holidays - Building a Jewish Life

No Posts for Shavuot

This blog is shomer Shabbat and yom tov. Therefore, there are no posts on Wednesday, June 8, and Thursday, June 9.

Shavuot: The Holiday of Nerds, Vegetarians, and Converts

Shavuos is my favorite holiday. Really! I get to stay up all night learning interesting stuff and eating cheesecake. What’s not to like?? And I’m not the only convert who likes Shavuot best! Besides the nerdy, cheesy aspects of the holiday, it is also the holiday for converts. Quite honestly, I don’t understand why Shavuot […]

Sunday is Lag B’Omer!

Lag B’Omer is the 33rd day of the Omer. (My understanding is that Sephardic Jews say Lag LaOmer, which is just a different literal translation of the preposition.) Forgive me for not giving you a detailed explanation of the Omer here. This year, Lag B’Omer is Saturday, May 22, 2011, at sundown until Sunday, May […]

Convert Questions: What’s Up with Synagogue Membership Fees??

The existence of synagogue membership fees always seems to be a major shock to the new conversion candidate. Coming from mainstream American society, voluntary donations during a religious service are the expected way for the average person to donate money to a religious organization (whether the candidate was involved in Christianity or not). Now, as […]

Common Question: What Can’t You Do on Shabbat?

I get this question a lot, as I imagine many of you do. I’ve finally hit on an answer that I like to use on friends. I have yet to try this on someone I don’t know as well, but I would try it out. Question: What are you not allowed to do on Shabbat? […]

Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut

Yesterday and today are two “Jewish” holidays. I only put Jewish in quotes because the existence of the state of Israel is a hotly debated topic within Jewish groups. So yesterday was Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day. Someone in particular was on my mind: Elad ben Kochava. I went on a Birthright trip to Israel […]

Months of the Hebrew Calendar

You may be asked to memorize the months of the Hebrew calendar. I’ll admit I don’t have them memorized, at least not in order. But here’s a handy list! Keep in mind that there are four new years in the Hebrew calendar, so you can begin counting the months at multiple places. For the purpose […]

No Posts for the Last Two Days of Pesach

This blog is shomer Shabbat and yom tov. Therefore, no posts on Monday, April 25, and Tuesday, April 26.

Reflections on the first days of Pesach

Well, the first days are over. Three days without chametz, and I haven’t killed anyone yet! However, I was dismayed to realize that we’re not even halfway through Pesach yet… My only good joke so far for the yontif: Person 1: “The bread of affliction just afflicts you with constipation.” Me: “Maybe this is to […]

No Posts for the First Two Days of Pesach

This blog is shomer Shabbat and yom tov too! Therefore, no posts on Tuesday, April 20, and Wednesday, April 21. I’ll post another reminder before the last two days of Pesach, which are next Monday and Tuesday.