Traditions
Recent Traditions
Bubbe's Picks
Where Does the Passover Story…
Every year at our Passover seder we ask four new questions.
Seinfeld: Jewish Food
Feb 10, 2023
You will get a real laugh from this excerpt from the show Seinfeld.
Jewish Mourning Rituals: An Overview
Jan 09, 2023
The death of a loved one is a very disorienting time, and isn’t something many people think about until it’s…
Jewish Funeral and Burial Traditions: What You Need to…
Oct 15, 2022
What are some common Jewish funeral traditions and customs?
Jewish Foods: More Than Just Matzo Ball Soup
Aug 15, 2022
Talking about Jewish food is both mouth-wateringly delicious and just a little complicated.
Yom Shabat Medley with Micha Gamerman
Jul 04, 2022
Shabbat Oneg with Micha Gamerman” consists of six medleys arranged by Benny Laufer.
Leil Shabbat Medley with Micha Gamerman
Jun 17, 2022
How does your family celebrate Friday night Shabbat?
Jewish Ritual: The Secret to Community?
May 26, 2022
For communities all over the world, keeping Shabbat is one of the most important parts of what it means to be…
Adopt a Jewish Mother
May 07, 2022
Rent a son! In Japan people actually hire someone to be a “father” or “friend” for a day.
Second Day of Festivals
Mar 04, 2022
Once the Beth Din had evidence that the new moon had been seen, (see FIXING THE CALENDAR) a new month was…
Car 54 Where Are You? - See You at the Bar Mitzvah
Dec 12, 2021
On March 3, 1963, television viewers were treated to an episode of the comedy Car 54, Where Are You? entitled…
Ha Tikvah: Does Israel's National Anthem Mean Hope for…
Nov 19, 2021
This video presents a brief history of the controversial origins of the national anthem of Israel – the…
Engaged? Jewish Traditions Before a Wedding
Nov 15, 2021
Seven Jewish customs and traditions observed before marriage.
Other Sections
Shalom Sesame: Les Matzarables
Shalom Sesame takes on the Broadway Musical! Join the Muppets as they search high and low…
There is No Atonement for This Sin
“Then it was revealed in my hearing by the Lord of hosts, ‘surely for this iniquity there…
How to Make Popular Rosh Hashanah Recipes
Recipes and cooking instructions are offered for Challah bread, white fish and the…
Cashew "Cheese"
Ingredients1 cup water1 cup cashews (I buy the raw, wash well, lightly salt with sea salt…
Obedience and the Diffusion of Responsibility
How many people did Adolf Hitler personally kill during WW II?
Gazelle Valley - Jerusalem's Urban Nature Reserve
Surrounded by Jerusalem's hustle and bustle, Gazelle Valley is Israel's first urban…
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More Traditions
Enjoy the Archives!
Whole Megillah
Alms (Tzedakah) Box
The Hebrew word "tzedakah" derives from the biblical word "tzedek" meaning righteousness or justice. Helping those in need is not merely…
Mitzvah
Have you done a mitzvah today? A mitzvah is a good deed, something done to benefit someone else without any selfish motives attached to it.…
Archie Bunker Does Shabbat
Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton as Archie and Edith Bunker from All in the Family sit down to Shabbat dinner with the blessings over…
613 Mitzvot
The basic concept in Judaism relating to practice is the Mitzva, a commandment from HaShem.
How to Make Kiddish
Kiddush, like candles, sanctifies the Sabbath. Making kiddush is a simple religious act that sanctifies the Jewish Sabbath, making it…
What is a Get?
A get is a divorce under halacha, or Jewish law. The word can also refer to the document that grants the get, though its technical name is…
Shofar and Blessings
Shofar and Blessings by Mishkanim.
Jewish Tradition, Pomegranates, and Golden Bells
You may have noticed that pomegranates are often portrayed in Jewish art in decorations for candle holders, plates, and other kinds of…
Dude It's Shabbos
Dude it's Shabbos.
