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My (Privileged) Struggle to Find Meaning in Jewish Peoplehood
Weeks after I prayed at the Western Wall at the start of the new Hebrew month of Adar II, I still struggle to find meaning in the concept of Jewish peoplehood.
Rosh Chodesh
Throughout history, the Jewish people have had a connection to the moon.
Rosh Chodesh's Origins
Rosh Chodesh means "head of the month." The month begins with the appearance of the new moon (Rosh Chodesh). The ancient Rabbis understood Exodus 12:1-2 as requiring that the new month be determined by eyewitness testimony: just as God "pointed out" the appearance of the new moon to Moses and Aaron, so must witnesses declare before the judges of the Sanhedrin, the Great Court in Jerusalem, who stood in place of Moses and Aaron, that they had seen that form in the heavens.
What's New
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How My Kippah is Both a Symbol of Pride and a Target for Hate
When we arrived in Israel, I removed it my kippah. I’d become comfortable wearing it in Toronto, but in Israel, I feared being questioned about my Jewish choice.
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Raising our Voices in Peace: My Experience at the Western Wall
We read in Pirkei Avot, “Be among the disciples of Aaron – seek peace and pursue it.” One of our highest aspirations as Jews is to establish peace within our homes, within our communities, and in our world. Sh'lom bayit (peace in the home) is a core value of Jewish life. For 30 years now, Jewish