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The Jewish Year

  • Afterthoughts about Simchat Torah

    In The Jewish Year and Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah

    Since Simchat Torah is the day in which we celebrate the Torah, its divinity, greatness and superiority, it is quite perplexing that there is no special mitzvah commanding the Jewish people to study Torah more deeply and for longer on this festival than on any other day. In fact little studying can be done since much of the day is occupied with dancing and singing and even the reading of the Torah is kept to a minimum: Specifically the concluding words of the Torah and not much more than some opening verses of Sefer Bereshith and a small portion related to some festival sacrifices in the Tabernacle.

  • The Mystery of the Second Day Yom Tov

    In The Jewish Year

    One of the most puzzling laws in Halacha (Jewish Law) is the requirement to observe a second day Yom Tov (festival) in all Jewish Communities outside the land of Israel.

  • Shavuoth and Combustibility

    In The Jewish Year

    One of the most challenging aspects of religious life is how to relate to the concept of revelation. The uncompromising claim by Judaism that the Torah is not a book which was written by man but the result of a revelation of God's will to man requires a formidable amount of faith in the face of so much skepticism and secularity.

  • Succoth and the Twin Towers

    In The Jewish Year and Sukkot

    When contemplating the festival of Succoth, we are confronted with a remarkable paradox. As is well known, the Succah visualizes our life span in the world. For what is a Succah? It is a frail structure in which we need to dwell for seven days. Many commentators remind us that these seven days represent man's average life span which is about seventy years. This is well stated by King David when he wrote: "The span of his years is seventy and with strength eighty years." (Tehilim 90:10) Indeed under favorable circumstances, we may prolong our stay in this world into our eighth day which is symbolized by Shemini Chag Atzereth, (a separate festival immediately following the seven days of Succoth).

  • Yom Kippur: A Day Like Purim

    In The Jewish Year, Purim and Yom Kippur

    Our sages suggested that Yom Kippur is "a day like Purim". To suggest that Yom Kippur is like Purim is a most unusual way of looking to this awesome day.