#judaism
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Pesach: What’s Up With the Mnemonic Detzach Adash Be-achav?
The three words, attributed to Rabbi Judah, we say while spilling wine at the Seder, teach deep insights about the 10 plagues.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Q&A: How the Jewish Holidays Can Be a Valuable Tool for Growth
With the Season of our Freedom approaching, it’s a good time to remember that we have everything we need packed inside of us. We can leap over our hurdles and reach our goals—all we need to do is take that inner potential that G‑d gives us and expand it into all its possibilities.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Is Meditation Kosher? - And if so, why aren’t we doing it? - Chabad
Is it possible to be a good Jew, do mitzvahs, study Torah and pray to G‑d without ever thinking too deeply about who He is and what’s my relationship with Him?
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Where Did Moses Get His Staff & What Happened to It?
Moses’ staff figures prominently throughout the story of the Exodus from Egypt and our ancestors’ subsequent sojourn in the desert. But Scripture doesn’t tell us the history of the staff.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
17 Jewish Calendar Facts - Chabad
The Jewish calendar is the structure upon which all Jewish holidays are based. It follows the lunar cycle, which means that the year is comprised of 12 lunar months (of approximately 29.5 days each).
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Should We Use Gender Neutral Language for G-d?
Judaism has been understood as the effort to reunite the feminine and masculine aspects of God.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Total Transformation: The Shema Prayer Meditation - Chabad
While the prayers preceding the Shema are important, it is the Shema prayer itself that transforms the animal soul into loving G‑d.
Politics | Opinion
What the rioting left fails to see
The attempted criminalization of Israel and Jews will continue even if the judiciary’s power is limited.
Miscellaneous | Jewish Wisdom
It Took Years, and I’m Finally Proud to Be Jewish
I found out I was Jewish when a girl on my street told me I was a “dirty Jew.”
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Chabad: Purim Backwards
On Purim, it’s a mitzvah to hear the story of Esther read from a scroll—called a “megillah”—both by day and by night.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Why Purim Isn't The Jewish Halloween
Purim tells a story of the victory of life. Halloween contains an awful lot of the opposite.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Purim: 14 Facts About Mordecai
Mordechai was the leader of the Jews and cousin of Queen Esther, his co-hero in the Purim story.
Miscellaneous | Chabad
The Tehillim App You’ve Been Waiting For!
Kehot Publication Society and Chabad.org have released a new app that makes “saying Tehillim” easier than ever.
News | Israel Around The World
Ancient Book of Esther scrolls salvaged from Turkey earthquake rubble
A local elder of Antakya, Turkey's Jewish community handed the scrolls over to ZAKA rescuers, who are working on transporting them to safety.
News | News
UNPACKED: Watch-Unsafe Spaces: When Being Jewish Means You Don’t Belong
UNPACKED: Watch-Unsafe Spaces: When Being Jewish Means You Don’t Belong Everyone knows that Israel is a tough subject, but something has been changing recently. In the past, Jewish students were openly attacked for defending Israel but now they are
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Tu BiShvat in a Minute - Chabad
When’s the last time you wished a tree Happy New Year? The 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat is a great opportunity. It’s known as Tu BiShvat, the New Year for Trees.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
What Is the Authentic Ancient Hebrew Alphabet? - Ketav Ivri vs. Ketav Ashurit
I recently read about some ancient writings that were in a
script called Proto-Hebrew, which the Jews supposedly used to write in before
the current Hebrew script.
News | Israel & The Jewish Community
ARMED | The story behind the launch of the Rebbe’s Tefillin Campaign
A riveting and unprecedented cinematic experience, ‘Armed’ tells the fascinating story of the launch of the international tefillin campaign. Featuring newly ...
Miscellaneous | Jewish Life
Wearing tefillin may prevent damage from heart attacks
“This is a potential game changer for how we approach cardiovascular disease prevention,” says Dr. Jack Rubenstein.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
How Do Mezuzahs Work? - Chabad
How on earth does a parchment scroll with Hebrew inscriptions increase your personal safety? Here is how the great rabbis understood it.
