Home - Building a Jewish Life

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.

What to Expect at the Seder Tonight and Tomorrow Night

Tonight is the first seder! If all goes as planned, you’re going to have a great time! And if not, ur doin it wrong. (If you don’t know this internet meme, check out this, this, and this. All are “safe for work,” assuming you’re supposed to be on the internet at all!) In all seriousness, […]

Kitteh Joos No Can Haz Cheezburgers

For your Pesach enjoyment, the LOLcat Passover Story. If you don’t already know the LOLcats, they are definitely a guilty pleasure of mine! (And there is a project to translate the entire Christian Bible-which means the “Old Testament” too!-into “lolspeak.” It’s called the LOLcat Bible Translation Project.)

Halacha in a Nutshell: Tzedakah

Halacha in a Nutshell is a series that does not aim to actually teach you halacha. The goal is to acquaint you with the general ideas of a halachic issue so that you can follow conversations without looking like a total n00b. Just in time for the US tax deadline! Tzedakah is normally translated as […]

Thoughts on Exile as Passover Approaches

If you have a machzor set, you should review the Pesach machzor before Passover begins. It’s very helpful. I began reviewing mine, and the introduction has a very interesting description of the three reactions people have to exile (galus/galut). As exile is an important theme of Pesach, I thought I would share two discussions of […]

News: Memorial Held for Convert Who Died Fighting for the Founding of Israel

“Today” (Already Wednesday in Israel), there is a memorial for a Jewish convert who died in the service of the Irgun in 1948. The Irgun was a “rogue” paramilitary force in Israel during the days of its founding. Learn your history! And who else but the Jews would manage to not even unite for self-defense […]

So What Exactly Are Chametz, Kitniyot, and Gebruchts?

A Jew can not “possess” or benefit from chametz during the 8 days of Passover (7 in Israel), which additionally includes erev Pesach (the day when Pesach begins at sunset). Any remaining chametz must be destroyed, sold, or nullified by a certain hour on the morning of erev Pesach. The hour depends on your location, […]

The Fast of the Firstborn

Sunrise to sunset on April 18 this year is the Fast of the Firstborn. This fast commemorates the saving of the Israelite firstborns from the final plague: death of the firstborn. All the firstborns of Egypt, the children of the garbage man to the baker to Pharaoh himself, died. Only certain firstborns are required to fast. There […]

Management Update: Book List is Back

I’m not exactly sure how it happened, but I just discovered that my book list has been missing from my blog for the last few months! It should now appear on the bar at the top of the blog.