Jewish Holidays

When tragedy strikes, each one of us must make an accounting.

If you fly on a fast day, you’ll skip over a few time zones, and you’ll end the fast about six hours earlier than you would if you were to stay in your place. So you’ll get to break your fast before you get too hungry! is that OK?

A hallmark of all repressive regimes is burning books. One of the tragedies that we mourn on the 17th of Tammuz is the burning of the Torah - the ultimate repression of the ultimate book.

Is there any way to Kosher an expensive china set? is there any chance to eat during Pesach food that was cooked in a pot that was used once for Chametz?

Our prayers place a special emphasis on the Beit HaMikdash and our anticipation of its rebuilding. Why is it that only regarding the rebuilding of the Beit HaMikdash do we ask that it happen speedily?

One may work on Rosh Ĥodesh. Ideally, though, one should not do so, as is the law on Ĥol Ha-mo’ed. The rule is that the holier the day, the more it is designated for holy endeavors, and the more one should limit his involvement in work.

The Torah lists Rosh Ĥodesh together with all the other festivals on which we bring Musafim (additional offerings) in honor of the day’s sanctity.

Rosh Hodesh is one of the holidays on which it is appropriate to rejoice. However, there is no explicit commandment to rejoice on Rosh Ĥodesh by conducting festive meals.

When a month is incomplete (29 days), the following Rosh Ĥodesh is observed for one day. When it is full (thirty days), the following Rosh Ĥodesh lasts two days: the thirtieth day of the previous month and the first day of the next month.