Rosh Hashana
The Biblical New Year
Establishing a calendar in Judaism requires a total reset from how time is marked on a secular calendar, realigning the days, weeks, months, and years according to Biblical principles. Days and weeks The days of the week are oriented...
Who is Gedalia and why do Jews fast for him?
Archaeologists in Israel uncovered evidence from nearly three thousand years ago, proving the existence of Gedaliah, a relatively minor character mentioned in the Bible, whose life is still commemorated till this very day by Jews every...
Jews are .2% of the world’s population, but don’t underestimate us
Like most Jews, I spent the last two days of Rosh Hashana in prayer. We heard the powerful blasts of the Shofar and recited Hebrew prayers that focused on coronating Hashem as King over the entire universe. However, I couldn’t stop...
The Portion of Pinchas
Our portion picks up where last week’s left off, in the aftermath of a plague. Phineas is blessed by God for his actions and a new census of the people is taken. The brotherless daughters of Zelophehad appeal to Moses for a share in the...
The Portion of Emor
The portion of Emor continues many of the same themes found thus far in the book of Leviticus. It expands upon the laws of the priest which set him apart from the rest of the community, as well as those that apply only to the High Priest....