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.

Tisha B'Av Program 2016-Nachem? A Rebuilt Yerushalayim

Rabbi Zev Spitz

Another entry in the series from our long-running Tisha B'Av program by Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner, Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner, Rosh Beit Midrash, Yeshiva University Torah Mitzion Beit Midrash Zichron Dov Toronto
Audio
Aug 15, 2016

Tisha B'Av: Doing Nothing

Rabbi Jay Kelman

"Because of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza Jerusalem was destroyed.” (Gitin 55b) So begins the most famous Talmudic story relating to the destruction of the Temple and exile of the people, a story epitomizing the sinnat chinam that had taken hold amongst the…
Article
Aug 12, 2016

Yom Ha'atzmaut 68

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“In every generation one must see himself as if he had left Egypt.” Pesach may seem like a distant memory despite it having concluded less than two weeks ago. Yet it is the legacy of Pesach that hovers so strongly in the 21st century.    Pesach…
Article
May 12, 2016

Pesach: Old Questions, New Answers

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“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 children”, but their message is relevant all year round. One approach does not fit all, nor is any…
Article
Apr 22, 2016

Pesach: The Wise and Wicked

Rabbi Jay Kelman

The Seder night brings together Jews from all orientations and perspectives. The future redemption of the Jewish people, a theme which is central to the seder, is dependant on different types of Jews learning how to respect each other even as we may…
Article
Apr 22, 2016

Shabbat Hagadol: Redemption is Near?

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Historians and sociologists have long debated whether it is historical trends that determine the course of events, the historical personalities being of little significance, or whether it is people of great stature who shape the course of history…
Article
Apr 15, 2016

Passover in the Biblical and Second Temple Periods

Dr. Malka Z. Simkovich

The People and the Book: Annual Conference on Tanach (2016)
Audio
Apr 5, 2016

Shushan Purim: From Purim to Pesach

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“When Adar enters, we increase our joy” (Taanit 29a). Presumably, the increased joy is due to the upcoming Purim festivities, the most joyous of Jewish holidays. Yet somewhat surprisingly, Rashi explains that our increased joy is due not only to…
Article
Mar 25, 2016

Purim: One Is More Than Many

Rabbi Jay Kelman

"It was contemptible in his eyes to harm Mordechai alone; for they identified for him the people of Mordechai; Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Achashverosh, the people of Mordechai" (Esther 3:6).   The…
Article
Mar 23, 2016

Adar Sheni: Two Redemptions

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Imagine if every few years the Gregorian calendar had two Decembers. When would people shop? We of course are faced with a similar dilemma seven out of every nineteen years, as our calendar has two Adars. While we celebrate Purim in Adar II,…
Article
Mar 11, 2016