פּוּרִים The story of Purim is told in the Book of Esther, whose eponymous heroine plays the leading role in saving her people. The holiday is traditionally celebrated with wild abandon, fancy dress and partying as well as the reading of the Megillah (retelling the story). There is also a tradition of giving gifts to […]
פֶּסַח Pesach Originally a combination of a couple of different spring festivals, it is a commemoration of the Exodus from Egypt--especially the night when God "passed over" the houses of the Israelites during the tenth plague--and of the following day, when the Israelites had to leave Egypt hurriedly. Centered on the family or communal celebration […]
יום השואה Thursday 16th April The full name of the day commemorating the victims of the Holocaust is "Yom Hashoah Ve-Hagevurah"--literally the "Day of (Remembrance of) the Holocaust and the Heroism." It is marked on the 27th day in the month of Nisan--a week after the seventh day of Passover, and a week before Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day for Israel's fallen […]
יום העצמאות Yom HaZikaron/Yom HaAtzma'ut: The fourth of Iyar, the day preceding Israel's Independence Day, was declared by the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) to be a Memorial Day for those who lost their lives in the struggle that led to the establishment of the State of Israel and for all military personnel who were killed while in active duty in Israel's armed […]
Shavuot (Lag b'Omer): Literally translated as the "Feast of Weeks,” is celebrated seven weeks after Pesach (Passover). Since the counting of this period (Sefirat ha-omer) begins on the second evening of Pesach, Shavuot takes place exactly 50 days after the first seder. Hence, following the Greek word for “fifty,” Shavuot is also referred to sometimes as Pentecost. . Although its origins are […]
Shavuot (Lag b'Omer): Literally translated as the "Feast of Weeks,” is celebrated seven weeks after Pesach (Passover). Since the counting of this period (Sefirat ha-omer) begins on the second evening of Pesach, Shavuot takes place exactly 50 days after the first seder. Hence, following the Greek word for “fifty,” Shavuot is also referred to sometimes as Pentecost. . Although its origins are […]
Come along at 7pm to learn some of the songs that we will be singing in the services over the High Holy Days. Our Director of Music, Rebekka Wedell, will talk about the songs that we sing as well as lead us in learning them. Followed by the Selichot service which will be led by Rabbi […]