Netilat Yadayim - Ritual Hand Washing
"Netilat yadayim" is the Jewish word depicting the religious washing of hand with the help of a cup.
Shabbat Candles
One of the most well known Jewish customs connected with the observance of Shabbat (the Sabbath) is the lighting of lamps or candles before…
Mezuzah
A mezuzah is a little box that is nailed to the doorpost of a Jewish home. The Hebrew word mezuzah means doorpost. It is generally placed…
Minyan
In many Jewish synagogues a minyan is required for public prayer times. A minyan is a group of at least 10 Jewish men over the age of 13…
What are the Top Eight Jewish Foods?
Humans are partial to food to begin with, and Jewish culture is no different – plus Judaism has many unique foods in its culture.
Mikvah-Jewish Tradition
A mikvah, מקווה, is an immersion pool that is used for ceremonial cleansing.
The Yiddish Handbook: 40 Words You Should Know
The Yiddish language is a wonderful source of rich expressions, especially terms of endearment (and of course, complaints and…
Kippah
A yarmulke in Yiddish, or a kippah in Hebrew, is a small head covering. Kippah literally means covering. Professor Jacob Lauterbach has…
Kaddish
There are several Jewish traditions surrounding the death loved ones. We say the mourner’s kaddish. It is not a mournful dirge, but rather…
Yiddish Words You Should Be Using Right Now
As many readers know, there are videos on Shalom Adventure to help you learn Hebrew, but what about learning some Yiddish vocabulary as…
Pointing to the Torah
When reading sometimes it is helpful to have something to guide us so we don’t skip a line of text.
Celebrating My Son's Bar Mitzvah - Mayim Bialik
Ever been invited to a bar or bat mitzvah and wonder what that even is?
Western Wall
The Western Wall is the western portion of the retaining wall of the Temple Mount where the Temple stood. The Hebrew for Western Wall is…
Jewish Wedding Rings
Even though we have modernized we still hold some sacred old traditions dear amongst the Jewish community. Jewish wedding traditions are…
Tzedakah
Tzedakah is from the word meaning righteousness. A tzadek is a righteous person.
Jewish Wedding
A chupah is a large covering that is often used at weddings to cover the bride and groom.
Tallit
A tallit is a prayer shawl. Tallitot (plural of tallit) are rectangular in shape and have fringes called tzitzits at the four corners.
Traditional Jewish Housewarming Gifts
When a Jewish family moves into a new home, relatives and friends can bring housewarming gifts that honor their Jewish traditions and…
Halacha
The word Halakhah comes from the root word halakh which means “to go” and it is the name given to the collective teachings of Jewish laws…
Jewish Calendar
LUNAR-SOLAR CALENDAR.The Jewish calendar is based mainly on the phases of the moon; but it also regulates itself to a lesser degree by the…
Yiddish Part Two
Prior to the Holocaust, Yiddish, a language more resembling Middle High German than anything else phonetically, was widely spoken by 11…
Yiddish Part One
The Yiddish language is a western Germanic oral and written dialect used by the Ashkenazi Jews of central and eastern Europe for the past…
Magen David
The Magen David is the six pointed star also known as the Star of David. Magen David literally means "shield of David." It is not certain…
Shema
"Shema Yisrael, Adonai Elohenu, Adonai Echad." These wordsare the first words in every mezuzah. They are written in everytefillin and are…
Elon Gold: Why The Jews Are Better Off Without Christmas…
A little holiday comedy to kick off the season. Comedian Elon Gold explains why Jews are better off without Christmas Trees
Shofar
The shofar, made from a ram's horn, has been used by our people for thousands of years. The blowing of the shofar was used to call the…
A Salty Jewish Tradition
The Torah says “And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your…
Tanach
The Hebrew Scriptures, also known as the Tanak contains 39 books divided into 3 sections. The word TaNaK is an acronym: “T” for Torah, N…
Torah Reading
The custom of reading from the Torah on Saturday mornings is so old that it is difficult to be certain when it first started.
History of the Mezuzah in 60 seconds
Why do we hang a mezuzah? Find out in 60 seconds.
