U’Netaneh Tokef: Facing Life Honestly
Few prayers are as arresting as U’Netaneh Tokef. Its opening words, “Let us proclaim the sacred power of this day”—tell us that Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are not […]
Why We Read Genesis 21 & 22 on Rosh Hashanah
On Rosh Hashanah, we read two of the most powerful and challenging stories in the Torah: the birth of Isaac in Genesis 21 and the binding of Isaac (the […]
Why Do We Eat Dairy Foods on Shavuot?
The custom to eat dairy on Shavuot is widely observed, but it is rooted in serious halakhic and symbolic ideas, not just in our love of cheesecake. The classic halakhic […]
Before Ha Lachma Anya: The Journey Into Passover
If Passover itself is built on the number four, then the weeks leading up to it are built on lists. Shopping lists, cleaning lists, guest lists, menus scribbled in […]
The Evolution of Passover and the Haggadah
Passover is a holiday centered around the number four. Four cups of wine, four questions, four sons, and more. The number four appears repeatedly in the Haggadah. Because of […]