Miscellaneous | Jewish Wisdom
How Much Is G-d Involved in Our Lives?
Our journey has value—not merely as a means to a greater end, but in and of itself.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
20 Maimonides Facts You Should Know
1. He Was Born Into a Prestigious Spanish Family
Maimonides was born circa 1135, in Cordoba, in the Andalusia region of Spain. His family traced their ancestry to the compiler of the Mishnah, Rabbi Yehudah HaNassi, and through him, to King David.1 Encouraged by his father—a judge on the Cordoba rabbinical court and a student of the famed Ri Migash—he pursued studies in Jewish law, philosophy, and medicine.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Jewish Wisdom: Joseph's Message - Vayigash
It was not enough for Jacob to discover that Joseph was still alive physically. He needed to hear that he was also alive spiritually.
News | Abortion
Abortion Is Not a Jewish Sacrament
“Our Jewish brothers and sisters,” squad member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez explained during a recent rant, “are able to have an abortion according to their faith.” Many religions...
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Why Is Chanukah 8 (Not 7) Days Long? - 13 answers to an age-old puzzle - Chabad
The 8 days are because it either took 8 days to become pure or to travel to Tekoa to get new oil. But why is the first day celebrated? Here are 13 reasons.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
16 Menorah Facts Every Jew Should Know - Chabad
The word menorah is Hebrew for “lamp,” and generally refers to the eight-branched candelabra that we light on the Jewish holiday of Chanukah.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
12 Facts About Judah Every Jew Should Know
Judah was the fourth son of Jacob and Leah. Compared to a lion, Judah was the ancestor of the royal House of David. He made mistakes and rectified them, blazing a path for others to follow.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Antisemitism: Why the Jews?
Over the centuries, numerous “reasons” have been advanced to explain the phenomenon of Antisemitism. But perhaps there is no reason!
Miscellaneous | Judaism
6 Lessons From Jacob’s Wrestling With the Angel
We also wrestle with spiritual doubts and conflicts.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Can There Be Judaism Without Torah?
Other than Torah observance, what can we teach the next generation to inspire them to stay Jewish?
Miscellaneous | Judaism
What Does Jacob’s Ladder Symbolize?
Jacob’s simple ladder foreshadows the trajectory of human development.
News | Israel & The Jewish Community
The Mutating Virus: Understanding Antisemitism | Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
"The hate that begins with Jews never ends with Jews." On 27th September 2016, Rabbi Sacks delivered a keynote address entitled 'The Mutating Virus: Understa...
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Play "Jewish History True or False" - Chabad
Who anointed King David? Where did the story of Purim take place? Test your knowledge of early Jewish History!
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Judaism: When Does the Soul Enter the Body? - Chabad
Traditions vary from the moment of conception or 40 days thereafter, to various childhood milestones. They can be synthesized by understanding the nature of our two souls.
News | News
Howard Epstein – GOOD DEAL OR BADDIEL?
Howard Epstein – GOOD DEAL OR BADDIEL? Call me hypersensitive if you will, but I have an visceral aversion to anyone who says (worse, writes) “f**k Israel”. It’s bad coming from a gentile, it’s delusional from a Jew and utterly bizarre in th
Miscellaneous | Jewish Wisdom
My Strategy for Avoiding Drowning in Stress
When I leave the ark of my morning prayers, it’s a beautiful world—one that I can work with and add light to.
Miscellaneous | Jewish Wisdom
Battling My Eating Disorder, Day by Day - Dealing with Challenge
I have an eating disorder.The doctors call it anorexia nervosa, but I resent being put in a box with a nice little label.
Miscellaneous | Sukkot
I Never Thought I’d Have My Own Sukkah - Sukkot, Hoshana Rabbah & Simchat Torah
That diffident child peering through the fence at her neighbors never dreamed that when she grew up, she would one day have the joy of sitting in her own sukkah year after year.
Miscellaneous | Sukkot
14 Sukkah Facts Every Jew Should Know - Sukkot & Simchat Torah
The sukkah is the space where we spend as much time as possible during the holiday of Sukkot. Covered with organic material, it reminds us of God's kindness in generations past and in the present times.
