The Sacred Reversal
When, on Simchat Torah, we complete the Torah Reading cycle, we immediately start a new cycle, reading from the first Torah Portion – Beresheet (In the Beginning). Most of my readers know…
The Jewish Studies Blog
There are tools that are needed to mine the depths of the biblical texts. There are also many perspectives that enrich our study, like the perspective of first century Judaism. This site is one of those rare resources that provides both tools and perspective for the serious student of Scripture.
– Dr. Allen Mawhinney, A Retired Academic Dean, Reformed Theological Seminary
Simchat Torah: Looking Back And Looking Forward
As we remember, Sukkot is “the season of our joy” – and the joy of Sukkot reaches its peak during its final day: Simchat Torah. Simchat Torah (lit. The Joy of Torah) is…
Sukkot’ Reflections In Corona Times
Ushpizin and Corona There are only two Biblical Feasts that have some intermediate days between the first and the last day of the holiday. In Leviticus 23, we read that on the…
From The Days Of Awe – To The Festival Of Joy
Your Joy Will Be Complete Almost immediately after the Days of Awe—the days of trembling and repentance —Sukkot begins. We finish the fast of Yom Kippur, we hear the last cry of…
High Holy Days: Gates Of Repentance
The Wordless Cry We just celebrated Rosh HaShanah – and it was indeed the most unusual Rosh Hashanah in Israel. Due to the coronavirus lockdown, we did not celebrate with relatives…