Monthly Archives: September 2018
Obtaining The Blessing – Vezot Habracha
The final Torah Portion of the yearly Jewish cycle of reading through the Torah is called “וזאת הברכה” – “ve’zot ha’bracha” – “And this is the blessing…” (Deut. 33:1). Since it is the final reading of the Torah, it is not read according to the regular Sabbath reading cycle, but rather, it is read on a […]
Continue readingThe Eighth Day & Simchat Torah – Shemini Atzeret
The festival of Sukkot comes to an end on the seventh day, “Hoshanah Rabba,” or “The Great Salvation,” the greatest day of the feast (Friday, Oct. 9, 2020). Then there is The Eighth Day (Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020). The Eighth Day, counting from the first day of Sukkot, is considered a special celebration day of its own. It […]
Continue readingYom Kippur & The Days of Awe
There is a period of ten days between Rosh HaShanah (The Feast of Trumpets) and Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement) which are called the “Days of Awe.” The Sabbath day which falls during this ten-day period is called “The Sabbath of Returning” or “The Sabbath of Repentance.” This year, “The Sabbath of Returning” will fall […]
Continue readingSukkot – The Reason For Our Joy!
The Feast of Sukkot is commonly known in English as “The Feast of Booths” or “Tabernacles.” The Hebrew word “סוכות” – “sukkot” is the plural form of the word “סוכה” – “sukkah,” which simply means a tabernacle, a booth, or a temporary shelter. The Feast of Sukkot is first and foremost a festival of rejoicing (Lev. 23:40 & Deut. 16:14-15). […]
Continue readingRosh HaShanah! – Feast of Trumpets
“Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day. For it is a statute for Israel, An ordinance of the God of Jacob.” Psalm 81:3-4 There are seven main holidays (appointed times) on the biblical calendar: Passover, First Fruits, the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), Rosh HaShanah (The Feast of […]
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