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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.
Chicken Fesenjan with Walnuts and Pomegranate Syrup
This very famous Persian dish is considered a festive dish served for important occasions.
The History of Hanukkah Gifts: Is This Custom Really a Jewish One?
The contemporary custom of wrapping presents gifts arose in conjunction with Christmas, but many aspects of gift-giving have distinctly Jewish roots, each of which has helped set the stage for the development of the ritual into what it is today.
Whip Up a Tu BiShvat Feast with Recipes Representing the Seven Species
Collectively known as shivat haminim, the Seven Species are sacred fruits and grains grown in the Land of Israel. Eating these foods, especially during the holiday of Tu BiShvat, has become a popular way for Jews around the world to maintain a connection to Israel.
Silver Oil-Burning Menorah
We inherited this 13" x 13" silver oil-burning menorah from my husband's grandfather, a rabbi who emigrated from Eastern Europe. We think he may have acquired it either in Vienna or Budapest, where he spent some time before coming to America.
Polish Brass Menorah
Dear Jonathan, I got this menorah from my grandfather, who got it from his uncle, who brought it to this country before 1900. I would appreciate any information about it and an approximate value.
Polish Menorah
Dear Jonathan: My father purchased this menorah in the mid-1940s at a Zionist Organization of America gathering in New York City. Could shed any light on its origins and/or value?
Hanukkah: Customs and Rituals
Learn about the music, rituals, and food associated with the celebration of Hanukkah.
Ner Shel Tzedakah: Candle of Righteousness
Hanukkah can be a time for us to rededicate ourselves to the Jewish value of tikkun olam, repair of the world.
Tu BiShvat: Customs and Rituals
The Jewish mystics of the 17th century, the Kabbalists, created a special ritual—modeled after the Passover seder—to celebrate God's presence in nature. Today in modern Israel, Tu BiShvat has become a national holiday, a tree planting festivaTu BiShvat is not mentioned in the Torah. Scholars believe the holiday was originally an agricultural festival, corresponding to the beginning of spring in Israel. But a critical historical event helped Tu BiShvat evolve from a simple celebration of spring to a commemoration of our connection to the land of Israel. After the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E. and the exile that followed, many of the exiled Jews felt a need to bind themselves symbolically to their former homeland. Tu BiShvat served in part to fill that spiritual need. Jews used this time each year to eat a variety of fruits and nuts that could be obtained from Israel. The practice, a sort of physical association with the land, continued for many centuries.l for both Israelis and Jews throughout the world