Galilee Diary: Why is This Night Different?
"Tu" (the Hebrew abbreviation of 15th) in the month of Shvat was set (Hillel's opinion generally overrules Shammai's) as the beginning of the tithable year for tree fruit: Calculating the tithe on fruit starts again for fruit that sets after that date.
Happy Tu BiShvat: Environmental Responsibility in the Berkshires
Planting and Parenting: The Lessons of Tu BiShvat
Here is the quintessential Jewish question: How do we emulate God? We are told that we were created by God. We are told that we have a divine spark within us.
Hanukkah Matters
Black Friday
On "Black Friday," I went to the mall, and for the first time since my conversion many years ago, I felt an empty pit in my stomach.
The Three Lies We Tell About Hanukkah
There probably is no holiday on the Jewish calendar that has been redefined more than Hanukkah. In each age, this holiday has been transformed to suit the issues and concerns of its time.
Eight Great Sci-Tech Experiences to Celebrate Hanukkah!
At URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy, a Reform Jewish summer camp outside Boston, Jewish campers spend their summer exploring robotics, video game design, environmental science, digital media, and other fun activities.
Rejoice, for I Have Faith
There is a well-known Talmudic debate (Shabbat 21b) between rabbis Shamai and Hillel about the correct way to light the Hanukkah candles.
Hanukkah Reflects America's Religious Liberty: Vignettes From Montana, Idaho, and Utah
In 1974 in Philadelphia, a small menorah was lit in front of Independence Hall, home to the iconic Liberty Bell. The menorah was crude and made of wood. Five people attended what is now considered to be the first Chabad-Lubavitch public-menorah lighting.