It’s Hard to be a Jew at Christmas, But Even Harder on Tu BiSh’vat
It is a truth universally acknowledged that it can be difficult to be Jewish at Christmas time. It has seeped into North American cultural consciousness so thoroughly that South Park even wrote a song about it, complete with trademark expletives.
Tu BiShvat: Customs and Rituals
Tu BiShvat: History
Tu BiShvat
"15th of Shevat;" New Year of the Trees; Jewish Arbor Day, which is a minor festival.
Yom HaAtzmaut
Israeli Independence Day, which commemorates the establishment of the modern state of Israel in 1948.
Yom HaZikaron
Israeli Memorial Day on which citizens remember the soldiers who lost their lives fighting the War of Independence and other subsequent battles.
Arbaah minim
Literally, “four species.” The Torah specifies four species to bring together on Sukkot. The four species are: lulav (branches of palm trees), etrog (citron), hadasim (myrtle branches), and aravot (willows) (Leviticus 23:40).
Mourning and Joy: The Bookends of Israel's History
“Those who sow in tears, shall reap in joy.” Whoever wrote these words knew the depth of our collective mourning is matched only by the height of our collective joy.
What Would Isaiah Say About Israel's Efforts to Make Peace?
After 70 years, the path to peace in Israel is as troubled as ever. Yet, peace may not be as elusive as we might think. Sometimes it comes from the most unlikely places.