The Passover Seder reminds us of who we are—where we came from and where we plan to go as a nation—and passes on our identity and heritage to future generations. The Passover Seder is a replay, in each generation, of the deeds of our parents. Through the Passover Seder, we recount the deeds of our parents.

The Torah tells us to count the period of the Omer, which begins on the second day of Passover. In ancient Israel, this was the day that the Jews brought an offering of new grain to the Temple in Jerusalem. After this date, the Counting of the Omer began, in Hebrew...

Pesach Sheni – literally, the second Passover – falls on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Iyar – exactly one month after the eve of the holiday of Passover. Pesach Sheni conveys a message that is one of the foundations of Judaism, teaching us that we can ...

On the 10th day of the Jewish month of Tevet in the year 3336 from Creation (425 BCE), the armies of the Babylonian emperor Nevuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem. Thirty months later—on the 9th of Tammuz in 3338—the city walls were razed to the ground, and on the 9th of Av...

The festival of Chanukah begins on the evening of the 25th of Kislev, and the lighting of the candles continues until the evening of the 3rd of Tevet. Since the historic victory of the Maccabees over the Assyrians in 165 BCE, Jews have celebrated Chanukah for eight days. The festival is celebrated on the XNUMXth of Kislev, and is celebrated on the XNUMXrd of Tevet.

On the holiday of Simchat Torah, whose name literally means “Torah Joy,” we dance with the Torah scrolls covered in their rich covers or sealed in their beautiful cases. Unlike Shavuot, when we stay up all night studying and ...

Shemini Atzeret, celebrated on the 22nd day of the Jewish month of Tishrei—the day after the seven-day festival of Sukkot—is the most joyful holiday on the Jewish calendar. Shemini Atzeret means the “eighth [day] of assembly,” which leads many people to believe ...

On Sukkot, we eat and drink, study and rejoice, and some even sleep in the Sukkah. There is also the commandment of the blessing of the Four Species, which is done on all days of Sukkot, with the exception of Shabbat. Kiddush for the two nights ...

Laws related to Yom Kippur It is customary to perform caparot – the slaughter of a rooster for a man and a hen for a woman – on the 9th of Tishrei at dawn by a qualified shochet. It is also possible to fulfill this custom with money, by donating ...

On the night of Rosh Hashanah, after performing the berachah and drinking the wine, all those present wash their hands and recite the blessing that you commanded us to wash our hands and make bread arise from the earth. BARUCH ATÁ ADO-NAI ELO-HENU MELECH HAOLAM ASHER KIDESHANU BEMI ...

Besides Yom Kippur, Tisha B'Av is the only day when we Jews fast for an entire day. On Tisha B'Av, we are not allowed to eat; we cannot even drink water. We are also forbidden from bathing, wearing leather shoes, or having marital relations. ...

Laws and Customs Tikun Leil Shavuot - Night of Vigilance and Study - On the first night of Shavuot, this year on Thursday, June 5st, it is customary to hold an all-night vigil dedicated to Torah study in synagogues. Kabbalah emphasizes...