Tag: Jewish Holidays
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On Sukkot, we take the arba minim — the lulav, etrog, hadasim, and aravot, and hold them together. Each one represents a different kind of Jew. Some are full of Torah and mitzvot, some are still growing. But the mitzvah isn’t done with one — it only counts when they’re united. That’s the message of…
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After weeks of inner growth from Elul through Yom Kippur, we arrive at Sukkot — when everything spiritual becomes real. On Rosh Hashanah we crowned Hashem as King. On Yom Kippur we were purified. And on Sukkot, we live that connection through emunah — stepping out of our solid homes into Hashem’s shade, trusting His…
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Struggling to Feel Growing up, I always had a hard time connecting to the Three Weeks, the Nine Days, and especially Tisha B’Av. The mourning. The restrictions. The heaviness. I tried to feel something — but couldn’t. Part of it was that I didn’t fully understand what we were mourning. I mean, I grew up…
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We don’t usually say this out loud, but we all feel it:We want to enjoy life. To wake up with excitement. To move through the day with clarity, purpose, and peace of mind. But here’s the question nobody asks: What if the most enjoyable life isn’t found on a beach or in a bank account…
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We Will Sing Again Shirat HaYam is not just a memory. It’s a preview. The song we read this Shabbat—Az Yashir Moshe—was the song of a nation who had just been saved. But if you look closely, it’s written in the future tense: “Then Moshe will sing.” Why? Because that song isn’t finished. That clarity,…
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This week’s parsha, Tzav, opens with a striking image:“Aish tamid tukad al haMizbeach, lo tichbeh” — A constant fire shall burn upon the altar; it shall never go out. Even though a miraculous fire came down from Heaven, the Kohanim still had to place wood on it every single morning. Why? Because that’s our avodah.…
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Most of us aren’t being chased by taskmasters or whipped into labor. But the truth is—we’re still enslaved. Not physically. Mentally. We live with chains you can’t see: fear of failure, low self-worth, and the inner voice that whispers: “You can’t.” “You shouldn’t.” “You’re not enough.” This isn’t just psychology—it’s Mitzrayim. The Hebrew word Mitzrayim comes from meitzar—a…
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The other day, my three-year-old walked into the house like a king returning to his palace. He threw down his bag, kicked off his shoes, and marched straight to his toys without a second thought. It struck me—he had absolute trust that everything he needed would be taken care of. Rent? Electricity? Water? Those concerns…
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Chanuka always seems to fly by, doesn’t it? One moment, we’re excitedly setting up our menorahs and spinning dreidels, and the next, we’re lighting the last candle and realizing it’s all coming to an end. It was fun while it lasted—the lights, the songs, the donuts—but there’s so much more to Chanuka than the celebration…
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Why Do We Say Vidui on Erev Yom Kippur? Something about Erev Yom Kippur seems really out of place. Let me explain. Over Yom Kippur, we said vidui, the confession of sins, nine times. But what seems out of place is that one of those times is during Mincha before we eat our final meal…