Politics | Leftists & Antisemitism
Leftists Most Likely To See Judaism As 'Incompatible' with French Values
Those on the left are far more likely to believe that Judaism is not compatible with French values, while being the most positive about Islam.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Take the Yom Kippur Quiz
See how familiar you are with the most sacred day on the Jewish calendar…
Miscellaneous | Judaism
19 Yom Kippur Facts Every Jew Should Know
Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement, when we are
closest to G‑d and most connected to the essence of our souls.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
9 Yom Kippur Myths and Misconceptions - High Holidays
Here’s your chance to rethink some things that “everyone knows” about the holy day.
Miscellaneous | Jewish Wisdom
18 Empowering Contemplations For Rosh Hashanah - Thinking about what it is and what we do with it - High Holidays
18 memes and contemplations for Rosh Hashanah. Illustrated.
News | News
UNPACKED: Watch – When Did Judaism Become a Religion?
UNPACKED: Watch – When Did Judaism Become a Religion? Throughout the ages, people have debated whether Judaism is a religion, a culture, or a nationality…and where Israel fits into the mix. In fact, the Jewish experience encompasses all of these.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
RoshHashanah: 7 Tips for Making and Keeping New Year's Resolutions
Here are a number of suggestions to keep our resolutions long-lasting and meaningful.
Miscellaneous | Diaspora
Medieval mass burial shows centuries-earlier origin of Ashkenazi genetic bottleneck
In 2004, construction workers in Norwich, U.K., unearthed human skeletal remains that led to a historical mystery—at least 17 bodies at the bottom of a medieval well. Using archaeological records, historical documents, and ancient DNA, British researchers
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Judaism: What You Need to Do Before You Pray
By joining forces, prayer won’t be fractured.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
When Blessings Come Cloaked in Darkness
A distillation of the Rebbe's talk on Jewish indignation, 1966.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Can You Travel Back in Time? Kind Of… - Parshah
One of the most powerful tools we humans possess is the ability to rewrite our own past by reframing the story.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
How Were the Priests Divided? - On the 24 Clans of Kohanim
The Torah dictates that the descendants of Aaron (the Kohanim) be separated from within the tribe of Levi and be prepared to serve in the Holy Temple (or Tabernacle).1
Miscellaneous | Judaism
The Levite Choir and Orchestra: What, Who and How?
During the time of year that we mourn the destruction of the Holy Temple, it is customary to learn the laws of the Holy Temple as a means to hasten its rebuilding during the final redemption.
News | Israel & The Jewish Community
In the US, some fading Reform and Conservative synagogues go Orthodox to stay afloat
Chabad Hasidic outreach programs reverse decline and bring growth to congregations through a host of programming designed to foster a more traditional community
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Why Cover the Head With a Tallit During Prayer? - Mitzvahs & Traditions
One should make preparations before praying, including preparing special garments, as if one were meeting an important dignitary.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Judaism: 14 Facts About the Book of Psalms
Psalms is a most beloved book, filled with prayers, praises, and prose. Compiled by David, it is an essential part of the Jewish Canon.
News | JEWISH COMMUNITY
In the US, some fading Reform and Conservative synagogues go Orthodox to stay afloat
Chabad Hasidic outreach programs reverse decline and bring growth to congregations through a host of programming designed to foster a more traditional community
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Moses vs. the Gaslighter - Guest Columnists - Parshah
The people in the desert were being gaslit, and big time.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
23 Tallit Facts You Should Know - Mitzvahs & Traditions
A tallit is a four-cornered, fringed garment worn by Jewish men during prayer.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
The Not-So-Dead Sea Scrolls
How the Dead Sea Scrolls, considered by many to be the most significant archaeological discovery of the 20th century, speak to Jews in the 21st century.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Why No Paschal Offering for 39 Years in the Desert? - Jewish History
As strange as it may seem, the Israelites seem to have only observed Passover once during their 40-year sojourn in the desert.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
11 Kippah Facts Every Jewish Guy Should Know - Mitzvahs & Traditions
A kippah is a head-covering traditionally worn by Jewish men
and boys as a sign of reverence and respect to G‑d.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Jewish Holidays: What Is Shavuot?
