The Calendar and Holidays (incl. Sabbath)
- Chanukah
- Other Holidays and Fasts
- Passover
- Purim
- Rosh HaShanah
- Shavuos
- Sukkos
- The Jewish Calendar
- The Sabbath
- Yom Kippur
-
The Binding of Isaac and the Seder
What is the connection (if any) between The Binding of Isaac (Akedat Yitzchak) and the Passover Seder? Answer: Thank you for your question. There are some connections between The Binding of Isaac and Passover, although not so directly. The Binding…
-
The Book of Esther and the Purim Celebration
I am currently involved in a Bible study of the book of Esther. Would you please tell me when this particular writing became part of the sacred scripture for the Hebrew people? Was the Feast of Purim begun because of…
-
Purim During a Leap Year
Why is Purim celebrated twice in a leap year when we have 2 months of Adar? In the book of Esther the 12th month is mentioned as the day that King Xerxes and Haman plotted against the Jews. I thought…
-
Egyptian Neighbors
The Torah states that before departing from Egypt, God instructed that everyone borrow jewelry from their neighbor. How are the Egyptians referred to as ‘neighbors’? Were the Israelites by then mixed with Egyptians in their living arrangements? Answer: You ask…
-
Repentance if You Know the Sin Will Recur
What do I do? How can I do teshuvah (repent) if I am fairly certain that I will do the same thing again? Answer: You are not the only one with this issue, in fact virtually all people working on Teshuvah…
-
The Oral Tradition of Chanuka
Why can’t I find anything written in the Torah about Hanukkah? I was told that the events of Hanukkah occurred after the Torah was written but how do people know about the story? Was the story of Hanukkah only verbally…
-
Chanukah and Religious Identity
What universal message can be drawn from Chanukah? Answer: Chanuka is a holiday about Jewish identity. The Assyrian Greeks (Yevonim) weren’t interested in the physical destruction of the Jewish People rather they wanted to destroy the Jews separate identity. They…
-
Rope Around the High Priest
There’s a belief that the High Priest had a rope tied around his waist when he entered the Holy of Holies in the Temple during Yom Kippur (to pull him out should G-d judge him unfit and take his life).…
-
Yom Kippur on Shabbat
I had a question about Yom Kippur falling on Friday Night. I am planning to serve a pre-fast meal before going to Kol Nidre services. Is there anything special I need to know regarding blessings over bread and wine? Also,…