ZionJudaica.com Official Blog
Kippah: A Blessing On Your Head
Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:44:17 +0000
by Rabbi Shraga Simmons
It is perhaps the most instantly identifiable mark of a Jew. When and why do we wear a kippah?
It is perhaps the most instantly identifiable mark of a Jew.
In the Western world, it is customary to remove one’s head covering when meeting an important person. In Judaism, putting on a head covering [...]
Why Do We Wear a Kippah?
Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:13:49 +0000
By Baruch S. Davidson
Question:
Is the kippah a symbolic reminder intended to prevent assimilation, or is the kippah a biblical obligation like the tzitzit?
Answer:
The tradition to wear a kippah is not derived from any biblical passage. Rather, it is a custom which evolved as a sign of our recognition that there is Someone “above” us who [...]
Why do the Jews wear yarmulkes (kippot)?
Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:37:24 +0000
Yarmulkes (or Kippot) are head-coverings, also known as beanies. One who wears a Yarmulke is in effect saying that reality does not begin with me—there is something above, a Higher Power. Hence its name, “yarmulke,” which is a contraction of “yarei malka,” which means awe of the King. It is a symbol of humility and [...]
Tu B’Shvat - 15th Day of Shvat
Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:28:53 +0000
The 15th day of the month of Shvat marks the beginning of the “new year” for trees.Tu B’Shvat is the new year for the purpose of calculating the age of trees for tithing. The Torah states that fruit from trees which were grown in the land of Israel may not be eaten during the first [...]
Purim is a Lot of Fun When You are Prepared
Sun, 09 Dec 2007 18:11:11 +0000
Been there, done that. When you don’t plan for Purim well enough in advance, Purim can feel like a disaster.
Purim is only 1-2 days but it can feel like an entire month due to the amount of preparation and the actual schedule of the holiday.
There is a lot to do in a little bit of [...]
When to Light the Menorah
Fri, 07 Dec 2007 07:42:45 +0000
By Eliyahu Kitov
The Chanukah lights (Menorah) should be lit when the stars appear. If one did not light then, one may still light through the remainder of the night, provided that the members of the household are still awake. If one was inadvertently unable to light the Chanukah lights until very late – when everyone [...]
How long do tefillin last?
Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:02:53 +0000
by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg
The scrolls inside the Tefillin will decay with age if not used on a regular basis. Therefore, tefillin which have been stored without use for an extended period must be inspected by a competent scribe twice every seven years. Tefillin which are used regularly (good for you!) technically do not have to be [...]
Why do people give money gifts on Chanukah?
Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:19:36 +0000
by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg
Do you really need an excuse to give gifts! Well for those of you who are too frugal to give gifts for no good reason whatsoever… here goes:The word “Chanukah” comes from the same word as “chinuch (education).” The Greeks wanted to make us forget the holy Torah, thus when they were [...]
Some Hanukkah Songs
Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:15:15 +0000
I Have a Little Dreidel
I have a little dreidel
I made it out of clay
And when it’s dry and ready
Then dreidel I shall play!
(Chorus)
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel
I made it out of clay
And when it’s dry and ready
Then dreidel I shall play!
It has a lovely body
With legs so short and thin
And when my dreidel’s tired
It drops and [...]
Silver Judaica - Pure Sacred Objects
Tue, 04 Dec 2007 21:59:45 +0000
Beautiful handcrafted vases, wine decanters and candle holders all with an antique finish, and prices can be quite high, wondering why?
This is because antique Judaica is expensive but replicas sell like hot cakes all over the world. Although Judaica is made in gold, silver and bronze, copper with an inlay of precious stones, pure silver [...]
