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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 night.

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

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,…

Traditions

Kiddush-Jewish Tradition

Kiddush is from the Hebrew word for holy or sanctify, to set apart as holy. God set the Sabbath apart as holy. Saying the kiddush on Friday evening dates back…

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…

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

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 the Torah. In Deuteronomy it states: You shall not sow your…

Traditions

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 God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your…

Traditions

Jewish Wedding

A chupah is a large covering that is often used at weddings to cover the bride and groom.

Traditions

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 millennium.

Traditions

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 else that serves as a barrier. Many synagogues do not have…

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

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. For girls the term is bat mitzvah. It is at this age that…

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

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

Americans Try Israeli Food for the First Time

Americans Try Israeli Food for the First Time

Traditions

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 commonly referred to as the Oral Torah. The Oral Torah contains…

Traditions

Schlep

Schlep

Traditions

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 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