Pesach – The Gift of the Maggid – By Ben
This is the bread of affliction that our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Whoever is hungry – let him come and eat! Whoever is needy – let him […]
Category Archives: Holidays
Celebrating My Daughter’s Birth While Israel Burns — By Ben
Over a year ago I wrote an article for Aish.com under a pseudonym. The piece was an intimate detailing of me and my wife’s thoughts and emotions as we experienced […]
Does it Blow when We Don’t Blow the Shofar? Rosh Hashanah on Shabbos — By Ben
This year the first day of Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbos. For the most part, the majority of Jews won’t notice a difference. But one detail might sound the alarm… […]
Tisha B’Av – Hating to Destroy – By Ben
As we observe yet another Tisha b’Av, many of us will mutter, hopefully next year we won’t be fasting, but feasting. The essential date that codifies the worst atrocities the […]
Was Rosh Hashanah meant to be in Tammuz? — By Ben
The 17th of Tammuz starts the solemn “three weeks,” a period in the Jewish calendar which act as a remembrance of the worst tragedies to befall the Jewish people. The […]
Acharei/Omer – The Line Between Fear and Reverence — By Ben
The Torah portion Acharei Mos, begins with reminding us of the death of Nadav and Avihu, Aharon’s two oldest sons who died in parshas Shimini. It is probably not a […]
The Bread of Affliction, a Poor Translation — By Ben
On Seder night, as we begin the Maggid (story telling) section, the matzah is broken and lifted as the leader proclaims, “Ha Lachma onya”, this is the bread of our […]
Purim: Permission to Defend — By Ben
Not more than a couple of weeks ago, I was wasting time on Facebook, when I came across something that stopped me cold. A friend had posted “Man Shot in […]
All I Want for Chanukah is to get Married — By Ben
It was just before Chanukah two years ago that I proposed to my wife. I had planned to pop the question during Chanukah, but after getting the finished ring from […]
Yom Kippur – “Is Confession Jewish?” Mistranslating Viduy — By Ben
Teshuva! Teshuvah! Teshuvah! Is there anything more trumpeted during the high holidays? (Other than the shofar of course.) With Yom Kippur imminent, our leaders implore us to perform this holy […]
