Why do Jewish Holidays Begin at Night?
On the Jewish calendar, holidays begin in the evening, at sundown, and they continue through the next day.
I plan to attend Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur services this year for the first time. Will I be expected to donate money during the service, like in a church service? If so, what’s the "right” amount?
What, exactly, is a Haggadah?
The Hebrew word Haggadah means “telling,” and it refers to the service or script for the Passover seder table ritual. The Haggadah provides the order and script of the service with step-by-step instructions.
The Music of Avinu Malkeinu
In the game “Truth-or-Dare,” I choose “truth” nearly every time. I’m not much of a dare-taker. Thus, if you and I were playing “Special Edition Truth-or-Dare: High Holy Days,” I would confess that the prayer Avinu Malkeinu provides me with both my second-favorite liturgical moment and my second-greatest pet peeve of the year’s liturgy. (Note: Even though I may have to repent for it, I will leave you in suspense about my favorite liturgical moment and my greatest liturgical pet peeve. Also, “Special Edition Truth-or-Dare: High Holy Days” is fictional, although I hereby declare copyright in the event Mattel or Hasbro comes knocking at my door.)
Blending Tradition and Change Across the Generations
Early on, I learned that not all Jewish observance looks the same. In our global society, Jewish rituals will continue to evolve, giving way to new traditions.
How to Enrich Your Seder with Some (Good) Drama
While others cook and clean for Passover, I write jokes for Moses, Miriam, Pharaoh, and God – so we can add a play to our family’s retelling of the Exodus from Egypt.
Going Green on Passover: One Chef’s Healthy Approach
This Passover, celebrate the cycle of time and nature with an approach to food that protects our environment, prioritizes good health, and lines up with Reform Jewish values.
Empty Chairs and Stained Napkins: A Passover Prayer for Peace
When we gather on April 19 and 20 to mark the first two nights of Passover, we will pray. And we will ask aloud: What makes this year’s seders different from all others
In Every Generation: Four Questions from the Early Days of the Kibbutz
For secular kibbutzniks, the Four Questions let them express ideas about living on a collective, challenges of Zionist settlement, and the state of Jewish life worldwide.
The Last Gasp for Life: Hungary at the End of World War II
It’s important to retell the hideous and barbaric events that occurred in Hungary at the end of World War II because they provide important lessons for us today.