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Tag: Festivals
What are the Special Sabbaths Before Purim and Passover?
A series of special Shabbatot with special Torah readings precede Purim and Passover.
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
February 5, 2023
Observing Purim
Passover
Celebrating Purim in Synagogue
Tradition dictates that Purim be observed on the fourteenth day of Adar, and begins with the recitation of the regular evening service.
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
February 5, 2023
Observing Purim
Purim
Festivities, Food, and Mitzvot on Purim
Purim is celebrated with days of feasting and merrymaking, and occasion for sending gifts to one another and gifts for the poor.
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
February 5, 2023
Food
Holidays
What is Purim and When is it Celebrated?
Purim is about the struggle of identity against assimilation, the value of tolerance, and to live proudly as Jews in an ocean of non-Jews.
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
January 31, 2023
Holidays
Purim
Lulav and Etrog: The Four Species
Besides dwelling in a sukkah, the other significant mitzvah of Sukkot is the taking up of the arba·ah minim, literally “the four species.”
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
October 28, 2022
High Holidays
Holidays
Sukkot at Home
While celebrating Sukkot at home, rituals include lighting candles, sitting in the sukkah, and customs related to the sukkah.
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
October 28, 2022
High Holidays
Holidays
Sukkot in the Synagogue
On the mornings of Sukkot, Shacharit and Musaf follow the standard festival format. The lulav and etrog should be shaken.
The Observant Life (Book)
,
Rabbi Alan Lucas
October 28, 2022
High Holidays
Holidays
Intermediate Days of Sukkot
The intermediate days of Sukkot, the weekdays, combine some features of festival days and normal weekdays to create wholly unique day.
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
October 28, 2022
High Holidays
Holidays
Hoshana Rabbah
Although the fifth intermediate day of Sukkot is known as Hoshana Rabbah, it is technically just the last day of ḥol ha-mo·eid.
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
October 28, 2022
High Holidays
Holidays
What is Sh’mini Atzeret?
The final two days of Sukkot are a totally separate holiday called Sh'mini Atzeret. Liturgy includes Yizkor and the prayer for rain.
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
October 28, 2022
Holidays
Shemini Atzeret
What is Simhat Torah?
Simḥat Torah means “the joy of Torah” and is the name for the day on which the annual cycle of Torah readings begins and ends. ...
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
October 28, 2022
High Holidays
Holidays
Rituals of Sukkot
Sukkot, one of the shalosh r’galim, the three pilgrimage festivals is celebrated five days after Yom Kippur.
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
October 14, 2022
High Holidays
Holidays
The Sukkah
The sukkah for Sukkot has some very basic requirements, but beyond these rules its construction is left to one’s imagination and creativity.
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
October 13, 2022
Building a Sukkah
High Holidays
Sukkot Candle Lighting
The laws for lighting candles on Sukkot are almost identical to the laws for Shabbat candle lighting, with the exception of covering eyes.
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
October 13, 2022
High Holidays
Holidays
Minḥah on Yom Kippur
Minhah, the Afternoon Service, begins with the Torah service, including selections from Leviticus and the haftarah on the Book of Jonah.
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
October 4, 2022
High Holidays
Holidays
Yom Kippur Musaf Service
The Yom Kippur Musaf Service includes two services: the Avodah service and the Martyrology service. Musaf follows Yizkor and Torah reading.
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
October 4, 2022
High Holidays
Holidays
Yom Kippur Candle Lighting
Following the Yom Kippur meal, candles are lit in a similar fashion to those lit on Rosh Hashanah. A Yizkor candle is also lit.
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
October 3, 2022
High Holidays
Holidays
Yom Kippur Evening Service
Maariv, the evening service, following Kol Nidrei on Erev Yom Kippur, is similar in many ways to daily Maariv but has notable differences.
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
October 3, 2022
High Holidays
Holidays
Yom Kippur Morning Services
The Yom Kippur morning service is similar to Rosh Hashanah, with the exception of the Amidah and the selections for the Torah service.
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
October 3, 2022
High Holidays
Holidays
Erev Yom Kippur and the Customs Preceding It
Preparations on Erev Yom Kippur are intrinsic to the awe-inspiring observance of the day: a special meal, candle lighting, and charity.
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
October 3, 2022
High Holidays
Holidays
Kol Nidrei and Being Imperfect Together
Yom Kippur begins with the dramatic Kol Nidrei service, intended to annul vows made between yourself and God.
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
October 3, 2022
High Holidays
Holidays
Yom Kippur Yizkor Service
The Memorial Service, Yizkor, is recited on Yom Kippur, one of four times throughout the year, to remember loved ones and Jewish martyrs.
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
October 3, 2022
High Holidays
Holidays
Tashlikh: A Quick Overview
One of the beautiful customs associated with Rosh Hashanah is Tashlikh, a brief service that takes place by a body of water.
The Observant Life (Book)
,
Rabbi Alan Lucas
September 20, 2022
High Holidays
Holidays
Rosh Hashanah Musaf Service
The Musaf Service for Rosh Hashanah contains familiar opening and closing blessings of the Amidah with the usual High Holiday interpolations.
The Observant Life (Book)
,
Rabbi Alan Lucas
September 16, 2022
High Holidays
Holidays
The Shofar on Rosh Hashanah
Sounding of the shofar is a characteristic mitzvah of Rosh Hashanah. The holiday is alternatively called the Day of Sounding the Shofar.
The Observant Life (Book)
,
Rabbi Alan Lucas
September 16, 2022
High Holidays
Holidays
Rosh Hashanah Torah Reading
Rosh Hashanah Torah reading includes Abraham, Sarah, and the Binding of Isaac. Haftarot tell the story of Samuel and other relevant themes.
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
September 16, 2022
High Holidays
Holidays
Rosh Hashanah Synagogue Services
For most people, Rosh Hashanah means a lot of time spent praying in the synagogue. These are the complex explanations behind those prayers.
The Observant Life (Book)
,
Rabbi Alan Lucas
September 16, 2022
High Holidays
Holidays
Rosh Hashanah At Home
Personal and at-home Rosh Hashanah rituals include candle lighting, eating apples with honey, and sharing meals.
The Observant Life (Book)
,
Rabbi Alan Lucas
September 15, 2022
High Holidays
Holidays
Candle Lighting for Rosh Hashanah
When and how to do Rosh Hashanah Candle Lighting. We usher in Rosh Hashanah by lighting candles, just as we do on Shabbat.
The Observant Life (Book)
,
Rabbi Alan Lucas
September 12, 2022
Blessings
Every Day
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
