Patrilineal Descent

The Reform movement's watershed resolution said you do not need a Jewish mother to be considered a member of the Tribe.

By Dana Evan Kaplan

On March 15, 1983, the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), the Reform movement’s body of rabbis, passed a resolution prepared by a committee on patrilineal descent entitled “The Status of Children of Mixed Marriages.” The CCAR resolution stated that “we face, today, an unprecedented situation due to the changed conditions in which decisions concerning the status of the child of a mixed marriage are to be made.” Contrary to nearly 2,000 years of tradition, the resolution accepted the Jewish identity of children of Jewish fathers and non-Jewish mothers under certain circumstances.

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A Second Chance for a Jewish Education

By Olivia Gordon for Tablet Magazine

As a child, I hated the classes at my synagogue’s cheder. Now I send my own children there—and I’m falling in love with Sunday school for the first time.

When I first walked my children into Sunday classes at the synagogue in Oxford, England, it felt like coming home after a long journey. The building had changed in the 22 years I’d been away, but the plastic curtains and utilitarian seats in the bleak, post-modern shul were still there.

I never thought I’d come back to Sunday school. Growing up, I hated cheder. Really, truly hated it. One of my clearest memories of childhood is of sitting in the classroom at the Oxford synagogue, aged 7, gazing at that plastic curtain, which separated my small group from the children a year above. “It’s 1986, and I am bored,” I imprinted on my mind, telling myself to remember this uninteresting moment for the rest of my life.

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Jewish Calendar: Solar and Lunar

MyJewishLearning Staff

How the Hebrew calendar works.

The rhythm of Jewish time is determined both by the sun and by the moon. The basic unit of time is naturally enough the day, which is a unit of time determined by the amount of sunlight reaching the earth as it rotates on its axis. In the Western world a day begins in the middle of the night and lasts until the next midnight. Since the standardization of time, days are divided into regular segments of 24 hours.

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Shavuot 101

Shavuot begins after sundown on Saturday night, June 11, 2016

 MyJewishLearning.com    

Shavuot, the “Feast of Weeks,” is celebrated seven weeks after Passover (Pesach). Since the counting of this period (sefirat ha-omer) begins on the second evening of Passover, Shavuot takes place exactly 50 days after the (first) seder. Hence, following the Greek word for “fifty,” Shavuot is also referred to sometimes as Pentecost. Although its origins are to be found in an ancient grain harvest festival, Shavuot has been identified since biblical times with the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai.

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Shavuos - The Forgotten Holiday

From BeingJewish.com

Everyone has heard of Passover. But what is Shavuos? And why have so few people heard of it? It's also in the Torah, yet it certainly does not have the eminence that Passover holds for most people. Why is it not as well known as Passover?

We all know what Passover is about. That's when we became a nation, in a sense. At any rate, that's when we became the "Nation that the Creator has taken for His very own." But what was it for? Why did the Creator choose us? What purpose did He have in mind?

Well, that's what's Shavuos is all about. While Passover is the time we became the Nation to receive a Mission, it was on Shavuos that we received that Mission.

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What Is Lag Ba'Omer

This year Lag Ba'Omer falls on May 26

By Ariela Pelaia for about.com

Lag Ba'Omer is a minor Jewish holiday that falls between the holidays of Passover and Shavuot. "Lag" is a combination of two Hebrew letters: lamed and gimmel. According to Hebrew numerology, lamed stands for the number thirty and gimmel stands for the number three. These two numbers are significant for Lag Ba'Omer because it is celebrated on the 33rd day of Counting the Omer.

The Significance of Lag Ba'Omer

Lag Ba'Omer is a joyous holiday but no one is sure what it celebrates. The Talmud mentions a plague that is thought to have killed 24,000 of Rabbi Akiva's students during one Omer, and some have suggested that Lag Ba'Omer is celebratory because the plague abated on the 33rd day. Others have suggested that Lag Ba'Omer is connected to Rabbi Akiva's support of Simon Bar Kokhba, a Jewish rebel leader against Rome. The Romans responded to Bar Kokhba's revolt with incredible brutality, but perhaps Lag Ba'Omer was a day when either the Jews won a victory or there was a brief respite from the violence.

