Judaism

Local

Death as a Constant Part of Life

Torah

Is Golan Heights Part of Holy Land?

Arts

Hidden City Festival Reveals Revitalization of 'Little Shul'

Torah

Even in Wilderness, God Sat at Center of Things

BAMIDBAR, Numbers 1:1-4:20

By:

Rabbi Danielle Stillman

Are you the type of traveler who plans every detail of the trip, making lists and the necessary reservations? Or do you throw everything together into a backpack and rely on your guidebook once you get there? Do you rent a car with a GPS, or ask the locals for directions? In this week's Torah portion, we are brought back...

Shavuot

Understanding the Days of the 'First Fruits'

By:

Bryan Schwartzman

Apparently, not all Jewish festivals have been created equal. Passover has the seder -- the most widely observed Jewish ritual -- the eating of matzah and a stirring narrative of a people's deliverance from slavery. Sukkot, which has undergone something of a revival among non-Orthodox Jews in recent years, has the building of the sukkah booth at home, and the...

Torah

Shavuot: How Israelites Became a Holy Nation

By:

Rabbi Shmuel Jablon, JE Feature

In the Talmud, the festival of Shavuot is normally referred to as "Atzeret," which, roughly translated, means a "day of assembly." However, the word implies even more, since atzeret signifies a closing day of assembly. For example, after the festival of Sukkot comes Shemini Atzeret, the "Eighth Day of Assembly." Though it is, in the words of the sages, "a...

Food

Pretty Cheesy

Shavuot calls for all the dairy dishes you can think of

By:

Louise Fiszer, JE Feature

Shavuot is one of those holidays that is known by many names and has something for everyone. It is called Pentecost and the Feast of Weeks because it falls on the 50th day after the second night of Passover. It is also called Hag Ha-bikurim , the "Feast of the First Fruits." Insomniacs can stay up all night embracing the...

Torah

Hitting Bottom, Climbing Back Up

BEHAR-BEHUKOTAI, Leviticus 25:1-27:34

By:

Rabbi Howard A. Addison

The concluding parshot of Leviticus offer us an interesting glimpse into our tradition. Parshah Behar mandates the Sabbatical and Jubilee years: One year in every seven, the land was to rest and replenish itself. Every 50 years, all slaves were set free and land returned to its original owners. These ideals were so moving, the words were inscribed on the...