Purim 5785
Our Sages have revealed a deep and profound insight into human nature: אדם נפעל כפי פעולותיו A person’s character is shaped by his actions This means that a person’s day-to-day deeds profoundly affect his character. The 13th century Sefer Hachinuch,…
The Pinch Who Stole Purim<br>Parshas Tetzaveh/Purim
Pinch never liked Purim. It was too happy of a day, and frankly, Pinch wasn’t into the whole happiness thing. Pinch hated passing playgrounds filled with kids happily climbing and swinging, he hated weddings filled with smiling dancing people, he…
Chanukah II 5785
Tonight, December 31st, the 1st day of the month (“Rosh Chodesh”) of Tevet, is the seventh night of Chanukah. Jews the world over have kindled seven candles in their menorahs to celebrate the seventh consecutive day that the one…
Chanukah 5785
Tomorrow night, we will kindle the first Chanukah candle. We celebrate the eight-day Chanukah holiday by lighting an eight-branch menorah, each branch representing one night of the holiday. By daily adding another candle, we acknowledge the miracle of the Temple…
Sukkot II 5785
As we progress through the Jewish calendar year, we enter different time zones. As we reach each new time zone, our Sages have given us a tool to take note of the fact that Hashem has granted us the gift…
Sukkot 5785
The Tur (written by R. Jacob ben Asher 1269-1343) notes in the name of his brother that the three festivals, Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot, correspond to our three forefathers, Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov: Passover corresponds to Avraham because the angels…
Yom Kippur and Sukkot: Reflection and Connection
Encounters | Mrs. Shaindel Fink