Category Archives: Judaism

Shana Tova Umetuka – 5781

Posted on 18 September 2020 by

Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, begins tonight (Friday night), and lasts for 2 days, until sundown on Sunday night. The Jewish year follows the lunar calendar, and the number counts the number of years since Creation. This year we … Continue reading →

Posted in International relations, Israel news, Judaism, Slice of Israeli life | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Tisha B’Av 5780 – 2020

Posted on 30 July 2020 by

Tisha B’Av, the 9th day of Av began last night at sundown and finishing at sundown tonight. Tisha Be’Av is the saddest day in the Jewish calendar. As I wrote in a previous Tisha Be’Av post: The fast commemorates the … Continue reading →

Posted in Judaism, Slice of Israeli life | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Chag Shavuot Same’ach!

Posted on 28 May 2020 by

The festival of Shavuot (“Feast of Weeks” or Pentecost), beginning tonight is the culmination of the 7 weeks (hence the name) of counting the Omer – Sefirat Ha’Omer. We are instructed by G-d (ויקרא כ”ג:ט”ו – Lev. 23:15) to count, … Continue reading →

Posted in Judaism | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Chag Same’ach! Yom Yerushalayim 5780 – 2020

Posted on 22 May 2020 by

Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, the anniversary of Israel’s miraculous victory over combined Arab forces in 1967, began last night (Thursday). Usually the chag is marked with festive prayer services in synagogues around the country. This year, because of the restrictions … Continue reading →

Posted in History, indigenous rights, Israel news, Judaism | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Some good news for Lag Ba’Omer

Posted on 12 May 2020 by

Today is Lag Ba”Omer, the 33rd day of the Omer, a semi-holiday marked by bonfires in the night, music and a popular day for weddings. This year, because of the coronavirus restrictions, bonfires were banned except in a very few … Continue reading →

Posted in History, International relations, Judaism, Technology, Terrorism | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Yom Hazikaron 5780 – Israel’s Memorial Day 2020

Posted on 28 April 2020 by

Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terror, began last night at sundown with the sound of the siren, as Israel commemorated its fallen with a one minute siren at 8 pm and a surreal ceremony … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Israel news, Judaism, Slice of Israeli life | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments