Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah

Tonight starts the holiday of Shemini Atzeret, literally the "Gathering of the Eighth," a connected, yet independent, holiday that immediately follows Sukkot. During the seven days of…

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Simchat Torah 5784-2023

“The Evolving Holiday” (updated and revised from Simchat Torah 5767-2006) by, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The festival of Simchat Torah is one of the most joyous on the Jewish calendar. In…

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Symbolic Foods

Since Rosh Hashana is the Day of Judgment, it is customary to eat simanim*, foods with symbolic meanings that invoke God’s blessing. We also recite a short prayer before eating them.…

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The Five Names of Rosh Hashana

In Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashana has several names that can help us understand the importance and power of this holiday. Rosh Hashana, which begins this Friday evening, September 15th,…

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Hebrew

Hebrew Brush up on your Hebrew reading skills, learn to read and write Hebrew or simply establish a connection with Jewish…

Before Bagels On Broadway

There is no doubt that New York is home to the largest Jewish community outside of the State of Israel, with a population well over one million. But, who was New York’s first Jew? That…

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Baron Edmond James de Rothschild

Although he came from a prominent banking family and was employed in the family bank, Baron Edmond James de Rothschild, (born August 19, 1845) was best known for his love of art and his…

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Rabbi Shmuel Salant

On the 29th of Av, 1909, corresponding to August 16th, Rabbi Shmuel Salant, Jerusalem’s long-time Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi, passed away. Rabbi Shmuel was born in 1816 in Bialystok, then part…

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Fyvush

There are certain entertainers who are known by their first name, such as Matisyahu, Madonna, Cher, Eminem, etc. Others are known by their first name, despite widespread knowledge of…

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Best-Seller

For a high school dropout who failed English three times, Leon Uris had an outstanding career as a best-selling author. The Baltimore-born (August 3, 1924) Uris was the son of a Jewish…

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