Jewish Holidays

I think that we can all agree that it is been a rather difficult winter that we have experienced over the past few months. Here, in Israel, it was a winter of political disarray, Corona issues and enforced lockdowns, and the usual, somewhat depressing, factors of winter – short days and long and often lonely nights. So, the advent of spring is certainly a harbinger of better times and brighter days to come.

What do you suggest we do on Erev Pesach this year, which is on Shabbat, regarding when and what to eat?

The Jewish calendar, adding an additional month of Adar in almost every 3rd year, evolves around making sure that Pesach comes out in the spring. Most Jews are familiar with this fact, but Rav Kook explains beautifully why it's so crucial that the spring of the Jewish Nation (Pesach) must be synched with the spring of the Jewish Land (Eretz Yisrael). The class proves that the Torah was given to be observed and learned in the Land of Israel.

Everyone likes a nice intro! In fact, even our Chagim have an “intro” to set the mood for them before they begin. Pesach, I suggest, has Parshat HaChodesh. Always read before the month of Nisan. In essence, our calendar - & our history - begins again.

Imagine walking into a factory, noticing the ceiling, 25 feet overhead, lined with rows upon rows of similar-looking pipes. “How am I possibly supposed to know what goes through these pipes? How can I possibly check if they have been cleaned properly, and how can I possibly kasher them?" When we purchase products for Pesach, we look for a hechsher that we respect, and we rely on that hechsher to make sure everything is done properly.

It is known that the most important aspect of the holiday of Purim is happiness and joy – and sometimes, the very insight into Divine Providence alone is more joyous even than rescue and salvation!

The Maharal, Rav Kook and others teach of the central theme on Purim of "Overturning"= V'Nahafoch Hu", but the question is: why is this so important? The class suggests 8 reasons why this concept is what convinced Yitro to convert to Judaism, and why this "boomerang" shows not only the irony and humor of God's history, but is so basic to understanding Judaism, justice, philosophy and more.

Sometimes, alas, our enemies get it right. Haman hit the proverbial nail on the head when he described the Jews (Esther 3:8) as a "disjointed, disunified, dispersed" People.