Unpack layers of Biblical and rabbinic text to understand the inner mechanics of this sometimes-overlooked but super-important holiday.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Halacha (Jewish law) is not pro-choice
To state that Halacha is pro-choice is the equivalent of claiming that Halacha is pro-theft or pro-lying concerning the Torah’s prohibition to steal and its requirement to be honest.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Is There a Flawless Proof That Torah Is True?
Years ago I attended a seminar where we were presented with logical proofs that the Torah was delivered to us by Moses at Sinai. I was convinced and began a path towards complete Jewish observance.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Jews Worldwide to Celebrate Mystical Spring Holiday of Lag BaOmer
Day also marks 41st annual completion of Mishneh Torah and Sefer Hamitzvot
Miscellaneous | Judaism
How to Celebrate Lag BaOmer
Here are the tools and tips you need to have a rip-roaring inspiration-heavy Lag BaOmer celebration like no other.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Seven Things People Get Wrong When Learning Kabbalah - …and how to get on the right track
1. Myth: Nobody goes to a Kabbalah class expecting to actually understand anything.
Truth: Kabbalah is about the human mind grasping the ungraspable.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Judaism: The Halachic Parameters of Taking Vengeance or Holding a Grudge
This class explains the prohibition of revenge (nekamah) and the prohibition of bearing a grudge (netirah). Exploring exactly when and how these prohibitions apply, and how it’s possible to bend one's thoughts in a positive direction and avoid these prohi
Miscellaneous | Judaism
What Is Ahavat Yisrael?
We all know the mitzvah to love your fellow Jew, but how do you love another as yourself?
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Spiritual Physics - Jewish Prayer
What do you do with this powerful love and desire for G‑d, awakened during prayer as a result of our challenges?
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Judaism: Does Hell Exist?
Who isn’t terrified at the notion of being in a fiery furnace for all eternity?
Politics | Opinion
Elder Of Ziyon - Should the Performance of the Korban Pesach be Illegal in the Jewish State? (Judean Rose)
Every year, Temple Mount activists prepare to perform the Passover offering. Every year, they are arrested.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Why Do Jews In Exile Celebrate Passover?
Ever since the Exodus, every Jew possesses that innate, unbreakable sense of freedom.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
How to Prepare Your Seder Plate Items Quickly & Easily
Preparing the Seder plate items can seem overwhelming, but it needn’t be.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Why Should I Care About Ancient Slaves Who Went Free? - An honest reflection on Passover's relevance 3,000 years later
A short and powerful message on the Festival of Freedom’s profound meaning to us today.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Passover: Who Authored the Passover Haggadah?
The Haggadah evolved over time, starting from the Second Temple period until it reached its present form.
Miscellaneous | Purim
Shushan Purim - Why Jerusalem celebrates a day later
All cities that were walled at the time when the Israelites, under the leadership of Joshua, entered Canaan, observe Purim on the 15th. This results in the occasional unique phenomenon of a “triple” or three-day Purim.
Miscellaneous | Purim
Thousands of Ukraine Refugees in Europe and Israel Take a Joyous Break For Purim
Late on Tuesday, Miriam Moskovitz, a Chabad-Lubavitch emissary to Kharkov, Ukraine with her husband Rabbi Moshe Moskovitz, received a text from a woman in her community and a photo of fresh-baked hamantaschen.
News | News
Prof. Sam Lehman-Wilzig – Towards the End of Conservative Judaism?
Prof. Sam Lehman-Wilzig – Towards the End of Conservative Judaism? Conservative Judaism in America is in deep trouble with several recent news items illustrating just how ominous the situation has become. How did it get to this position? And does it
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Sinai: Were the First Tablets a Mistake? - Guest Columnists - Parshah
Why were the first set of tablets given with such fanfare?
