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Traditions

Dude It's Shabbos

Dude it's Shabbos.

Traditions

Netilat Yadayim - Ritual Hand Washing

"Netilat yadayim" is the Jewish word depicting the religious washing of hand with the help of a cup.

Traditions

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 sunset on Friday…

Traditions

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 on the right side of…

Traditions

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 years old. A minyan is…

Traditions

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.

Traditions

Mikvah-Jewish Tradition

A mikvah, מקווה, is an immersion pool that is used for ceremonial cleansing.

Traditions

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 insults)….Jewish scriptwriters…

Traditions

Kippah

A yarmulke in Yiddish, or a kippah in Hebrew, is a small head covering. Kippah literally means covering. Professor Jacob Lauterbach has been quoted as saying…

Traditions

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 praise to the Giver…

Traditions

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 well?

Traditions

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.

Traditions

Celebrating My Son's Bar Mitzvah - Mayim Bialik

Ever been invited to a bar or bat mitzvah and wonder what that even is?

Traditions

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 ha-Kotel ha-Ma'aravi,…

Kippah

A yarmulke in Yiddish, or a kippah in Hebrew, is a small head covering. Kippah literally means covering. Professor Jacob Lauterbach has been quoted as saying that the question of praying bareheaded…

Traditions

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.

Traditions

Jewish Wedding Rings

Even though we have modernized we still hold some sacred old traditions dear amongst the Jewish community. Jewish wedding traditions are one such old tradition that is still held to this day.…

Traditions

Tallit

A tallit is a prayer shawl. Tallitot (plural of tallit) are rectangular in shape and have fringes called tzitzits at the four corners.

Traditions

Schlep

Schlep

Traditions

Americans Try Israeli Food for the First Time

Americans Try Israeli Food for the First Time

Traditions

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 tent where Sarah was and said to her, ‘Hurry, prepare…

Traditions

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.

Traditions

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 sun. God said let there be lights in the firmament of the…

Traditions

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 that God blessed from the regular workdays of the week. It…

Traditions

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 cantor (sometimes also referred to as a chazzan) is put in…

Traditions

The Origins of Cholent

Slow cooked stews dominated Saturday menus in Jewish homes for millennia, in every continent, period, and culture.

Traditions

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. One system began the year in spring and the other in autumn.…

Traditions

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 on the right side of the door about one quarter of the way…

Traditions

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. It is doing a favor without expecting anything in return.…

Traditions