A Stone to Remember
Many cultures have different ways of dealing with death. One Jewish custom is to place a stone on the grave of someone who died.
Two Torahs?
Many understand the Torah to be the five books of Moses. And that is true but what many Jews call Torah is not the Torah but what is…
Redemption of the First Born
“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Look, I have chosen the Levites from among the Israelites to serve as substitutes for all the firstborn sons…
Challah
Bread plays a very important role in Jewish tradition. In the Torah when Holy visitors come to visit Abraham we read, “Abraham hurried to…
The Cantor
Music is very important in Jewish life and has a significant role in the worship services. Because of this a special person known as a…
The Name
Throughout the ages the Jewish people have been extremely careful to honor the name of God. Some won’t even spell the whole name in order…
The Bar Mitzvah and Jewish Tradition
The word Bar Mitzvah (spelled בר מצוה in Hebrew) means "one to whom the commandments apply".
Mezuzah on the Doorpost
If you visit a Jewish home one thing that you may see is a mezuzah. A mezuzah is a small container which is commonly rectangular in shape…
The Shochet-Jewish Tradition
Have you ever wondered what a shochet is? It is known that Torah observant believers keep a special tradition to avoid certain kinds of…
Circumcision-Jewish Tradition
Male circumcision is a well known Jewish tradition. Avraham (Abraham) was called by God and highly honored. God said “’I will cause you to…
Bar Mitzvah
When a young boy reaches the age of thirteen he is termed a bar mitzvah, which literally means a son of commandments or son of good deeds.…
Havdallah
Havdallah means “separation” and is a service used to separate the holiness of the Sabbath from the rest of the week. It separates the day…
Kosher
The word “kosher” literally means “proper.” When kosher is used to describe food it refers to those foods that are proper to eat. The Bible…
Daily Blessings
It is often said of Judaism that it is less a faith than it is a way of life. For Judaism enters into all aspects of our life. This is seen…
Bill Gates and Shabbat
Bill Gates
Sha'Atnez
Sha'atnez is the term used for clothing made with a mixture of wool and linen fibres. This mixture is clearly forbidden in two places in…
Oral Law
Orthodox believe that at Mount Sinai, God gave to Moses not only the written Torah but also oral interpretations and laws as well. They…
The Chuppa
In the Song of Solomon we read “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.” Song of Solomon 2:4. Love is a…
The Origins of Cholent
Slow cooked stews dominated Saturday menus in Jewish homes for millennia, in every continent, period, and culture.
Women Wearing a Tallit!
Is it permissible for a woman to wear a Tallit? Many Orthodox authorities rule it out because they claim that it is a positive commandment…
The Maccabeats and Netanel Hershtik Join the World in…
Thousands of Jewish communities around the world came together for Havdallah. Watch Netanel Hershtik and the Maccabeats capture the mood of…
Americans Try Israeli Food for the First Time
Americans Try Israeli Food for the First Time
True Blue
It is very common to associate the color blue with the Jewish people. It is on the flag of Israel which was influenced by the prayer shawl…
Mekhitza-Jewish Tradition
A mekhitza is a dividing wall or barrier that is used to separate men and women. It could be simply a separate room, a curtain, or anything…
Candles
Candles are very special in Jewish tradition because they are said to represent the light from the menorah used in the tabernacle. Candles…
The History of the Calendar
Although the early history of the calendar is not clear, most scholars believe that the present calendar is a combination of two systems.…
Maccabeats Lead Havdallah
Maccabeats Lead Havdallah
Holocaust Survivor Meets US Veteran After 70 Years
Holocaust Survivor Meets US Veteran After 70 Years
CDC Comes Out in Favor of Circumcision
US health officials on Tuesday released a draft of long-awaited federal guidelines on circumcision, saying medical evidence supports the…
Mixing Matters
"...You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk." Deuteronomy 14:21 Many take this verse to mean it isn't kosher to have meat and…
Spiritually Uplifting End to Shabbat in Israel
Spiritually Uplifting End to Shabbat in Israel
Most Popular
Pointing to the Torah
When reading sometimes it is helpful to have something to guide us so we don’t skip a line of text.