Miscellaneous | Judaism
17 Facts About Moses Every Jew Should Know
Moses was born in Egypt during the enslavement of the Jews. His parents, Amram and Yocheved, were from the illustrious tribe of Levi.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
The Moses Connection - The Daily Dose of Jewish Wisdom
“Command” in Hebrew is tzivah, which also means “connect.”
History | History
How the Science of Racism Led to the Holocaust - The war against the divine image in man
Can the world survive on ethics devised by human reason? Well, we tried. It’s called the 20th century.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
13 Facts About Jewish Leap Years - Jewish Calendar
The Hebrew leap year ensures that the Jewish calendar remains true to the solar cycle
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Understanding After Doing - The Daily Dose of Jewish Wisdom
At Sinai, we declared, “We will do and we will understand!”
Angels descended from heaven and placed two crowns upon our heads.
Miscellaneous | Jewish Wisdom
12 Women Who Impacted Torah Scholarship
Culled from the span of Jewish history, from the Talmudic era to pre-war Europe
Miscellaneous | Jewish Wisdom
Women First - The Daily Dose of Wisdom
When it came time to give the Torah to the Jewish people, G‑d told Moses to speak with the women first.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Why Did G-d Smite the Firstborn? - Parshah
Our job is to find the divine sparks hidden within each person, each object and each event, and let that shine.
News | News
UNPACKED – The Modern Shift That Divided Judaism | The Jewish Story
UNPACKED – The Modern Shift That Divided Judaism | The Jewish Story As the Age of Enlightenment spread across Europe, 18th-century Jews still faced persecution and were banned from assimilating into modern civilization. A young Jewish German philoso
Miscellaneous | Judaism
When Do Jewish Boys Begin to Wear Their Tallit? - And why do some Ashkenazim wait until after marriage?
The answer to this question really varies depending on your ancestry and/or community custom. Allow me to share some information...
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Do Jews Really Believe In Reincarnation?
Every descent of the soul into this world has a specific Divine purpose. This is the case whether it is the soul’s first descent or a subsequent reincarnation. There are many aspects of gilgul haneshamot—reincarnation of the soul—that are complex and intricate beyond the scope of this response. However, to understand the general purpose for reincarnation, we can look to the three reasons outlined by Rabbi Yeshaya HaLevi Horowitz, as provided by the Kabbalists, in his classic work Shnei Luchot HaBrit (Shaloh).1
News | News
UNPACKED – The Origins of Hasidic Judaism: The Ba’al Shem Tov
UNPACKED – The Origins of Hasidic Judaism: The Ba’al Shem Tov In the aftermath of historical events that impacted Jews of Eastern Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries, two groups rose up that inspired generations of Jews to revolutionize the
News | News
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z”l – 8 Short Thoughts on Hanukkah
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z”l – 8 Short Thoughts on Hanukkah H/T Aish.com 1. Inspired by faith, we can change the world Twenty-two centuries ago, when Israel was under the rule of the empire of Alexander the Great, one particular leader, Antiochus
Miscellaneous | Chanukah
Were the Maccabees Wrong to Fight? - Chanukah
When we kindle our Chanukah candles each year, the light that glows is the spirit of faith and determination of the Maccabees.
News | News
UNPACKED – Watch Why So Many Jewish Teens Study This Ancient Music Notation
UNPACKED – Watch Why So Many Jewish Teens Study This Ancient Music Notation Ta’amei Hamikra, or as it’s called in Yiddish, “trope,” is a millennia-old system of music symbols that determines how each word in the Torah is recited. Alth
News | News
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT VAYISHLACH:RESTORING THE BROTHERLY LOVE OF YAAKOV AND ESAU
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT VAYISHLACH:RESTORING THE BROTHERLY LOVE OF YAAKOV AND ESAU “וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח יַעֲקֹ֤ב מַלְאָכִים֙ לְפָנָ֔יו אֶל־עֵשָׂ֖ו אָחִ֑יו אַ֥רְצָה שֵׂעִ֖יר שְׂדֵ֥ה א
Miscellaneous | Jewish Wisdom
Jewish Wisdom: Mothering Teens Is Harder Than I Thought - Vayishlach
On the one hand,
I saw myself traveling, working long hours, being busy with a busy career; on
the other hand, I always had this desire to be a mommy.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Judaism: Why Is the Contemporary Prayer Book So Long?
