I Will Shelter You
Way back in July 1990, when my daughter Katie was two years old, Ellen turned to our little girl and said, "Tell Daddy something he doesn't know." Katie whispered, smiling shyly, "Today is Mommy's birthday." Can you say doghouse?
How Do We Make God Holy?
The point of being Jewish is to have a relationship with God. Yet, a relationship implies a certain give and take, and there is precious little in the Torah that talks about what we have that God could possibly need. What can we give to God?
Tearing a Hole in Being
At the end of Parashat Emor, a disturbing incident is related. In the heat of a fight, a man curses God and is stoned to death for blasphemy (Leviticus 24:10-23). It is understandable that readers may be repulsed by this narrative, and shocked and angry to find it in the Torah.
Tu BiShvat: Customs and Rituals
Tu BiShvat: History
Lag BaOmer: History
Counting of the Omer: Blessings for Each Day
(the) Omer
The 49-day period that begins on the second night of Passover and ends on Shavuot.
Shavuot
"Weeks;" festival that commemorates the giving of the Torah to Moses atop Mt. Sinai.
Tu BiShvat
"15th of Shevat;" New Year of the Trees; Jewish Arbor Day, which is a minor festival.