Category: Holidays

Tiferet/Harmony Intention: Omer Week 3

Rabbi Meir Goldstein offers a harmony (tiferet) intention for the third week of the counting of the omer.

Rabbi Meir Goldstein May 2, 2022 Omer Intentions Spiritual Omer Intentions

blurry image of a concert with yellow lights with the words: Omer Mixtape Tiferet Week 3

Omer Mixtape 2022: Tiferet Week 3

Rabbi Jenna Stein Turow counts the omer and explores the inner self by connecting divine elements to songs that hold special meaning.

Rabbi Jenna Stein Turow April 29, 2022 Music Omer Intentions

Omer Mixtape 2022

Rabbi Jenna Stein Turow counts the omer and explores the inner self by connecting divine elements to songs that hold special meaning.

Rabbi Jenna Stein Turow April 29, 2022 Music Omer Intentions

Havdalah Solo: My (Slightly Awkward) Spiritual Self-Care

My Havdalah candle, wine, spices, and I did my own Havdalah ceremony all alone in my backyard. It was my own form of spiritual self-care.

Marion Haberman April 27, 2022 Havdalah Shabbat

Havdalah: An Overview

Havdalah, the concluding ceremony for Shabbat, serves as a dramatic reminder of the beauty and emotional power of Judaism.

The Observant Life (Book), Rabbi Michael Katz April 26, 2022 Havdalah Shabbat

Home and Synagogue Shavuot Observances

Candle-lighting, Torah readings, the Book of Ruth, and Yizkor are all a part of celebrating Shavuot at home and at synagogue.

The Observant Life (Book), Rabbi Alan Lucas April 25, 2022 Observing Shavuot Shavuot

What is Shavuot about?

Like Sukkot and Passover, Shavuot is a multi-dimensional holiday, embracing profound historical, spiritual, and agricultural aspects.

The Observant Life (Book), Rabbi Alan Lucas April 25, 2022 Shavuot Shavuot Explainers

Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikkaron, Yom Haatzma’ut, and Yom Yerushalayim

What are the commemorative holidays of Yom HaShoah, Yom haZikkaron, Yom Haatzma'ut, and Yom Yerushalayim and what do we do on them?

The Observant Life (Book) April 25, 2022 Holidays Yom Haatzma'ut

blurry image of a concert with red and blue lights with the words: Omer Mixtape Gevurah Week 2

Omer Mixtape 2022: Gevurah Week 2

Rabbi Jenna Stein Turow counts the omer and explores the inner self by connecting divine elements to songs that hold special meaning.

Rabbi Jenna Stein Turow April 23, 2022 Music Omer Intentions

Gevurah/Discipline Intention: Omer Week 2

Rabbi Meir Goldstein offers a discipline (gevurah) intention for the second week of the counting of the omer.

Rabbi Meir Goldstein April 22, 2022 Omer Intentions Spiritual Omer Intentions

Friday Night Services at Synagogue: An Explainer

Friday night services on Shabbat include both Kabbalat Shabbat, a joyous recitation of psalms, and a Shabbat Maariv, the evening service.

Rabbi Michael Katz, The Observant Life (Book) April 20, 2022 Erev Shabbat Prayer

Shabbat Candles and the Beginning of Shabbat

Shabbat begins with the lighting of candles, in part, because they are symbolic of the spiritual light that Shabbat can bring into our lives.

The Observant Life (Book), Rabbi Michael Katz April 20, 2022 Erev Shabbat Shabbat

The 3 Categories of Shabbat Preparation

There are three major categories of Shabbat preparation that must be attended to: physical setting, food preparation, and personal grooming.

The Observant Life (Book), Rabbi Michael Katz April 20, 2022 Erev Shabbat Preparing for Shabbat

blurry image of a concert with Red lights with the words: Omer Mixtape Chesed Week 1

Omer Mixtape 2022: Chesed Week 1

Rabbi Jenna Stein Turow counts the omer and explores the inner self by connecting divine elements to songs that hold special meaning.

