The Calendar and Holidays (incl. Sabbath)
- Chanukah
- Other Holidays and Fasts
- Passover
- Purim
- Rosh HaShanah
- Shavuos
- Sukkos
- The Jewish Calendar
- The Sabbath
- Yom Kippur
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The Calendar and Creation
Why do we not count our days according to the Torah from the month of Nissan and when the Jews left Egypt instead of using the human calendar going back to Adam and Eve? That is an interesting question. I…
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Animal Sacrifice, Chicken Waving, and Stoning of Children
Do people still do burnt offerings nowadays with animals? I hope not. I know we no longer obey laws of stoning rebellious children to death. I have heard about the chicken twirling on Yom Kippur, also no longer practiced among…
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Pharaoh’s Jewish Slave Dilemma
 King Pharaoh needed his slaves. Why would he order to kill all baby boys? That will mean that within a generation or two he will have no slaves population left. I am familiar with the reason given that he feared…
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Singing the Psalms
What Psalms do Jews sing? A friend tells me that Jews only sing the Hallel Psalms. Is this true? Psalms was composed by King David and others to be a vehicle of expression, praise, song and prayer to God. It…
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Judah Maccabee’s Family
Who are the sons of Mattisyahu? The most prominent was the third son, Judah Maccabee. His brothers were Jonathan, Elazar, Shimon, and Yochanan.
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Business Menorah
I would like to light the candles at work; however, my employer says that it will not be possible unless I have an electric menorah. Since I cannot find one here, he will only allow me to light the menorah…
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Hanukah and the Burning Bush
What are the similarities between the burning bush and the Hanukah candles? Fascinating question. The burning bush describes the difference between something that’s burning, and a wick. If the bush were to be its own fuel, it would be quickly…
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The Branches of the Menorah
I thougt that a Menorah had seven arms, but I saw several Menorah’s with nine arms. Would you be so kind to tell me, how many arms belong to the real menorah? In the Bible (Exodus 25:31) G-d explains to…
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Menorah Blessings
Two questions regarding the Chanukah Blessings for lighting the Menorah: 1. Who wrote them, and when? 2. The first one says in part: “…Who has sanctified us with His commandments, and has commanded us to Kindle the Chanukah light.” Where…