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Counting the Omer: Week 3

By Kabbalah Centre

Week 3 - Correcting the Sefira of Tiferet

Road to Transformation:

Get out your running shoes! The Omer is a marathon of cosmic cleansing. Kabbalah teaches us that during these forty-nine days following Pesach, we need to take great care in ridding all negative influences from every area of our lives. After Pesach, we begin anticipating Shavuot, the next holiday and in essence the conclusion of Pesach. Pesach was a free connection. The Omer is the work we do to earn the Light of Pesach and Shavuot. We cleanse ourselves by counting the days of the Omer until Shavuot's arrival. The Omer is counted from the second night of Pesach through the night before Shavuot. It is best to count the Omer at nightfall; however, one may count at any time throughout the night.

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18 Ways Israel is Changing the World

A DIY exhibition from ISRAEL21c

Israel Independence Day is celebrated on May 13

As a special Independence Day gift to our readers, ISRAEL21c has put together a unique online exhibition called 18 Ways Israel is Changing the World, which you can stage anywhere and at any time of the year.

The gorgeous exhibition, which includes 18 full-color images, is easy to use. You can download, print and post it in any location, either displayed onsite or online. You may have the images enlarged on foam core board for display on easels or in display cases. Or simply present it online using a tablet or computer – it’s great for a continuous video loop.

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Yom HaShoah in the United States

From timeanddate.com

Yom HaShoah 2016 - Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Many people in the United States observe Yom Hashoah, which is also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day. It commemorates the lives and heroism of Jewish people who died in the Holocaust between 1933 and 1945.

What Do People Do?
Many people in the United States, including those with Jewish ancestry or connections, observe Yom Hashoah on the 27th day of the month of Nisan. Many Jewish communities hold commemorative ceremonies or events to remember Holocaust victims who died during World War II. Activities may include lighting memorial candles and reciting the Kaddish, which is a prayer for the departed.

The Masorti (Conservative Judaism) movement in Israel created Megillat HaShoah, a scroll and liturgical reading for Yom HaShoah. This is a joint effort between Jewish leaders in Israel, the United States and Canada. Rituals associated with Yom Hashoah are still being made and suggested. These rituals vary among synagogues in North America.

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Chol Hamoed - The Intermediary Days

Jewish Treats

Most holidays in western society last for a single day, which is often extended into the weekend. And while most people are aware that Chanukah is celebrated for 8 days, many people are surprised to learn that both Sukkot and Passover are also week-long holidays. The Torah explicitly states (in Leviticus 23) that these two holidays shall be observed for seven days. (Note: The holiday[s] following Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, are independent of Sukkot.)

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Do We Still Need an Orange on the Seder Plate?

By Rabbi Stephen Lewis Fuchs for ReformJudaism.org


Passover will soon be here, and sociologists tell us that more Jews will participate in some form of Passover seder than will participate in any other religious event during the year.

The seder is the most successful pedagogical tool in Jewish history, largely because it stimulates all of our senses: sight, touch, taste, sound, and smell.

In addition to the traditional symbols, many families and communities will include an orange on their seder plates.

The most prominent myth behind this custom is that, years ago, a man confronted Professor Susannah Heschel and told her, “The idea of women rabbis makes as much sense as an orange on a seder plate."

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Passover is just about here, check out our Passover Holiday Spotlight Kit

Must-Know Passover Terms

Key words and phrases for Passover.

By MJL Staff

Afikoman—From a Greek word meaning “dessert.” A piece of matzah that is hidden during the course of the seder, found after dinner, and eaten as dessert at the end of the seder meal.

Arba Kosot — Hebrew for “four cups.” In this case, it refers to the four cups of wine drunk at the Passover seder.

Barekh— The 12th step of the Passover seder, in which birkat hamazon, the grace after meals is said.

Beitzah — Hebrew for “egg.” A roasted or hard-boiled egg is placed on the seder plate to symbolize rebirth.

