Bill Gates and Shabbat

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

Holocaust Survivor Meets US Veteran After 70 Years

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

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

The basic concept in Judaism relating to practice is the Mitzva, a commandment from HaShem. The Torah helps people to lead a life that will be inline with HaShem's laws. Moses ben Maimon, Maimonides,…

Traditions

Yiddish Part Two

Prior to the Holocaust, Yiddish, a language more resembling Middle High German than anything else phonetically, was widely spoken by 11 million people, not as a national language or local tongue, but…

Traditions

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 be very fruitful.

Traditions

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 when the star became a Jewish symbol, but it was used on…

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

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 sefer k'ritot, or scroll of severance. The sefer k'ritot is…

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

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

Second Day of Festivals

Once the Beth Din had evidence that the new moon had been seen, (see FIXING THE CALENDAR) a new month was declared to have started, and people would know when to observe festivals. Some were informed…

Traditions

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 people together for war and to call them to the Sanctuary for…

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 about 2,500 years.

Traditions