Judaica On-Line Store, Shabbat Products, Kippot, Jewish Jewelry, Jewish Gifts, Hanukkah Items, Hanukkah Menorahs
jewish culture: Newly tagged products at Amazon.com
A Time to Every Purpose: Letters to a Young Jew (Hardcover) newly tagged "jewish culture"
Tue, 9 Mar 2010 20:12:23 GMT
The Remarkable Journey of Josh's Kippah (Kar-Ben Favorites) (Paperback) newly tagged "jewish culture"
Fri, 5 Mar 2010 17:25:25 GMT
Entering Jewish Prayer: A Guide to Personal Devotion and the Worship Service (Paperback) newly tagged "jewish culture"
Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:07:39 GMT
A Serious Man (DVD) newly tagged "jewish culture"
Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:57:34 GMT
The Sage from Galilee: Rediscovering Jesus' Genius (Paperback) newly tagged "jewish culture"
Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:18:41 GMT
Human Rights in Judaism: Cultural, Religious, and Political Perspectives (Paperback) newly tagged "jewish culture"
Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:23:27 GMT
Bubbeh Lee and Me (VHS Tape) newly tagged "jewish culture"
Sun, 7 Feb 2010 15:51:06 GMT
Hanukkah At Valley Forge (Paperback) newly tagged "jewish culture"
Wed, 3 Feb 2010 14:49:40 GMT
Someone for Mr. Sussman (Paperback) newly tagged "jewish culture"
Wed, 3 Feb 2010 14:48:50 GMT
40 Monroe Street (Paperback) newly tagged "jewish culture"
Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:11:10 GMT
Star Of Peace - A Novel Of The Sea (Hardcover) newly tagged "jewish culture"
Mon, 25 Jan 2010 03:12:26 GMT
TRAVEL IN HALACHA (Hardcover) newly tagged "jewish culture"
Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:17:55 GMT
MP3 CD Get the Ring (Audio CD) newly tagged "jewish culture"
Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:46:11 GMT
The Secret Legacy of Jesus: The Judaic Teachings That Passed from James the Just to the Founding Fathers (Paperback) newly tagged "jewish culture"
Tue, 12 Jan 2010 23:05:59 GMT
Hooray for Yiddish (Unknown Binding) newly tagged "jewish culture"
Wed, 6 Jan 2010 00:42:50 GMT
Finding God: Ten Jewish Responses (Paperback) newly tagged "jewish culture"
Sat, 2 Jan 2010 20:59:21 GMT
Meet Rebecca (American Girls Collection) (Paperback) newly tagged "jewish culture"
Fri, 1 Jan 2010 04:57:52 GMT
The Second Jewish Book of Why (Hardcover) newly tagged "jewish culture"
Fri, 25 Dec 2009 19:22:09 GMT
You Can't Do Business (Or Most Anything Else) Without Yiddish (Hardcover) newly tagged "jewish culture"
Sun, 20 Dec 2009 19:40:45 GMT
THE STORY OF THE JEWISH WAY OF LIFE FROM THE JEWISH HERITAGE SERIES (Hardcover) newly tagged "jewish culture"
Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:26:16 GMT
About.com Judaism
Weekly Round-Up: Blood Libel or Political Satire?
Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:14:02 +0000
- A cartoon poster depicting Israel as a hungry diner carving up Palestinians is drawing fire in Germany, where it was part of a display called the "Wailing Wall." The creator says it is meant as "a sarcastic expression of the Israeli army in Gaza," but Tablet writer Marc Tracy says the poster is a depiction of blood libel. Do you agree?
- This is sad. The Orthodox rabbinical status of Sara Hurwitz is being revoked. [JTA]
- Do you own all of Dalia Carmel's six essential Jewish cookbooks? Carmel has 1,500 cookbooks in her apartment but that's nothing compared to the 10,000 cookbooks she previously owned, about 8,000 of which are now at New York University's Fales Library. [Haaretz]
- "Why are there no works of modern fantasy that are profoundly Jewish in the way that, say, 'The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe' is Christian? Why no Jewish [C.S.] Lewises, and why no Jewish Narnias?" Read one writer's answer here. [NYT]
- According to this BBC article, the eldest son of a founding member of the Palestinian militant group, Hamas, worked as a spy for Israel for more than ten years. [BBC]
- Soon-to-be bar mitzvah boy Scott Ballan won't be having his bar mitzvah at Yankee stadium any longer because of a boxing match between junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman and former welterweight champion Miguel Cotto. But the "entire family will be guests at the fight, and Foreman and Arum have both agreed to meet with the boy." Lucky kid! [ESPN]
- All the snow we've been getting recently is causing problems for Orthodox Jews. The snow has knocked down portions of a ritual boundary called an "eruv," which extends the boundaries of the home and makes it possible for observant Jews to carry things on Shabbat. Without this boundary, it is prohibited to carry anything outside the home. [NYT]
Image via Tablet Weekly Round-Up: Blood Libel or Political Satire? originally appeared on About.com Judaism on Friday, March 5th, 2010 at 12:14:02. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Should Active Soldiers Use Social Networking?
Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:28:31 +0000
The IDF was recently forced to cancel a scheduled military operation in the West Bank after a soldier revealed details about it on his Facebook page. His status update read: "On Wednesday, we are cleaning out [the name of the village] - today an arrest operation, tomorrow an arrest operation and then, please God, home by Thursday." Other members of the soldiers unit reported the update and as a result Judea and Samaria Division commander Brig.-Gen. Nitzan Alon decided to cancel the mission in case it had been compromised. The operation eventually took place and the soldier who updated his Facebook account was kicked out of his unit and sentenced to 10 days in jail. The IDF is responding by starting a campaign to educate soldiers about how they can responsibly use social media while on active duty.
According to this Jerusalem Post article about the incident, it is not the first time that details about military operations have been posted to the internet. In fact, in an earlier case photos containing sensitive military information were posted online. Incidents like these beg the question: should active duty soldiers use social media, especially when "Hizbullah and Hamas... [are] tracking IDF soldiers" on Facebook? What are your thoughts?
Facebook details cancel IDF raid [JPost] Should Active Soldiers Use Social Networking? originally appeared on About.com Judaism on Thursday, March 4th, 2010 at 12:28:31. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Size Doesn't Matter
Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:59:01 +0000
 Using sexual innuendo and the old "size doesn't matter" saying, a new tourism ad for Israel compares the country to a small penis. The ad ends with the subtitle: "Israel. Small country. Big paradise." Click here to view the video on YouTube.
According to The Forward, the video is part of a pro-Israel campaign run by the Canadian Federation of Jewish Students and several other Canadian Israel advocacy organizations. The goal is to target college students who haven't made up their minds about Israel and the Middle East. "This [video] will drive people to a Web site that contains valuable facts about Israel... its culture and innovation," said Noah Kochman, chair of political affairs and advocacy for CFJS. The website he is referring to is sizedoesntmatter.ca.
Not surprisignly, the ad is drawing mixed reviews. While some folks find it amusingly tongue-in-cheek, a quick search of the blogosphere reveals that there are also a number of people who find the ad distasteful. What is your opinion? Size Doesn't Matter originally appeared on About.com Judaism on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 at 17:59:01. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Weekly Round-Up: Jewish Woman Leaves 2,000 Living Descendants
Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:16:09 +0000
- Yitta Schwartz, a Jewish woman who died last month at 93, left behind some 2,000 living descendents. She had 15 children, more than 200 grandchildren and many, many great-grandchildren. [NYT]
- Two pieces of a 1,300 year old biblical manuscript were reunited in a joint display last Friday. They contain the text for the Song of the Sea, which was sung by the fleeing Israelites in the Exodus story after the Egyptian army was destroyed. [Yahoo!]
- A late Jewish-British author's estate is suing J.K. Rowling. Lawyers claim that she plagiarized plot elements for her Harry Potter series from Adrian Jacobs' children's book titled The Adventures of Willy the Wizard: No. 1 Livid Land. [JTA via Tablet]
- In Finland, Moshe and Miriam Levi have been fined "after British rabbi Yossi Simon did not use an anaesthetic when circumcising their son Aviv." The Helsinki court found them guilty of conspiracy to commit bodily harm. [The JC]
- The Obama administration is not pleased with Israel's decision to designate Abraham and Rachel's burial places in the West Bank as Israeli national heritage sites. [Haaretz]
- An Israeli version of the hit TV show "The Office" is in the works. It will feature Arab and Ethiopian characters. [Haaretz]
- Apparently Martin Scorsese's latest film, Shutter Island, incorporates Holocaust themes. Leonardo DiCaprio's character was one of the American soldiers who liberated Dachau and is heavily influenced by his past. [Tablet]
Weekly Round-Up: Jewish Woman Leaves 2,000 Living Descendants originally appeared on About.com Judaism on Saturday, February 27th, 2010 at 16:16:09. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Purim Craft Projects for Kids
Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:17:46 +0000
Every time a Jewish holiday rolls around I receive emails from parents and teachers looking for fun and easy craft projects they can do with children. Since Purim is this weekend here are some things you can do at home or at school to celebrate:
If there are other projects enjoy, please feel free to share in the comments! Purim Craft Projects for Kids originally appeared on About.com Judaism on Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 at 17:17:46. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Palestinians Protest As Na'vi From "Avatar"
Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:04:21 +0000
Palestinian protesters dressed up as characters from the film Avatar earlier this month, painting themselves blue, wearing long hair and donning loincloths during a demonstration against Israel's separation barrier. They compared their situation to that of the Na'vi in Avatar - a race of blue humanoids who are forced to defend their land against invaders.