Torah Reading
The custom of reading from the Torah on Saturday mornings is so old that it is difficult to be certain when it first started.
Holocaust Survivor Meets US Veteran After 70 Years
Holocaust Survivor Meets US Veteran After 70 Years
Americans Try Israeli Food for the First Time
Americans Try Israeli Food for the First Time
The History of the Calendar
Although the early history of the calendar is not clear, most scholars believe that the present calendar is a combination of two systems.…
Halacha
The word Halakhah comes from the root word halakh which means “to go” and it is the name given to the collective teachings of Jewish laws…
Maccabeats Lead Havdallah
Maccabeats Lead Havdallah
The Cantor
Music is very important in Jewish life and has a significant role in the worship services. Because of this a special person known as a…
Yiddish Words You Should Be Using Right Now
As many readers know, there are videos on Shalom Adventure to help you learn Hebrew, but what about learning some Yiddish vocabulary as…
A Stone to Remember
Many cultures have different ways of dealing with death. One Jewish custom is to place a stone on the grave of someone who died.
Women Wearing a Tallit!
Is it permissible for a woman to wear a Tallit? Many Orthodox authorities rule it out because they claim that it is a positive commandment…
Daily Blessings
It is often said of Judaism that it is less a faith than it is a way of life. For Judaism enters into all aspects of our life. This is seen…
Redemption of the First Born
“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Look, I have chosen the Levites from among the Israelites to serve as substitutes for all the firstborn sons…
Spiritually Uplifting End to Shabbat in Israel
Spiritually Uplifting End to Shabbat in Israel
The Origins of Cholent
Slow cooked stews dominated Saturday menus in Jewish homes for millennia, in every continent, period, and culture.
CDC Comes Out in Favor of Circumcision
US health officials on Tuesday released a draft of long-awaited federal guidelines on circumcision, saying medical evidence supports the…
The Maccabeats and Netanel Hershtik Join the World in…
Thousands of Jewish communities around the world came together for Havdallah. Watch Netanel Hershtik and the Maccabeats capture the mood of…
Dude It's Shabbos
Dude it's Shabbos.
Yiddish Part One
The Yiddish language is a western Germanic oral and written dialect used by the Ashkenazi Jews of central and eastern Europe for the past…
Mekhitza-Jewish Tradition
A mekhitza is a dividing wall or barrier that is used to separate men and women. It could be simply a separate room, a curtain, or anything…
Jewish Tradition, Pomegranates, and Golden Bells
You may have noticed that pomegranates are often portrayed in Jewish art in decorations for candle holders, plates, and other kinds of…
Haftarah
הפטרה (Haftarah), the name given to the reading from the Prophetic books which follows the Torah reading.
Schlep
Apart from its definitive meaning and use, this schlep video is a parody of Uber and Lyft taxi services.
Yiddish Part Two
Prior to the Holocaust, Yiddish, a language more resembling Middle High German than anything else phonetically, was widely spoken by 11…
Challah
Bread plays a very important role in Jewish tradition. In the Torah when Holy visitors come to visit Abraham we read, “Abraham hurried to…
Oral Law
Orthodox believe that at Mount Sinai, God gave to Moses not only the written Torah but also oral interpretations and laws as well. They…
Circumcision-Jewish Tradition
Male circumcision is a well known Jewish tradition. Avraham (Abraham) was called by God and highly honored. God said “’I will cause you to…
The Jewish Calendar
LUNAR-SOLAR CALENDAR The Jewish calendar is based mainly on the phases of the moon; but it also regulates itself to a lesser degree by the…
How to Make Kiddish
Kiddush, like candles, sanctifies the Sabbath. Making kiddush is a simple religious act that sanctifies the Jewish Sabbath, making it…
Mixing Matters
"...You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk." Deuteronomy 14:21 Many take this verse to mean it isn't kosher to have meat and…