During the days of the First Temple, no formal prayer was needed.
News | Jewish Community
An American Rapper and a Soviet Child: Parallel Journeys of Return
My childhood could not have been more different from that of Nissim Black.
Miscellaneous | Chanukah
Chabad: Chanukah Basics
The Chanukah story, Chanukah observances, Chanukah FAQs and the menorah lighting procedure in succinct form -- with a plethora of links that lead to the unabridged version...
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Uncertainty, Unknowability, and Free Will in Kabbalah and Quantum Mechanics - Torah & Science
Developments in the physical and biological sciences over the last two millennia have, in the minds of many, challenged the belief systems of the major Western religions. Consequently, many Jews and others longing to understand the nature of reality and the meaning of human existence have been lured away from their faiths in a quest for more ‘objective’ truths.
News | Israel & The Jewish Community
Learning From Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks - Jewish Life
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, who passed away on Shabbat, 20 Cheshvan, 5781, was an international religious leader, philosopher, and respected moral voice. The author of over 30 books, he served as the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth from 1991 to 2013 and took his seat in the House of Lords in October 2009.
News | News
UNPACKED – How The Protestant Reformation Affected Jews
UNPACKED – How The Protestant Reformation Affected Jews In the early 16th century, life for the Jews remained unstable as they faced violence perpetrated by the Catholic church. After years of devotion, Martin Luther sparked one of the largest revol
News | News
UNPACKED: Maimonides: The Philosopher Rabbi – The Jewish Story
UNPACKED: Maimonides: The Philosopher Rabbi – The Jewish Story Every day, tens of thousands of students study the Mishneh Torah, The Guide for the Perplexed, and dozens of medical works written by Rambam, also known as Maimonides, one of the most fa
News | News
UNPACKED: How a 500 Year Old Book Shaped Jewish Practice | The Jewish Story
UNPACKED: How a 500 Year Old Book Shaped Jewish Practice | The Jewish Story At the dawn of the 16th century, both Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews relied on oral traditions of Jewish law – Halakha. Both groups passed down their own unique customs. Howeve
News | Jewish Community
Avraham Fried: 'With a good word and a good message a singer can save a soul' - Israel National News
Watch: 'Real Talk' - with hasidic singer Avraham Fried.
News | Israel & The Jewish Community
Anti-Semitic Attacks in 2020 Outnumbered Attacks Against Muslims, Asians, Transgender People Combined
More American Jews suffered hate crime attacks in 2020 than Asians, Muslims, and transgender people combined, according to FBI crime tracking data.
Miscellaneous | Jewish Wisdom
How a Rock Song Started Me on My Journey
thank the Byrds for their introduction to a lesson in Kohelet, Ecclesiastes.
Miscellaneous | Sukkot
10 Tips for an Amazing Sukkot @ Home - Sukkot & Simchat Torah
You can create an over-the-top joyous Sukkot at home, one to
remember fondly long after the pandemic has been relegated to the dusty annals
of history.
Miscellaneous | Sukkot
13 Facts About Sukkot Every Jew Should Know - Sukkot & Simchat Torah
Sukkot is a weeklong festival celebrated by dwelling in the sukkah, taking the lulav and etrog and joyous feasting.
Miscellaneous | Sukkot
How to Build a Sukkah - The basics of building a sukkah and living inside it - Sukkot & Simchat Torah
This sukkah guide will lead you through the fun mitzvah of building and dwelling in a sukkah—from the permitted and required components in its structure, to the basic rules of living in the sukkah.
Miscellaneous | The High Holidays
14 Tips for an Amazing Yom Kippur at Home - High Holidays
Many of us will be celebrating Yom Kippur alone. Here are our pro tips to making your at-home Yom Kippur meaningful and memorable.
Miscellaneous | Chabad
5781, The Jewish Year in Review: A Year of Overcoming Adversity, Rebuilding and Recovery
The stories that shaped the past 12 months.
