Yom Kippur Fast

The Ningth Plague: Darkness

Exo 10:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.

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Passover Symbols

A traditional Passover Seder plate has a combination of a total of six items.

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Hag Sameach. Dry Bones Chanukkah

Dry Bones Chanukkah

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Celebrating Rosh Hashana with Food

Food is an important part of the celebration of Jewish festivals. Not only does the preparation and serving of specially prepared dishes bring people together in communion, but the different types of…

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Shavuot

Shavuot means weeks and it is one of the feasts of the LORD mentioned in the Torah.

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Countdown to a Passover Seder

MY 98-year-old mother calls my Passover seder a gantzeh megillah — a big production.

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Above the Arctic Circle, a Cold War Rosh Hashana

It was early September 1956, the High Holidays were approaching, and Elihu Schimmel was in the Cold War's coldest theater.

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Yom Kippur - Dry Bones

G'mar Hatima Tovah

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The Sukkah

The sukkah, a fragile hut built of branches and leaves, is the main feature of the Sukkot festival. The origin of the practice of "dwelling in booths" during the festival is not certain. The…

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Water Immersion (Tevilah Mikveh)

Water immersion (tevilah mikveh) ... repentance--and therefore forgiveness--is a predominant theme during Rosh Hashanah. ... Elul, the month preceding Tishri, is the beginning of a special 40-day…

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Purim (1991)

Happy Purim!

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Is Purim Just Another Halloween?

Purim is not a Jewish Halloween. Although we traditionally dress up in customs of Bible heroes, eat, and have fun, Purim is about as different from Halloween as butterflies are from bats.

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Significance of the Four Species

Second only to the sukkah as prominent symbols of this feast of Sukkot are the Arba'at Ha-minim, the four species, which are gathered in keeping with the commandment found in Leviticus 23:40. Making…

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Building, Decorating and Dwelling in a Sukkah

Sukkot is a time of great rejoicing. There are at least three commands given by God in relationship to the Feast: the children of Israel are to 1) dwell in sukkot (booths), 2) gather the Four…

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The Sixth Plague: Boils

Exo 9:8 And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.

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