Essays
Yom Kippur: Why the High Priest Went Home
Seven days before Yom Kippur, the Kohen Gadol (“High Priest”) is removed from his home to his chamber in the Holy Temple. Learn about the significance of home in relation to Yom Kippur.
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Kaparot
Kaparot is one of the most solemn observances of the Days of Awe. In the early morning hours of the day before Yom Kippur, we take a rooster (for a man) or a hen (for a woman) and, circling it above our heads, say three times: “This is my exchange, this is in my stead, this is my kaparah (atonement); this rooster shall go to its death, and I shall go on to good, long life and peace.”
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Equal Housing: Unity Of Sukkot
The four species of Sukkot represent each type of Jew unified as one, and implies a greater harmony among all Jewish people.
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The Seasoned Life: The Etrog
The etrog represents the righteous who remain constant from year to year and are not effected by their surroundings.
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The Four Species: Four Mysteries of King Solomon Explained
“And you shall take for yourselves… the splendid fruit of a tree, fronds of dates, the branch of a thick-leafed tree and aravot of the river.” King Solomon, the Midrash tells us, was mystified by this verse.
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Chanah’s Prayer
Chana’s prayer taught us how to pray on Rosh Hashanah and throughout the year. This essay is a deep look into Chana’s prayer as the source of Jewish prayer as we understand it.
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The Coronation
The cry of the shofar resounds: an utterly simple cry, reflecting not the fear of the subject, not the love of the child or the sophistication of the student’s understanding, but the simple trumpet blast of a people’s coronation of their king.
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Rosh Hashanah Stories
Four Hasidic stories. Rosh Hashanah stories from Hasidic masters including the Baal Shem Tov and Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev.
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Hemshech Samech Vov
Hemshech Samech Vov is a series of 61 discourses by The Rebbe Rashab. In this introduction, Rabbi Simon Jacobson explains the concepts of chassidus used by The Rebbe Rashab in Hemshech Samech Vov.
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Back to Sinai: A New Solution to the Middle East
The relevance of this narrative today is powerfully evident. We are witnessing today the struggle of nations stemming from Esau – the Roman/Christian/Western world, and Ishmael – the Arab/Muslim world, and their confrontations are deeply related to Israel and the Jews, children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This struggle can truly be understood only by retracing its roots.
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