News | Israel & The Jewish Community
Why Do We Dip the Apple Into Honey on Rosh Hashanah? - High Holidays
Why not mangoes dipped in maple syrup, for example?
Miscellaneous | Jewish Wisdom
What My Mother, the ‘Mikvah Lady,’ Taught Me About Chassidic Feminism - Celebrating Jewish Womanhood
Celebrating femininity is celebrating the Divine.
Miscellaneous | Jewish Wisdom
Criticized by Family Members for Becoming Religious
They think that the laws are stupid and separate me from them. And sometimes, I think that they’re right! I feel so alone and it makes me question the journey that I am on.
Miscellaneous | The High Holidays
Why Is Rosh Hashanah Before Yom Kippur? - Is it possible we've gotten these holidays all wrong?
Maybe we’ve got everything 100% wrong. Because if we’re thinking the holidays are backward, it’s likely we’ve got their meanings backward.
Miscellaneous | Chabad
A Short History of Bringing Shofar to the Streets
The first mitzvah campaign to bring Judaism to the individual, wherever he or she was
Miscellaneous | Chabad
Glimpse Into Rebbe’s Holocaust Correspondence Discovered in a Basement
Leonard Holtz found an archive of letters in a shoebox. Then he and his wife gave it to the Chabad Library
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Why the Jewish People Await Moshiach - Parshah
There’s a secret reason the Jewish people have always wanted Moshiach, and that reason is very relevant to your life, right here, and right now.
Miscellaneous | Jewish Wisdom
Mayim Bialik: Common Myths About Orthodox Judaism--Debunked!
Karin Brooke’s post on Kveller about losing her daughter to religious fundamentalism struck a chord with me for a few reasons. First, I am technically a baal teshuvah–a person who took on Jewish observance later in life. I struggled a lot in college rega
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Must One Honor Abusive Parents?
There are many kinds and levels of abuse, and different people can cope with and tolerate different situations and relationships.
News | Israel & The Jewish Community
‘The Almighty Helped Me to Survive’: A Marine’s Tale From the Pacific Theater
When Bernard (Baruch) Haller enlisted in the United States Marines in 1941, he had two goals: to serve his country and to survive. To accomplish these goals, he knew that he’d need the help of a Higher Power. And so Haller, known to friends as Bernie, vowed then and there never to eat non-kosher meat and never to miss a day of tefillin.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
How Did the Mission of the Twelve Spies Go So Wrong?
Moses felt that the Israelites had no reason to fear the inhabitants, as they had all seen the great miracles wrought against the much more powerful Egyptians.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Is Midrash for Real? - Part 1 in a series on the truth behind Talmudic tales
Torah, like any wisdom, has departments. You can’t study literature the same way you study biology, and you can’t critique poetry as you would journalism. So too, you can’t study one department of Torah the same as you study another.
News | News
Mel Alexenberg – MIT Artist and YU Rabbi Explore Art in Judaism
Mel Alexenberg – MIT Artist and YU Rabbi Explore Art in Judaism In Memory of Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm z”l, President and Chancellor of Yeshiva University, on his first yahrzeit on 8 Sivan I am sharing here my dialogue with Rabbi Lamm in December 1
Miscellaneous | Judaism
13 Facts About Learning Torah - Mitzvahs & Traditions
Torah study occupies a central place in Jewish life, but how much do we really know about this activity?
Miscellaneous | Judaism
9 Facts You Should Know About Mount Sinai - Shavuot
Mount Sinai is where G‑d Himself descended and struck a deal with His chosen people.
Miscellaneous | Jewish Wisdom
Healing Body and Soul - Daily Dose of Jewish Wisdom
Your body and your soul fuse together as one. Nothing happens in the soul that is not reflected in the body. And nothing happens in the body that doesn’t deeply affect the soul
Miscellaneous | Jewish Wisdom
Thinking Healthy - Daily Dose of Jewish Wisdom
The Baal Shem Tov taught, “Where a person’s thoughts are, that’s where he is, all of him.”
