Jewish Treats

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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Jewish Treats

Majority Rules

After the Torah was given, Moses served as the sole judge of the Jewish people until a judicial hierarchy was established at the suggestion of Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law. One judge was…

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Jewish Treats

The Final Analysis

After the soul departs, it journeys to the gates of heaven where it must present its case for entry. The Talmud (Shabbat 31a) states, “When an individual is brought before the Heavenly…

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Rosh Hashana,Weekly Message

Rosh Hashana-Nitzavim 5769-2008

"Hewers of Wood and Drawers of Water" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald Parashat Nitzavim is always read on the Shabbat before Rosh Hashana, and with good reason. It contains a host of vital…

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Yom Kippur,Weekly Message

Yom Kippur 5765-2004

"G-d's Gift to His People on Yom Kippur" by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The Torah reading scheduled for this Shabbat would normally have been V'zot Habracha--the final parasha of the Torah.…

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