Jewish Treats

No Stumbling Blocks Please

In honor of World Blindness Awareness Month, Jewish Treats explores the Torah admonition and prohibition, “Do not put a stumbling block before the blind” (Leviticus 19:14). On the…

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Jewish Treats

Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah

The holiday of Shemini Atzeret, literally the “Gathering of the Eighth,” is a connected, yet independent holiday that immediately follows Sukkot, which begins tonight. During the seven…

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Jewish Treats

Chag Sameach

NJOP and Jewish Treats wish you and yours a hearty Chag Sameach (Happy Holiday!), as we celebrate the joyous holidays of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. The upcoming joyous festival of…

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Jewish Treats

The Great Hoshana

One of the names that Rosh Hashana is known by is Yom Hadin, the Day of Judgment, on which God judges every person. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the day on which God finalizes His…

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Bereshith,Weekly Message

Bereshith 5785-2024

“P’roo Ur’voo--Jewish Attitudes Toward Procreation” (updated and revised from Bereshith-Simchat Torah 5765-2004) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald For some parents, the greatest gift in life…

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Jewish Treats

Rejoicing For The World

Among the unique rituals performed on the holiday of Sukkot were the additional offerings that were sacrificed in the ancient Temple. On the first day of the holiday, 13 young bulls were…

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Jewish Treats

Everyone Does the Wave

One of the main mitzvot of the holiday of Sukkot is the waving of the Four Species: citron, palm branch, myrtle and willow. Trying to understand this mitzvah metaphorically, our sages…

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Jewish Treats

Joined Together as One

Recognize that the significance of picking up the Four Species together at once represents the symbolic joining together of all Jews regardless of background and level of prior Jewish…

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Jewish Treats

Ushpeezin

During the festival of Sukkot, the sukkah is intended to be our home. For example, since dining normally takes place in the house, on Sukkot, dining takes place in the sukkah. Because the…

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Sukkot,Weekly Message

Sukkot 5785-2024

“Sukkot - The Festival of Joy” (updated and revised from Sukkot I 5767-2006) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The festival of Sukkot is regarded as the most joyous of all the Jewish holidays.…

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