History of the Mezuzah in 60 seconds

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

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 for navi’im, the Hebrew word for prophets, and K for k’tovim,…

Traditions

How to Make Kiddish

Kiddush, like candles, sanctifies the Sabbath. Making kiddush is a simple religious act that sanctifies the Jewish Sabbath, making it distinct from the six other days of the week. It requires little…

Traditions

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 which involve the regulation of various aspects of Jewish…

Traditions

The Maccabeats and Netanel Hershtik Join the World in Making Havdallah

Thousands of Jewish communities around the world came together for Havdallah. Watch Netanel Hershtik and the Maccabeats capture the mood of a Jewish world ignited.

Traditions

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.

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

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

Americans Try Israeli Food for the First Time

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 that the question of praying bareheaded…

Traditions

Candles

Candles are very special in Jewish tradition because they are said to represent the light from the menorah used in the tabernacle. Candles are burned for various special occasions in Judaism.…

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, although it is usually called simply…

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

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