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Elijah's Favorite Seder

A great Rabbi finds out that Elijah liked best the simple Seder of a poor man who captured the meaning of Pesach in one heartfelt prayer.

by Rebecca Rubinstein for aish.com

Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev, one of the great Hassidic teachers, looked forward to Seder night every year.

One year, after the Seder was over, Rabbi Levi Yitzhak went to sleep, content. He had conducted a great Seder with all his students round the table.

He fell into a deep sleep and dreamt a strange dream.

In the dream, the prophet Elijah is talking with the angels, giving them an account of the Seder he saw in Jewish homes. He describes the kids' excitement as their eyes are glued to the cup for Elijah to see if he came to visit them this year.

One of the angels asks, "But which was the most important Seder that you visited? Was it Rabbi Levi Yitzhak's?"

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Passover 2016

By MJL Staff

Passover 2016 begins Friday evening, April 22, and ends Saturday evening, April 30.

What is Passover?

Passover is a festival of freedom.

It commemorates the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt, and their transition from slavery to freedom. The main ritual of Passover is the seder, which occurs on the first night (or, outside of Israel, the first two nights) of the holiday — a festive meal that involves the re-telling of the Exodus through stories and song and the consumption of ritual foods, including matzah and maror (bitter herbs).




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9 Things You Didn’t Know About Purim

By Julie Wiener for MyJewishLearning.com   

From Esther's vegetarianism to the Jewish leap year, things that might surprise you.

With costumes, spiels and lots of drinking, Purim, which this year starts at sundown on Wednesday, March 23, is one of Judaism’s most raucous holidays. You might know about beautiful Esther thwarting evil Haman’s plans, the custom of getting drunk and what hamantaschen are. But we’re guessing there’s a few things about this holiday that might surprise you.

1. Esther was a vegetarian (or at least a flexitarian).
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QUIZ: What Kind of Hamantaschen Are You?

 Holly Lebowitz Rossi for Kveller

Purim is almost here, which means it’s time for hamantaschen. From dulce de leche, poppy, jam, and nutella–there’s an option for everyone! Which one are you? Find out by taking the quiz below:


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Haman in the Garden of Eden

From AlephBeta

Purim: Redeeming the Sin of Eden

The holiday of Purim seems like a kids’ holiday, full of costumes, fun, and a fairy-tale like story. In this series, Rabbi David Fohrman urges us to take a closer, more grown-up, look at the megillah - beginning with a curious connection between Haman and the Garden of Eden.

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Purim—Not Your Jewish Halloween

By Bnei Baruch Education Center

Purim is a great festival: great fear of annihilation, at first, and great joy after the salvation, at last. The celebrations on this festival are exceptionally great, given the commandment to consume alcohol to the point of inability to tell between wicked Haman and righteous Mordechai.

Purim is also a festival of symbolism. The primary message of the festival is that in the face of the purest evil, portrayed by Haman, even the epitome of good, portrayed by Mordechai, is helpless. The only thing that helps against pure evil is unity. When Mordechai pleads with Esther to beg for the king’s mercy, she says that even she, the queen, cannot save them, unless he, Mordechai, gathers all the Jews and they fast and pray for her. Then, when they are united once again, she endeavors and succeeds.

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The Purim Story

Kveller Staff

Many years ago, the king of Persia was named Ahashverosh. One day he decided to have a feast with all of his friends and advisors. He decided that his queen, Vashti, should come and dance at the feast. Queen Vashti refused. She didn’t want to dance in front of all of the king’s men, or appear before them to demonstrate her beauty. The king was furious and banished Vashti.

As time passed, the king wanted a new queen. He held a beauty contest and invited all of the eligible girls in the kingdom. The winner was Esther, and she became the queen. Esther was Jewish, but her uncle Mordechai, who raised her, warned that it could be dangerous to reveal her religion to the king. In fact, he told her not to tell anyone in the palace that she was Jewish.

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Jewish Holidays & Celebrations Explained

Jewish holidays are full of tradition and rich in history. Some focus on solemn occasions while others are lively and festive. Read on to learn why each holiday is celebrated.