Haaretz - Palestinian protesters pose as Na'vi from 'Avatar'
Image via Getty Images / AP Photo / Bernat Armangue Palestinians Protest As Na'vi From "Avatar" originally appeared on About.com Judaism on Monday, February 22nd, 2010 at 12:04:21. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Weekly Round-Up: Female Worshipers Called "Nazis" at the Kotel
Sat, 20 Feb 2010 07:08:34 +0000
Weekly Round-Up: Female Worshipers Called "Nazis" at the Kotel originally appeared on About.com Judaism on Saturday, February 20th, 2010 at 07:08:34. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Should the U.S. Look to Israel for Policies About Women in the Military?
Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:57:41 +0000
 A recent CNN video about female soldiers in the Israeli Defense Forces inspired New York Times blogger Catherine Ross to ask herself whether she would have been better off as a soldier in the Israeli army instead of the U.S. military.
Ross served in Civil Affairs in Iraq and writes that in the United States "women in the military are still seen as less capable and something of a curiosity." Yet in Israel, women have been serving in the IDF since before the state was established and make up approximately a third of defense forces. They also have the right to serve in any military capacity, while in the United States women are "not allowed to hold a combat arms M.O.S. (Military Occupation Specialty) and... not allowed to serve in ground combat units at the battalion level and below."
Ross' blog entry discusses some possible reasons for this gender difference in the U.S. military and you can read the full article here. While the military is busy working on a plan to phase out "Don't Ask Don't Tell," Ross wonders, why can't they also phase out policies underestimating women? "If Israel did it, why not the U.S.?" she asks.
What do you think: Should the U.S. Look to Israel for Policies About Women in the Military? Should the U.S. Look to Israel for Policies About Women in the Military? originally appeared on About.com Judaism on Thursday, February 18th, 2010 at 13:57:41. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Ask the Rabbi: How to Respond to Non-Jewish Parent's Last Wishes?
Tue, 16 Feb 2010 08:32:59 +0000
In this week's "Ask the Rabbi," Rabbi Joshua Hammerman answers a question about how to respond to the last wishes of a parent when those wishes conflict with Jewish beliefs and that parent had converted to Catholicism. As always, respectful comments are welcome.
Q. My mother just passed away and we have a difficult situation due to her last wishes and the way that she lived the last part of her life. My husband and I are Jewish, as was my father. After his passing, and against our wishes, my mother joined the Catholic Church (She was Jewish all her life before that). We were upset about that but couldn't talk her out of it although we tried to for almost 10 years. Our current problem is that her burial is being held up because she wanted a Catholic funeral Mass and also wanted to be cremated, and we are trying to decide what to do.
My husband and I do not want to attend a Mass or to allow cremation either. Should be just attend the graveside service or have a non-denominational service since she would not be able to have a Jewish funeral? And as for the cremation... should we go against her wishes? We can't decide what would be both ethical and morally right in this situation. Since she abandoned the Jewish faith, should we just allow her wishes to be honored? Or would that be giving sanction to her conversion?
A: First of all, my sincere condolences on the passing of your mother.
Your predicament presents two unusual twists to more common issues. First, I am most often asked questions by parents whose children have converted out or intermarried, not the other way. And second, I often am asked by those who have become Jews by Choice how to mourn the deaths of their parents who were lifelong Christians, not apostates.