Rabbi Jenna Stein Turow April 16, 2022 Music Omer Intentions

Super Simple Guide: How to Count the Omer

Counting the omer is an accessible mitzvah, commandment, that each of us can do. Here you will find the simple instructions on how to do ...

Exploring Judaism April 13, 2022 How to Count the Omer The Omer

Chesed/Loving-Kindness Intention: Omer Week 1

Rabbi Meir Goldstein offers a loving-kindness (chesed) intention for the first week of the counting of the omer.

Rabbi Meir Goldstein April 13, 2022 Omer Intentions Spiritual Omer Intentions

The Important Thing That Keeps our Family “Doing Jewish”

The most important thing to teach the next generation is how to make a seder, including what comes before the festival candles are even lit.

Atty Garfinkel-Berry April 13, 2022 Food Passover

What is Counting the Omer

Counting the omer reflects the agricultural dimension of Passover and Shavuot and this is how we observe sefirat haomer today.

Rabbi Alan Lucas, The Observant Life (Book) April 13, 2022 How to Count the Omer The Omer

The Concluding Days of Passover

What do we do in synagogue on Passover? What Torah readings and haftarot do we read? We outline that for you here.

Rabbi Alan Lucas, The Observant Life (Book) April 13, 2022 How to observe Passover Passover

Passover Torah Readings: An Explainer

Though Pesach is thought of as the quintessential home-based holiday, the Torah is read on each of the mornings of Pesach in the synagogue.

Rabbi Lauren Tuchman April 13, 2022 Intermediate Days of Passover Passover

Passover in the Synagogue

What do we do in synagogue on Passover? What Torah readings and haftarot do we read? We outline that for you here.

Rabbi Alan Lucas, The Observant Life (Book) April 13, 2022 How to observe Passover Passover

When the COVID Plague Threatens Your Seder (Again)

Here are 10 tips on how to make Pesah meaningful and kosher (enough) even when the plague of COVID continues to threaten our celebrations.

Rabbi Ilana C. Garber April 13, 2022 Passover Passover Reflections

The Four Children and Racial Justice

We approach the Haggadah at a time of profound racial reckoning in our country. How might the four children help us relate to racial justice?

Rabbi Amy Eilberg April 6, 2022 Passover Passover Reflections

Biur and S’mores: Have Fun As You Get Rid of Hametz

There is lots to do to get ready for Passover. We may ask, where am I going to have Seder? How long or short will ...

Rabbi Andrea Merow April 6, 2022 Passover Preparing for Passover

Mah Nishtanah: How Is This Moment Different?

Mah Nishtanah: How is This Moment Different by Rabbi Rachel Ain is a reflection on her recent trip to Ukraine in 2022.

Rabbi Rachel Ain April 6, 2022 Passover Passover Reflections

The Sunflower on Our Seder Table

The Sunflower on Our Seder Table by Rabbi Ilana Garber on behalf of the people in Ukraine in 2022.

Rabbi Ilana C. Garber April 6, 2022 Passover Passover Prayer

All Who Are Hungry: A Prayer for Action, A Prayer for Ukraine

All Who Are Hungry: A Prayer for Action, A Prayer for Ukraine by Rabbi Mark Greenspan on behalf of the people in Ukraine in 2022.

Rabbi Mark Greenspan April 6, 2022 Passover Passover Prayer

How to Make a Seder for Everyone

The key to hosting a successful seder for everyone is to articulate a bold purpose in gathering and map the journey.

Rabbi Lauren Henderson April 5, 2022 Passover Preparing for Passover

Dedication for First Cup of Wine

Dedication for the First Cup of Wine at the Passover Seder by Rabbi Martin S. Cohen on behalf of the people in Ukraine in 2022.

Rabbi Martin S. Cohen April 5, 2022 Passover Passover Prayer

Leveraging Anger for Change this Passover

While anger and frustration can lead to stress and dissatisfaction, mindful approaches to our anger can move our lives out of complacency.

Rabbi Dahlia Bernstein April 3, 2022 Passover Passover Reflections

Passover: An Invitation to Get Free

Spiritually preparing for Passover not an intellectual exercise. It’s a spiritual invitation to ask ourselves: am I willing to get free?

