"LaShannah Tovah" is the greeting common at this time of year among Jewish people everywhere. It means "A Good Year." According to the calendar of our forefathers, we have begun a new year. It has been 5773 years since HaShem created the earth, according to the reckoning of the rabbis. On the Feast of Trumpets, we celebrate Rosh Hashanah (The Head of the Year). It is on this day, according to tradition, that God fashioned man. Why does the first of Tishri mark the sixth day of creation and not the first? Because after Elohim had created the earth and all of its glory, there was still no one to proclaim Him Melech HaOlam, King of the World. Yes, the angels knew Him to be the supreme ruler, but to be crowned King of kings was the task of man. A ruler may be a despot, but the [...]
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… En el mes séptimo, en el primer día del mes, habrá un día de reposo para ti, un recuerdo con ráfagas shofar, una santa convocación. -Levítico 16:24 (Nota: cuando cualquier día de fiesta cae que señala la Biblia cae en otro dia, e...
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The Fall Feasts of Israel are coming. At sunset on Sept. 16th, 2012 Israel begins year 5773 on the Hebrew Calendar. The fall is arguably the most important time of the year in Judaism. Three of Israel’s holiest days are celebrated then, and all in the space of 15 days. They are Yom Terua...
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A shofar is an instrument made from the horn of a ram or other kosher animal. It was used in ancient Israel to announce the New Moon (Rosh Chodesh) and call people together. It was also blown on Rosh Hashanah, marking the beginning of the New Year, signifying both the need to wake up to the call to ...
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Weekly Sidra: Rosh HaShana (New Year) Torah Portion: Bereshit / Genesis 21:1 – 21:34 Maftir: Bamidbar / Numbers 29:1-29:6 Haftorah: Sh’muel / I Samuel 1:1-2:10 The year 5773 is fast approaching. The two Haftarot for Rosh Hashanah are a reflection of pain and joy.&nbs...
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Weekly Sidra: Nitzavim (Standing ones) Torah Portion: Devarim / Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20 Haftorah: Yeshayahu / Isaiah 61:10-63:9 As the high holidays approach so many thoughts swirl through my head. I have to prepare food for Rosh Hashanah, there will be fasting on Yom Kippur and ...
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Sefer Torah Information A Sefer Torah – a Torah Scroll, is the Bible, hand written on parchment [animal skin]. And it’s the most holiest of all books. Portions of the Torah are read from it weekly in the Shuls [Synygouge]. A Torah scroll containing the entire text of the Five Books of Mo...
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…In the seventh month, on the first of the month, there shall be a sabbath for you, a remembrance with shofar blasts, a holy convocation. -Leviticus 23:24 (Note: when any Bible holiday falls any day, that day becomes Shabbat / Sabbath, even if it is Tuesday). Rosh Hashanah occurs on the first ...
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Ask someone coming out of Synagogue on a Shabbat, “Do you believe in God?” and the worshipper is shocked. “What type of question is that? Of course I do!” Then ask him, “Do you consider yourself religious?” and you’ll hear “Certainly. That’s why ...
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The creation of the modern state of Israel has awakened many dormant cultural pursuits, perhaps none so dramatic as the discovery of long-lost Jews. Every decade or so, another tribe of supposed descendants of biblical Israel—marked by quirky uses of Jewish symbols, eclectic religious observan...
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Prayer, Tefilah, just talk to God. Tell the Master of the world how much you love Him, and thank Him that he is there." In the Torah, the first act of Creation was "God said, Let there be Light: and there was Light. And God saw the Light, that it was good: and God divided the Light from th...
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Weekly Sidra: Ki Tavo (When you come) Torah Portion: Devarim / Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8 Haftorah: Yeshayahu / Isaiah 60:1-60:22 The month of Elul is a time for reflection. As the last month of the year we look back on our lives. We seek to repent of any actions we have done a...
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Before I formed you in the belly I knew you, and before you came out of the womb I sanctified you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations. (Yeremiahu 1:5) A mother in a delivery with a high temperature, waits to deliver a premature baby. The doctor comes in with the grim news. In ...
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Weekly Sidra: Ki Teitzei (When you Go) Torah Portion: Devarim / Deuteronomy 21:10–25:19 Haftorah: Yeshayahu / Isaiah 54:1–54:10 I recall when my wife and I first met I couldn’t wait to see her and wanted to spend every waking minute talking with her. We w...
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From out of the sea of mitzvot it is the Shabbat that God has chosen to elevate and make of supreme importance to us as a people. Of all the commands He chose the Shabbat as the sign of His covenant with us. What is the summary of His pact with us? It isn’t just acknowledging HaShem as o...
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