BEYOND THE BASICS: DELVING DEEPER INTO JEWISH EXPERIENCE This course is intended for graduates of “Intro” courses as well as for those who have a basic knowledge of Judaism but who wish to look more deeply into the introductory topics. These three parts roughly follow the outline of topics in Introduction to the Jewish Experience,…
Read More »Holidays
All sorts of Sukkahs!
In 2010 there was a contest called Sukkah City. People were invited to construct unusual sukkahs. Now the movie about this wild and crazy event is out; you can see a trailer here. What the contest illustrated is that sukkahs can come in all sorts of shapes, colors and materials. Even kosher ones! I thought…
Read More »DIY Judaism: Let’s Practice Sukkot
Sukkot is one of the three Jewish pilgrimage festivals—that means very important! It’s fun for kids and adults alike. Imagine building a playhouse + decorating for an autumn festival + picnicking outside — you’ve got Sukkot. How do you get started with the fun? Come to a no-experience-needed gathering to learn about Sukkot. You’ll leave…
Read More »Tisha B’Av: Mourning the Destruction of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem
When we look at this photograph of a relief on the Arch of Titus celebrating his siege and destruction of Jerusalem, that historical event can feel as old and foreign as the stones depicting it. Yet for Jews the idea of ‘never forget’ is not a new one. Jews remember the events of the past,…
Read More »Laws & Customs of Tisha B’Av
Laws and Customs of the three Weeks, the Nine Days & Tisha B’Av The 17th of Tammuz, commemorating the fall of Jerusalem prior to the destruction of the Temple, marks the beginning of a 3 week national period of mourning culminating with the 9th of Av. The five events which we mourn on the 17th…
Read More »Just for Fun – Imaginary Jewish Summer Holidays
I’ve told you before that Judaism is old, very, very old. The Jewish calendar still functions as though we are all heading out to tend the herds and the crops each summer. But a couple of writers have come up with some new (humorous) Jewish summer holidays. Here’s one for all of us with kids….
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