In Israel this past weekend we celebrated Shabbat followed by the Festival of Shavuot. Since Passover, we counted 49 days, and on the 50th day (Saturday night and Sunday) we mark the day that the Nation of Israel stood at the foot of Mount Sinai and accepted the revelation of Read more…
It’s Nissan (beginning on April 6, 2019) , the Hebrew month of our redemption and therefore time to bless the blossoming fruit trees in Israel. Here I am in our garden in Yavne’el a few years ago making the traditional blessing over the Lemon, Orange and Grapefruit trees which are Read more…
This week we begin a new annual cycle of Torah readings on Shabbat. After celebrating the completion of last year’s cycle on the festival of Shemini Atzeret (Simchat Torah) (more…)
At the end of this post is the ancient prayer authored by King Hezekiah that we should be shouting to the heavens These are frightening times for the People of Israel. The enemy has slaughtered eleven of God’s children in the the middle of Shabbat Prayers in a Synagogue. It’s Read more…
We had a wonderful and meaningful Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur — and now Sukkot is just about here in Yavne’el. Sukkot is called Zman Simchateinu (Time of our Joy) and it is the happiest time of the Jewish year as we celebrate with our families in our Sukkah. One Read more…
This year the Hebrew month of Tishrei coincides with most of the month of September. The festivals of Rosh HaShanah (New Year), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Sukkoth (Tabernacles) and its intermediate days, and Simchat Torah and Shemini Atzeret all fall within a few weeks! That means, in addition to Read more…
Becoming an Orthodox Rabbi is not something you can do on your own. You need a Rabbi supervising your program and testing you… and maybe even more important for success is a great study partner. I was fortunate to have Rabbi Ken Spiro as my study partner for the five Read more…
Thanks to my friend and colleague Shraga Simmons for this fun and educational quiz. Visit aish.com for more great info about Chanukah! 1. What does the word “Chanukah” mean? A. candles B. triumph C. dedication D. potato pancake C. Dedication Chanukah celebrates the heroic efforts of the Maccabees Read more…
Contrary to popular opinion, the first of the Ten Commandments is NOT “to believe in God.” In the Mishna Torah, Maimonides teaches that the first commandment articulated as “I am the Lord your God…” is be understood as an obligation “to KNOW there is a first Being.” To confuse matters Read more…
Most people would translate “Kabbalah” as “Jewish Mysticism.” But that definition fuels many misconceptions about Torah. [NOTE: I do not encourage anyone reading this to study “Kabbalah” as it is popularly presented in the English-speaking world. Many of those presenting it are charlatans distorting authentic Torah for their own gain. Read more…
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