Miscellaneous | Judaism
10 Facts About Pesach Sheini Every Jew Needs to Know
If someone was unable to participate in the Passover offering at
the proper time, they would offer the sacrifice a month later.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Torah Study: Does It Matter Which Words Rashi Quotes?
See how a nuance in a simple one-line Rashi can be examined, unpacked, and understood in an entirely new light.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Is It Wrong to Like a Lot of Stuff? - Parshah
Is it OK to
enjoy a good shopping spree and to delight in yet another Amazon box at your
doorstep?
Miscellaneous | Kashrut
Are Bottom Feeders Kosher Fish?
There is a commonly held belief that where a fish lives determines whether it is kosher. Is this the case?
Miscellaneous | Passover
A Mitzvah to Eat Matzah Every Day of Passover?
The Torah tells us, “For seven days, you shall eat unleavened bread . . .” Do we take that at face value?
Miscellaneous | Passover
The Pharaoh Syndrome - Passover
Pharaoh, you see, was actually quite intellectually capable; it was just that he was "Monotheistically Challenged"
Miscellaneous | Interesting Links
13 Pro Tips for Your Second Passover In Isolation
Keeping those of us still isolated in mind, we’ve prepared a list of tips for making this Passover as positive, meaningful and memorable as possible!
Miscellaneous | Passover
As Covid Recedes, Passover Ushers in Season of Hope
Amid continued restrictions and rising vaccinations, Chabad-Lubavitch brings Passover to one and all
Miscellaneous | Passover
Passover: The Long Road of Exodus - Daily Dose of Wisdom
As soon as you stop leaving Egypt, you are back there again.
Miscellaneous | Chabad
17 Facts Everyone Should Know About Hasidic Jews - Essentials
Peer under the broad black hat and learn what makes Hasidim tick
Miscellaneous | Purim
Purim: Why Read the Megillah Twice?
Why do we read the Megillah twice every Purim, once at night
and once during the day?
Miscellaneous | Purim
20 Ways to Increase Your Happiness in the Month of Adar
We all need to work to create a joyous atmosphere in our homes and in our lives. But before we can create the right atmospheres, we often have to adjust our attitudes.
Miscellaneous | Judaism
How to Observe Judaism in Outer Space?
Space travel presents its own unique challenges to the Jewish astronaut: How can one procure kosher space food, as well as all the other necessities of Jewish life? How does one face Jerusalem when praying in orbit?
News | News
Unpacked – How Israel Reshaped Jewish Culture & Who Decides Who is a Jew?
Unpacked – How Israel Reshaped Jewish Culture & Who Decides Who is a Jew? Many Americans define their Judaism culturally rather than religiously. But with Israeli-Jewish influences becoming increasingly prominent, is there still a role for American-
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Torah: What to Tell Yourself When Things Go Wrong
In the meantime, it’s dark, confusing, and difficult. That’s only because the process of getting to a deeper place can give space for negative consequences. But just around the bend is a time, a space that is even deeper and greater, that it will make thi
Miscellaneous | Chabad
He Came to Fix a Freezer. Little Did He Know . . .
My wife, Esti, and I co-direct the Chabad Jewish Student Centre in Vancouver, Canada. As you can imagine, we serve a lot of food. So our freezer, which is filled with lots of kosher meat, chicken and other kosher items, is very important to us.
News | News
UNPACKED – Watch How Education Kept Judaism Alive
UNPACKED – Watch How Education Kept Judaism Alive Why has Judaism survived for thousands of years? Along with rituals and communities, a major factor in the endurance of Judaism is the central role of education. In fact, teaching and learning has pr
Politics | Politics
Why the cultural elite truly despises Hanukkah
Well, because Hanukkah is about as out of step with the contemporary elite consensus as any religious tradition can be.
News | Israel & The Jewish Community
The First Hanukkah Light in Bergen Belsen - Chanukah
A wooden clog became a hanukkiah; strings from a uniform, a wick; and shoe polish, pure oil.
Miscellaneous | Miscellaneous
13 Hanukkah Facts Every Jew Should Know
Become an expert on this widely celebrated but barely understood Jewish festival.
