God’s Secret Things
In less than a week, Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, will be celebrated. While New Year’s celebrations are nice (the Jewish calendar actually has four of them!), Rosh Hashana’s…
Birthday of the World
According to Jewish tradition, this Sunday night, when Rosh Hashana begins, the world will be 5776 years old. This claim easily stirs up sharp debate. How, it is often asked, can one say…
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 literally means "Head of the Year" because Rosh…
Sweet As Honey
According to Wikipedia, in 1989, the month of September was declared National Honey Month because it is the month when the honey collection season ends for most beekeepers in the United…
Day of the Dove
In modern Western culture, the dove is commonly used to symbolize peace. The positive associations attached to the dove, however, are not new. This particular bird has been set apart from…
Forgiveness: An Elul Treat
Many feel that the three hardest words to say are: “I am sorry.” Yet, we all know how very important those words are. Indeed, saying one is sorry, or at least admitting one’s guilt, is a…
Celebrating the Groom
A great deal of the wedding seems to focus on the bride. In fact, it is not uncommon to hear of a wedding referred to as “her day.” In Jewish tradition, however, there is one…
Easing Childbirth
There are few moments in life as full of anticipation and hope as that of bringing new life into the world. The excitement of the nine months of pregnancy can also be laced with anxiety.…
The Nations of Canaan
The people who lived in the Land of Canaan are often referred to as the Canaanites, but this was actually only the name of one of several nations of Canaan. Today’s Jewish Treat presents…
The Tragic Story of Bar Kamtza
According to Jewish tradition, God allowed the Second Temple to be destroyed because of Sinat Chinam, senseless hatred between the people of Israel who were unable to get along with one…