a barren desert and it is this we recount as we plead for G-d's mercy on Rosh Hashanah. On the other hand,…
Article
Jun 7, 2019

Megillat Esther: Part 4

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Audio
May 29, 2019

Megillat Esther: Part 3

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Audio
May 29, 2019