1Mar 29, 2016
By Rabbi Yehudi Shurpin, Chabad.org What comes to mind when you think of Purim? Costumes, the megillah, gift baskets, and of course, those delectable three-cornered pastries, hamantaschen. Called oznei Haman in Hebrew, these treats filled with poppy seeds (or other fillings) have been a part of Purim celebrations for centuries. Where did they originate? What do their names mean? And why are […]
2Mar 22, 2016
On the surface, the Book of Esther reads as a fable of sorts, filled with drama, suspense and a happy ending. However, keeping in mind that it was written under the rulership and scrutiny of the Persian King, care had to be taken to tell the story without offending sensibilities. A secret tradition passed down […]
3Mar 21, 2016
By Mendy Kaminker, Chabad.org “This year we’re not going to allow even one mishloach manot (food gift) in the house,” Shira announced as Purim approached. “All that candy is bad for the children’s teeth, and Passover is coming! How can we clean the house if there are pretzels under the couch and cookie crumbs in […]
4Mar 20, 2016
If you want to know what to expect at a Purim celebration, expect the unexpected. Of all Jewish holidays, this is the one when people let loose, dress up in silly costumes, have a bit (or more than a bit) to drink, and otherwise act in ways you’d never see them act during the […]
5Mar 16, 2016
Your bread is flat, hard, thin and, probably, burned. It’s called matzah (also spelled matzoh, matzo, matza, etc.), and you think you’re eating it because when your ancestors fled Egypt over 3,300 years ago, they didn’t have time to let their bread rise. But is that really the reason? Probably not. Here’s why: 1. Raised […]
6Sep 24, 2015
What can I say about my first Yom Kippur? To sum it up in one word: different. But then again, I’m finding all of these Jewish holidays/holy days as different. They’re somewhat a little weird, a little foreign, a little strange and yet at the same time they feel almost like home. Either way they’re […]
7Sep 16, 2015
As you already know, I grew up goyim, not knowing any of the customs or traditions of the Jewish people. Having this as my first true year of being an observant Jew, I’ve been learning a lot — I can’t stress the “a lot” here — these last several months. And let me tell you, […]
8Apr 2, 2015
Passover this year is Friday, April 3 – Shabbat, April 11, 2015 The eight-day festival of Passover is celebrated in the early spring, from the 15th through the 22nd of the Hebrew month of Nissan. It commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. And, by following the rituals of Passover, we […]
9Apr 1, 2015
Matzah is more than a food, it’s the way we relive the Exodus. It’s also the only mitzvah we have today that we actually eat and digest. According to kabbalah, matzah you eat on the first night of Passoverstrengthens the faith of the soul, and matzah eaten on the second night heals it. So make sure you… Get the Real Thing […]
10Mar 30, 2015
Another video of Six13 on Passover….
11Mar 17, 2015
Though I’m not really Irish (but I am Scottish!), I still celebrate St. Patty’s day in the usual Celtic way. At least I think I do…I really can’t remember.