There are two prevailing mitzvot that would seem on the surface to be at play here: 1) to honor your parent and 2) the obligations of a Jewish mourner. Traditional Judaism, including most Conservative opinions, would say that apostasy overrules both. It is counterintuitive to say that a parent should not be mourned, but the traditional approach would suggest that the mourning was already done, at the time of the apostasy. This would not be the case if a Jew by Choice were mourning a lifelong Christian parent. In that case I would say, by all means, attend the funeral and burial, and then mourn in the Jewish manner.
Why such revulsion against apostates? We need to remember that for most of Jewish history, maintaining a visible Jewish identity was risky. Yet so many became martyrs rather than betray their faith, and people had little respect for those who chose the cowardly alternative of submission. The resentment against apostates has grown in our time, when people are free to embrace their Jewish destiny without negative social consequences. Plus there is an added fear that the so-called "Jews for Jesus" and other missionary sects have muddied the waters, claiming that one can be both Jewish and a believer in Christian doctrine.
These are indeed muddy waters, because there is another side to it. Many who leave Judaism have done so under duress, such as the Marranos of the Spanish Inquisition era. And many return to the fold, even on the death bed. Rabbi Moses Isserles in the 16th century ruled that one may recite Kaddish for an apostate parent murdered by idolaters, and later authorities extended that include those whose parents died a natural death. They figured that the commandment to honor parents was one meant for the living, the children, and not subject to the dead parent's being deserving of that respect.
Okay, so what would I advise you? If I knew your mother's motives, it would be easier for me to respond. If the conversion coincided with some sort of dementia, for instance, I would lean toward lenience. If, on the other hand, her motives were to somehow punish God, or even you, I'd be less generous. Not knowing all the facts, I propose a compromise. I do think that it is important to mourn her in the Jewish way, because the Jewish way is your way. Your response to her conversion is to affirm the faith of your -and her - ancestors. The Kaddish speaks of restoring a degree of Godliness to the Universe, after all, and says nothing specifically about the fate of her soul.
But, while I would have no problem with a Jew attending a church service in general, or a Christian burial in particular, I believe that the honor due this parent need not extend this far. A non denominational service is not necessary, if there is going to be a mass as well. Why not make it a Jewish service?
I know just the place for that - at your home, during shiva. You can announce that she will be memorialized there. During the service, people can stand up and exchange anecdotes, or you could speak more formally. You can focus on all those positive qualities she embraced, the ones you will pass on to her descendants - her Jewish descendants.
Rabbi Joshua Hammerman Ask the Rabbi: How to Respond to Non-Jewish Parent's Last Wishes? originally appeared on About.com Judaism on Tuesday, February 16th, 2010 at 08:32:59. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Weekly Round-Up: Sports Illustrated's Controversial Swimsuit Photo
Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:13:11 +0000
 - The 2010 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is drawing controversy because it includes a photo of a model posing near a World War II fighter plane with Nazi swastikas adorning its side. (I'm thinking it's meant to be an Allied plane with swastikas displayed to show the pilot's number of kills.) [Haaretz]
- CNBC President Mark Hoffman has arranged for a special video to be shown at his son's bar mitzvah this month. The video features the likes of Brian Williams, Derek Jeter and and "Mad Money" host Jim Cramer. [Page Six via Tablet]
- JTS eliminated the position of cantorial dean in a major organizational restructuring. Chancellor Eisen said the move was an alternative to closing the cantorial school altogether. [Forward]
- Over 1,500 people in the New York area, most of them Orthodox Jewish boys and young men, have come down with mumps. It is the worst US outbreak since 2006. [NYT]
- France is having books about the Holocaust translated into Arabic and Persian in an effort to curb the number of anti-Semitic incidents occurring in the country, particularly threats directed at Jews. [YNet]
- What a shame. The Palestine Telegraph apparently claimed last week that the IDF team sent to Haiti to help earthquake victims stole organs from people. No mention, of course, of how the IDF established the only fully functional hospital in Port-au-Prince. [YNet]
Sports Illustrated photo via Haaretz Weekly Round-Up: Sports Illustrated's Controversial Swimsuit Photo originally appeared on About.com Judaism on Friday, February 12th, 2010 at 15:13:11. Permalink | Comment | Email this
|
