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 […]
Category Archives: Holidays
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 […]
Rosh Hashanah – Write Yourself into the Book of Life — By Ben
The critical theme of the high holidays is the hope that we will be written and sealed by God in the Book of Life. But the truth is, most of […]
Iyov – The Suffering and Silence of Job — By Ben
This Sunday we’ll observe the fast of Tammuz, kicking off the mourning period known as the 3 Weeks. The ritual culminates with Tisha B’Av which remembers the destruction of the […]
Shavuos, Ruth, and Being Chosen — By Ben
I don’t recall the exact circumstance, but somewhere in the deep recesses of my memory I remember talking to a devout person of a different religion. They had found out […]
Six Degrees Of Kosher Bacon 