All posts in: Festivals/Chagim

• Sefiras-Haomer

  6 months ago

  Love-Hate relationship

  During the period between the festivals of Pesach and Shavuos, we strive to improve our interpersonal relationships and in particular the commandment to “love ..

  Written by Rabbi Daniel Leeman
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• Shavuos

  6 months ago

  Shavuot

  On the festival of Shvuos, when we commemorate the giving of the Torah, we read the vision of the ‘Merkavah’ of the prophet Yechezkel. What exactly is this ‘Merkavah’ ..

  Written by Rabbi Daniel Leeman
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  Devarim

  6 months ago

  Happy Sadness

  As we mourn for the loss of the Beit HaMikdash in the days leading up to Tisha B’Av, it seems strange to say that in a funny sort of way we should be happy that ..

  Written by Julian Alper
• Sukkos

  6 months ago

  The Only Way to Happiness

  “Seven days you will celebrate (the festival of Sukkos)… and (on Simchas Torah) you will be only happy” [1]. The word “only” (ach) indicates an exclusion ..

  Written by Rabbi Daniel Leeman
• Chanukah

  6 months ago

  Sold Out but not Souled Out – Chanukah

  On Chanukah we commemorate the miracles of defeating the Greeks and the discovery of a single canister of pure undefiled oil in the Temple. But why do we still celebrate ..

  Written by Rabbi Daniel Leeman
• Pesach

  6 months ago

  Hakol BeSeder – All’s in order

  These days we move from the Chaos of Purim to the Order of Pesach. May the Seder be BeSeder, all ok, all in order.

  Written by Avraham Roos
• Pesach

  6 months ago

  Why break the MIDDLE matza

  There are many different reasons. But one explanation is that the three matzot represent the Cohen, Levi and Israel. In that case the middle matza is the Levi. The tribe ..

  Written by Avraham Roos
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  The-3-Weeks

  3 years ago

  Fast of Tammuz – Redemption or Celebration

  The Fast of Tammuz Rabbi Daniel Leeman This year, the 17th of Tammuz falls on this coming Shabbat, and so the fast of the 17th of Tammuz is pushed off to Sunday. ..

  Written by Rabbi Daniel Leeman
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  Shavuos

  3 years ago

  Shavuos: What we really accepted and what they really rejected

  When Hashem went to the nations of the world to offer them the Torah, they each asked what was written in it. To each nation, Hashem stated the law which challenged ..

  Written by
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  Shavuos

  3 years ago

  Shavuos – Connecting Train

  On the festival of Shvuos, when we commemorate the giving of the Torah, we read the vision of the ‘Merkavah’ of the prophet Yechezkel. What exactly is this ‘Merkavah’ ..

  Written by Rabbi Daniel Leeman