Category Archives: Holidays

Weeks of Harvest – Jeremiah 5:24

Posted on April 27, 2012 by

Weeks of Harvest – Jeremiah 5:24 The Bible does not explicitly describe Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks, as the day of the giving of the Torah. We can calculate that the date of the festival coincides with that historic revelation … Continue reading →

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Fire, Offerings and Passover

Posted on April 1, 2012 by

Fire, Offerings and Passover There is no Hebrew counter-part for the English word: “sacrifice”. The terms that the Bible uses to describe the sacrifices in the Temple are: “olah” – a word that represents the burning of the offering with … Continue reading →

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Forming a Nation

Posted on March 29, 2012 by

Forming a Nation Exodus 13:8, Psalm 78:5 The exodus from Egypt was a foundational event in the history of our nation and the retelling of the story is an important aspect of preserving our heritage as Jews. On the first … Continue reading →

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Passover – Genesis 17:7

Posted on March 27, 2012 by

  Passover – Genesis 17:7   The commandment to partake of the Passover offering is unique in that circumcision is a necessary prerequisite for participation in this observance (Exodus 12:48). The Scriptural narratives that describe the observance of Passover in … Continue reading →

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Channuka – Ezekiel 11:16

Posted on December 26, 2011 by

The word “Channuka” means “dedication”. It refers, of course, to the dedication of the Temple that took place when the Hasmoneans recaptured the Temple from the Syrian-Greeks, purified it and rededicated it for the service of God. The fact is … Continue reading →

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Repentance

Posted on September 21, 2011 by

Repentance “Open for Me, My sister My beloved…” (Song of Songs 5:2) “Said the Holy One, Blessed be He to Israel; My children, open for Me an opening of repentance like the eye of a needle, and I will open for … Continue reading →

Posted in Atonement, Holidays | 12 Comments

Kol Nidrei

Posted on September 13, 2011 by

Kol Nidrei It is an interesting way to open up a day dedicated to repentance. The day that is designated for atonement and returning to God opens with the recital of “Kol Nidrei”. “Kol Nidrei” is not a prayer or … Continue reading →

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Pillars of Faith

Posted on September 11, 2011 by

Pillars of Faith   The Scripture uses various words to speak of the commandments of the Torah. One of the terms that is used to refer to the commandments is the word: “edut” = testimony. In a certain sense all … Continue reading →

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Holy Times

Posted on September 6, 2011 by

Holy Times   The Biblical holidays seem to be divided into two separate cycles; we have the “Three Festivals” (Pesach-Passover, Shavuot-Festival of Weeks and Sukkot-Tabernacles – Exodus 23:14), and we have the “High Holy Days” (Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and … Continue reading →

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Day of Judgment

Posted on September 5, 2011 by

Day of Judgment   Rosh Hashana, the first day of the seventh month, is known as “Yom HaDin” – “The Day of Judgment”. We have received that on this day God sits on the throne of judgment and judges all … Continue reading →

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