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QUIZ: What Jewish Holiday Are You?

By Holly Lebowitz Rossi for Kveller

From Yom Kippur to Rosh Hashanah to Passover, there’s tons of Jewish holidays out there to choose from. Which one are you most like? Take the quiz to find out!

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The Gentiles Who Act Like Jews

With no Jewish holidays coming up immediately, we bring you some articles of interest. Enjoy.

By Ilana E. Strauss for Tablet Magazine   

The Gentiles Who Act Like Jews

Who are these non-Jews practicing Orthodox Judaism?

A man with a brambly salt-and-pepper beard, a kippah on his head, and circular glasses balanced on his nose stood behind a podium, lecturing on the parasha, the weekly Torah reading, in a southern twang. He was not a rabbi. He wasn’t even Jewish.

In front of him, an audience of about 20 sat in rows, listening attentively. Some wore head wraps and dresses suitable for a wedding, and others looked like they came in off the street. One man boasted neck tattoos and a gauge earring.

I was the only Jew in the room, but everyone else was here to study Torah. I was here to study them.

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It's Tu Bishvat. Plant a Tree in Israel

The Jewish National Fund, JNF, is still going strong and has many options for tree planting.

Honi the Circle Maker: A Tale for Tu biShvat

Tu biShvat begins at sundown this Sunday evening and is celebrated Monday January 25

 

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Tu Bishvat

From Kveller Staff

Tu Bishvat is a minor holiday that is sometimes called the New Year for Trees. It comes at the very beginning of spring, when the rains are plentiful and the trees blossom in Israel (though in some parts of America there’s still snow on the ground at this “springtime” celebration). The words “Tu Bishvat” literally mean the 15th of the month of Shvat.

Today, many people mark this holiday by planting saplings and participating in a meal that evokes the Passover seder, where fruits, nuts, and wine or grape juice are on the menu.

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Ivanka Trump Talks Being a Mogul, a Mother, and More

With no Jewish holidays coming up immediately, we bring you profiles of some well known and some not so well known Jews. Enjoy.

By Tim Teeman for Town & Country Magazine

With the presidential election entering its next phase, Ivanka Trump has turned into one of her father's greatest assets. Though she has tried to stay on the sidelines, her emergence as a modern-day superwoman—and soon-to-be mother of three—gives his detractors the reassurance that he has gotten at least one thing supremely right.

Absolutely the daughter of her father—for whom the man is the brand and the brand the man—Ivanka Trump arrives on the 25th floor of the Trump Tower in midtown Manhattan wearing a dress and shoes from her eponymous label.

The frock, like its crisply poised wearer, is beautiful: black, fitted elegantly around her growing baby bump, with artful patterning. The shoes, black stilettos adorned with conservative tassels, are sex and business in a single vessel. Later an assistant will bring Trump her handbag, also from her label: black again, with a splash of leopard print.

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AMICHAI: THE TOLERANT IRONY OF ISRAEL’S NATIONAL POET

With no Jewish holidays coming up immediately, we bring you profiles of some well known and some not so well known Jews. Enjoy.

A ‘wonderful’ new collection of Yehuda Amichai’s verse shows the poet’s profound resilience—and the weight of his ghosts

By Adam Kirsch for Tablet Magazine   

In 1944, Ludwig Pfeuffer was a 20-year-old soldier stationed in Egypt with the British Army. Born in Wurzburg, Germany, to a family that had lived there for centuries, the young Ludwig had fled the Third Reich with his parents in 1935 and made a new life in British-controlled Palestine. The British were not exactly popular with the Jews of Palestine—the government had limited Jewish immigration at a crucial moment and continually put off the creation of a Jewish state. But during World War II, with Nazi armies in North Africa, many young Jews had enlisted in the British forces as a matter of self-defense. By the later stages of the war, however, the Germans had been expelled from Africa, and there was little for Pfeuffer and his fellow Jewish soldiers to do in Egypt—except to smuggle weapons and immigrants to Palestine, in preparation for the postwar struggle everyone knew was coming.

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