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.
What is the shmita or sabbatical year?
The sabbatical year, shmita in Hebrew, finds it roots in the Torah.
What do I do with a tallit, when it is damaged and can no longer be used?
That is a great question. The tallit is actually made up of two parts – the garment and the fringes attached to the garment.
Why do some Jews wear white on Yom Kippur?
At one time, it was customary for Reform rabbis and cantors to wear robes when leading worship.
Why do Jews fast on Yom Kippur?
The practice of fasting goes back to the biblical verse in Leviticus 26:27, which instructs the people of Israel to "afflict their souls" on Yom Kippur.
At what age do Jews start to participate in a fast on Yom Kippur? What if they are sick and not well enough to fast?
Typically, young people are expected to fast once they have become b’nei mitzvah, the age after which they are considered adults in the religious community.
Is Yom Kippur like confession?
Yom Kippur does have a confession service. Here's how it is and isn't similar to the Catholic practice of confession.
Does listening to a podcast count as study? Is it OK to say the blessing if I’m listening to commentary without reading or hearing the Torah portion?
Listening to the podcast definitely counts as Torah study. It’s an opportunity to learn a bit of Torah and start to think about the weekly Torah while also incorporating some modern-day thinking into the traditional message.
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?