It seems like everybody loves this holiday, although it wasn’t long ago that it was considered to be one of the “minor” Jewish holidays. How could a holiday that stresses joy and is so filled with mitzvos (commandments) and activity be considered minor? I’m not sure, except that it is a day when cooking and driving are permitted, but nonetheless, there are plenty of observances and things to do. The story of Purim is described in the book of Esther. In an nutshell, Esther, a Jewish girl who lived in Persia, was forced to marry a King Ahashverosh, who ruled … Continue reading →

In the pre-holiday season, malls are filled with people hunting for the ultimate gift idea. You may be wondering what you can give to your family and friends that will really say “Chanukah.” With all the red and green décor, ribbons, tinsel and other symbols of the season, it might be worth looking for something that is uniquely Jewish and related to Chanukah itself. Menorahs, dreidels and Chanukah gelt are great ideas, and with a bit of browsing, online or off, you can find something truly original that will be treasured for years (except maybe the Chanukah gelt, which, though … Continue reading →

I heard this story from Rabbi Manis Friedman of Minnesota. He is known as a lively story teller and an inspiring speaker. I recommend visiting his website, itsgoodtoknow.com, often. The story takes place in Communist Russia when there were many harsh decrees passed against religious Jews. If a Jew was caught teaching a child the Hebew alphabet, he was shot or sent for hard labor to Siberia; the Communist government was dedicated to eradicating religion by any means at their disposal. There was one man who was sent to prison in Siberia who was given the nickname “Shabbos” because he … Continue reading →

I used to go to a synagogue when I still lived in New York, which, like nearly every synagogue, had its local comedian. The essential part of this guy’s shtick was that, on holidays, he said the same thing every year. It was as if his routine depended on a kind of humorous monotony (and every year, it just kept getting funnier and funnier, even though we knew exactly what he was going to say. So much for originality!) On the first night of Succos, the Rabbi invited the entire congregation to his rather large succa, and it was a … Continue reading →

I used to go to a synagogue when I still lived in New York, which, like nearly every synagogue, had its local comedian. The essential part of this guy’s shtick was that, on holidays, he said the same thing every year. It was as if his routine depended on a kind of humorous monotony (and every year, it just kept getting funnier and funnier, even though we knew exactly what he was going to say. So much for originality!) On the first night of Succos, the Rabbi invited the entire congregation to his rather large succa, and it was a … Continue reading →

This ritual has a controversial history and is avoided by some and embraced by others. Kapporos has the status of a custom rather than a law and many observant Jews prefer not to do Kapporos because it looks silly (since it is not a law, the reasoning goes, it can be dropped). Animal rights activists are also upset by this ritual, because they think it involves cruelty to animals. However, animals are not harmed during Kapporos any more than they would be during any kind of slaughter, and kosher slaughter, since it requires one stroke of a very sharp blade, … Continue reading →

Yom Kippur is commonly regarded as a day of solemnity and regret. While solemnity and awe are important on Yom Kippur, it is not required to feel miserable over sins and to mourn inadequacies. Of course, it is a good idea to sincerely regret what has occurred in the past, but this regret should take the form of bitterness rather than sadness. According to Chassidic philosophy, when one thinks of past misdeeds one should feel a sense of bitterness rather than sadness. What is the difference? Bitterness spurs us on to action and inspires us to change. When we feel … Continue reading →

I’m sure that many of us have heard the expression (was it a book, movie, song title?) ”Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” I’d like to know how well the person who came up with that one got along with his wife and family! In Jewish life, this period which falls between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is the season for saying you are sorry. We spend a lot of time apologizing to G-d during these weeks: in the special Selichos prayers we say before Rosh Hashana and on the holidays themselves and the intervening days. It is … Continue reading →