What’s the Difference Between the Secular and Jewish New Year?
What is the Jewish expression to refer to someone who has died?
In Judaism, when someone has died, it is customary to add the expression, “May their memory be for a blessing” after mentioning the deceased by name.
My partner and I had to postpone our wedding due to COVID-19. How can we mark our original date?
Right now, you may be feeling grateful for the health of loved ones, frustrated or resentful of the situation you find yourself in, disappointed to have to postpone your celebration, and/or worried about the resulting consequences of doing so.
Why do we bless our children on Shabbat?
It is a Jewish custom for parents to bless their children on Shabbat.
Why do we say a blessing over the challah?
Jewish tradition calls for a b’rachah (blessing) expressing thanks to God before eating any food. It represents a recognition that people owe a measure of gratitude to God for providing food for all living things
Why is it traditional to use two challot on Shabbat?
Tradition holds that two whole challot should be used on Shabbat as a remembrance of the double portion of manna that fell in the desert so that no Jew should have to gather food on Shabbat (Exodus 16:22-32).
How Do I Find a Sukkah to Visit?
It is a mitzvah to build a sukkah and to welcome guests to the sukkah.
Do we literally read the entire Torah in one year, starting on Simchat Torah?
We read the entire Torah over a year, beginning the cycle on the same week as Simchat Torah. The Torah is divided into 54 portions – or parashiyot – and, generally, one portion is read each week on Shabbat.
What is the Reform position on clergy officiating at the wedding of a Jew to a person brought up in a different faith?
I’m Jewish and my partner is not. We’d like to have a Jewish wedding and plan to raise a Jewish family. Will a Reform rabbi or cantor officiate at our wedding?
Is the Child of an Interfaith Couple Considered Jewish?
Historically, since the Rabbinic period (post 70 CE), Jewish status was passed down by the mother.