You’ve heard it before (and maybe you’ve even said it), “Shabbat is so restrictive. All you can do is go to synagogue.” And reenforcing that perception, a Google search looking for activities allowed on Shabbat only returns pages and pages of things you can’t do on Shabbat. For someone new to Shabbat, you’re left wading […]
What CAN I do on Shabbat? Shabbos-Friendly Activities Read Post »
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,
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
Tisha B’Av in a Nutshell Read Post »
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 Nine Days in a Nutshell Read Post »
As the Nine Days approaches, you should begin preparing your clothing. During this period, we do not wear “freshly laundered clothing” and don’t do laundry. So what will you wear without looking and smelling like a crazy homeless guy? It’s easy. A) You may wear freshly-laundered (aka, clean) underwear and socks (and some say undershirts)
How to Wear “Clean” Clothing During the Nine Days Read Post »
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
The Three Weeks in a Nutshell Read Post »
The title of this post may have confused you. Sure, there’s kosher meat and non-kosher meat. But there’s more. There are grades of kosher meat! And not in the USDA Grade A sense. Kosher Meat: Kosher meats are a) kosher animals b) slaughtered according to Jewish law. Certain internal injuries can render that meat un-kosher.
Adventures in Semantics: Types of Kosher Meat Read Post »
The Talmudic story of the four who entered Pardes sticks with me. It’s definitely in my Jewish Story Top 10. I couldn’t tell you why. Maybe it shows I’ve got a 1/4 chance of making it out of this conversion alive and mentally/emotionally/religiously intact. Four men entered pardes: Ben Azzai, Ben Zoma, Acher [“the other
Interpretation of the Torah, Pardes, and Kabbalah Read Post »
I don’t know how it happens, but the phrase “beged ish” pops up in the most random of contexts. Perhaps that says something about the people saying it, but I’ll leave that to you. Beged ish is Hebrew for “a man’s garment.” In short, men and women aren’t supposed to wear the clothing of the
Phrase of the Day: Beged Ish Read Post »
When you’re new to converting, it can be hardest to figure out why everyone freaks out when you get a little too close to the wine bottle. What’s that about? (And later on, you get freaked out by how many people don’t know these laws and try to hand you the wine bottle!) Let’s discuss.
Non-Mevushal Wine Survival Tips Read Post »