Rabbi Kerry Chaplin April 3, 2022 Passover Preparing for Passover

How to Make your Zoom Seder not Suck

Hosting a Zoom seder is not just putting a webcam on your seder plate. These tips will ensure your guests won’t succumb to Zoom fatigue.

Eric M. Leiderman April 3, 2022 How to observe Passover Passover

Hosting a Seder for People New to Judaism or the Seder

The Seder is a potpourri of powerful rituals, wise rabbinic aphorisms, and opportunities to elevate the mundanities of eating into holiness.

Rabbi Adir Yolkut April 3, 2022 How to observe Passover Passover

Ask the Questions and Dig Deeper

Combining lessons from the Mishnah and Human Resources, we realize that asking questions is the path to greater understanding.

Chaim H. Respes April 3, 2022 Passover Passover Reflections

What are Kitniyot and when can I eat it?

In the early medieval period, it became customary for Ashkenazi Jews to not eat a category of foods called kitniyot. What are they?

Exploring Judaism March 31, 2022 CJLS Halakhah

The Four Questions and Living with Mental Illness

We have the opportunity to help teens create long-lasting positive connections to the very traditions they are appropriately questioning.

Risa Finkelstein Sugarman March 31, 2022 Health Illness

Blurry image of cleaning supplies with the words Spirtually Cleaning the Hametz within our souls

Spiritually Cleaning the Hametz Within Our Souls

With all of this physically taxing work, it can be easy to miss the spiritual preparation for this celebration of our collective redemption.

Rabbi Nolan Lebovitz March 31, 2022 Passover Preparing for Passover

Tips for Passover with Toddlers

After all of the preparation, all that’s left to do is celebrate the holiday. How do you do that with your young children?

Sarah Pila-Leiderman March 31, 2022 Passover Passover with Children

7 Tips for Hosting Your First Passover Seder

If this is your first-time hosting a Passover Seder, here are seven tips to make it a memorable and meaningful experience!

Rabbi Adam Greenwald March 30, 2022 How to observe Passover Passover

Freedom and Food Allergies

How is one with food allergies supposed to feel free when they can’t partake in the matzo balls, charoset, cake, or anything else?

Rachel Packer March 29, 2022 Food Health

Bringing Teens to the Seder Table

We have the opportunity to help teens create long-lasting positive connections to the very traditions they are appropriately questioning.

Rabbi Janet Ozur Bass March 29, 2022 Passover Passover with Children

Including non-Jewish guests at our Seder: A reflection

Reflecting on the universal nature of the Exodus, as "eternally contemporary; it’s the story of too many peoples."

Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg March 29, 2022 Passover Passover Reflections

What is Hameitz and what do we do with it?

Hametz, is defined as any food made of wheat, barley, oats, spelt, and rye—that has been made wet and left unbaked for more than 18 ...

Rabbi Alan Lucas, The Observant Life (Book) March 22, 2022 Passover What is Passover?

Image of matzah, matzah cover with the word pesah on it in hebrew, and a kiddush cup with the words: Passover, Nisan, and the Fast of the Firstborn: Before Passover Begins

Passover Themes, The Month of Nisan, and the Fast of the Firstborn

Passover, commemorates the exodus from Egypt. On a spiritual level, the festival confronts us with the notion of redemption.

Rabbi Alan Lucas, The Observant Life (Book) March 22, 2022 Passover What is Passover?

The Seder: An Overview

The Passover seder is the cumulative result of untold generations of Jews telling the same story, the Exodus from Egypt.

Rabbi Alan Lucas, The Observant Life (Book) March 22, 2022 How to observe Passover Passover

What is an Eiruv Tavshilin?

One is only permitted to cook on festivals to make food for the holiday itself, not for other days. There is an exception: eiruv tavshilin.

Rabbi Alan Lucas, The Observant Life (Book) March 22, 2022 Holidays Passover

How to Kasher Your Kitchen: A Simplified Guide

This is a simplified guide on how to kasher (make kosher) various items in your kitchen, especially for Passover.

Rabbi Jeremy Markiz March 17, 2022 Guidelines for a Kosher Kitchen Holidays

Category: Holidays

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