Je-wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
At this time of year, many Jews struggle with finding the right message to teach our kids about Christmas. Even something as harmless as wishing neighbors and coworkers a ‘Merry Christmas’ makes some Jews uncomfortable. Raising proud Jewish children in America is no easy task as more as more Jews abandon the faith and assimilate. […]
Kislev: A Time for Leaders
In the last 3 months, starting with the tribe of Gad back in Elul, we have been learning much about how to prepare for battle, be valiant warriors, and finish well. Just like the tribes of Gad, Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, Benjamin was also known for his skill in battle. In fact, the Benjamites were […]
The Miraculous Rebirth of Israel and the Miracles of Hanukkah
Much more than merely spinning tops and eating potato pancakes, the holiday of Hanukkah marks one of the greatest tales of miraculous salvation for the Jewish people. In truth, Jewish tradition celebrates two miracles on this day and in order to understand these miracles, we must step back into the historical context, the second century BCE. […]
Video: All About Miracles
It’s all about the miracle! Get ready for Hanukkah with this amazing, upbeat song.
Make your Holidays Blue and White by Supporting Artists from the Land of Israel
During the festive season it’s easy to get caught up with all the hyper-commercialism and forget the true meaning of the holidays. Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple after the Maccabees’ victory over the Greeks. The Greeks had ransacked the Jews’ most sacred place and filled it with idols and frivolity. The Temple was […]
Saying Goodbye to Ezra at the Airport
It is not uncommon to find people saying farewell in an airport. People hug each other. Sometimes you will see people wiping away tears. Saturday night was totally different. A thousand people came to the airport to say goodbye to Ezra Schwartz, who was being flown back for burial in his hometown of Boston. People held […]
When Terror Hits Close to Home
Whenever, wherever terror strikes, it is painful. We hurt for victims in Paris as well as Jerusalem, and the steady stream of attacks reported is a constant reminder of our vulnerability. But Thursday’s attack in Gush Etzion hit just a little bit closer to home when a colleague of mine was murdered. I first met […]
Bring Musical Joy into Your Life with Yerachmiel Ziegler
If you have ever listened to any Jewish music in the past nearly three decades, you have most probably heard the melodious voice and tunes of Yerachmiel Ziegler. Yerachmiel’s colorful background includes innumerable performances with top children and adult Jewish musicians, as well as participation in over a hundred commercial records. “From a young age […]
Meet the Beasts of the Bible
What does the Bible say about cheetahs, hyenas, and giraffes? Why does the prophet Daniel portray various nations as winged lions and three-headed leopards? What is the “unicorn” mentioned in the King James Bible? Rabbi Natan Slifkin, also known as the “Zoo Rabbi,” has spent twenty years researching, teaching and writing about Biblical zoology. In […]
Bringing in the Hebrew Month of Kislev
The Hebrew month of Kislev is the third month in the calendar, counting from the Jewish new year of Rosh Hashana. It marks the beginning of the winter and always falls out during the darkest days of the year. It is therefore a fitting time to celebrate the Jewish holiday of lights, Chanukkah. Beginning on […]