Hanukkah (Hebrew: חנוכה‎, alt. Chanukah), also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew [...]

After mastering reading in first grade, the Israeli child is ready to read the Torah in its own language. The second graders go through an exciting process that prepares them to receive the Torah. The peak of this process is a big ceremony in which they receive the book of Genesis.
My daughter Daphna just received [...]

יוֹם כִּפּוּר - זִכְרוֹנוֹת יַלְדוּת
The Synagogue – בֵּית הַכְּנֶסֶת
When I grew up, my next-door neighbor was the Central Synagogue of Mount Carmel (בֵּית הַכְּנֶסֶת הַמֶּרְכָּזִי בְּהַר הַכַּרְמֶל).  It gave a special atmosphere of holiness and respect, especially during Shabat and the Holidays. Although I grew up in a secular home, my mother used to bless [...]

Shlomo Gronich – Journey to the Sources
 
שְׁלֹמֹה גְּרוּנִיך - מַסָּע אֶל הַמְּקוֹרוֹת
Last week I stepped into a performing hall in Ra’anana to watch one of the best Israeli musicians – Shlomo Gronich. This outstanding and unique composer and performer created a very special journey to the Jewish Sources. He composed biblical texts and prayers in [...]