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Today is Tu B’Av

Today is Tu B’Av, the 15th of Av. Tu B’Av is not the most well-known holiday, putting it lightly. The Shulchan Aruch doesn’t even mention its history or customs except for the adjustments to the daily prayers for a holiday. On the other hand, the Talmud considers this the most important festival of the year, […]

Today is Tisha B’Av

No official post today, as it is a holiday. Call your mom. Love your neighbor. Love your enemy.

The Destruction of the Beis HaMikdash Continues Today

Starting tonight through Wednesday morning, we mourn the destruction of our Temples. As some basic Jewish education, what caused the destruction of the First and Second Temples? There’s the “easy” response:  The First was destroyed by the Babylonians. The Second by the Romans. However, the Sages in the Talmud have an additional explanation, in order […]

Tisha B’Av in a Nutshell

This year, Tisha B’Av is sunset of August 8, 2011, until sunset of August 9.  Tisha B’Av is a 25 hour fast day (sunset to sunset), but there are other prohibitions on Tisha B’Av that also apply to Yom Kippur: No washing No bathing No shaving No wearing cosmetics No brushing your teeth. Eww. No […]

A World Without Music

There are various times during the year when orthodox Jews don’t listen to music. Most of the time, it’s a practical matter. For instance, on Shabbat and yontif, my iPod is quiet simply because I don’t manipulate electricity. Other times, it’s a matter of custom (which some hold to be so pervasive as to qualify […]

The Nine Days in a Nutshell

Tomorrow night is Rosh Chodesh Av, the first day of the month of Av. It also begins the period known as the Nine Days, a time of great sadness for the Jewish people. Ashkenazim have been observing mourning practices since the 17th of Tammuz, but starting tomorrow, their mourning practices intensify and Sephardim begin observing […]

The Three Weeks in a Nutshell

Today begins the period known as the Three Weeks. At the end of this period is the Nine Days and then Tisha B’Av. During the Three Weeks, some of the laws of mourning apply, and the mourning observances are intensified during the Nine Days. In short, you “decrease” your joy. Some say that because of […]

Tomorrow Is the Fast of the 17th of Tammuz

Tomorrow is a fast day! Sunrise to sunset only. If you are uncertain how the laws of fasting apply or how they apply to you, ask your rabbi! Remember that if you are halachically unable to fast because of your health, it is a mitzvah for you to eat! The Fast of the 17th of […]

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Filed Under: holidays, Israel

Jewish Resources Are Getting Weirder and Weirder

While researching yesterday’s post for conversion gift ideas, I came across one of the strangest bits of Judaica I’ve ever seen: The Mitzvah Measure. It is “[a] tape measure that contains measurements in accordance with Jewish Law such as tefachim, amot, minimum sizes for lulavim, etc.” I thought these measurements were hotly contested by the rabbonim; […]