I wasn’t sure if I should break into my queue. Or, when I should break into my queue. Because I wasn’t even sure where I should begin…
Continue reading Yeah. You knew I’d discuss this.
Hmm. What to discuss today? Should I tell you about my friends? Or my close relatives? Or my children and grandchildren?
Continue reading The Ninth of the Ninth Month
So, it’s Chanuka.
There are plenty of stories about the holiday in the Talmud- but those were codified 400, even 500 years after the event.. We Jews have decided that the Book of Makabi (the second book is not contemporary) should not be part of our canon, but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn from contemporary accounts of the event.
Continue reading The First of Eight!
I had mentioned earlier (when discussing the election of Joe Biden to the presidency) that Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks (A”H) succumbed to cancer a few weeks ago. And, Rav Sacks was a towering figure- not just in Judaism, but to folks around the world. (Here’s a link to the Erasmus Lecture he provided the First Things organization.) Until his death, he had a slot on BBC radio, was a commentator on British TV, and wrote a column for the Times of London. Besides serving as the Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom, until he retired in 2013 (after 22 years), during which tenure he was knighted. Then he taught at Yeshiva University and New York University.
Continue reading Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
Yes, I know today is only the 29th day of April. Which means there’s two more days until the 1rst of May.
Continue reading Mayday! Mayday!
Our country is changing.
Normally, we would say that change is good. But, the change that is coming over America is anything but. I admit that as a Jewish individual, I may feel this change more prominently than most. Why would that be true?
Continue reading We hold these truths to be self-evident…
Today is one of those days that I miss my kids. I really miss my kids. Because today was the day we’d take off and have a picnic. On the National Mall. At Mount Vernon. At McIntyre Park. Because today is Lag B’Omer. A pretty functional name for the holiday, since it means the 33rd day. The 33rd day between Pesach and Shvuot.
Tonight is the start of a most unusual holiday. This is the last one that will preclude me from work for a while- all the way until April! (Now, this is really good news. Because, I can make some money!) The Tora gives us very little clue about this holiday and its requirements. It’s simply called the Eighth Day of Assembly (Shmini Atzeret).
Continue reading The 8th Day of Celebration
Yes, it’s another holiday. Among my favorites. For the past two days, I’ve been cleaning my backyard, moving all the furniture around, and building a hut. Because Sunday night starts Sukot- the full moon holiday of Tishrei. (By the way- there will be an eclipse that accompanies this moon, as is often the case with this holiday!)
Continue reading Construction Zone
