by Eliyahu Berkowitz | f 26, 2022 | Chanukah, Haggai, Israel, Kislev, Responsibility, Revelation and Prophecy, Temple, Zechariah
I had a friend who was scrupulous about keeping a diary. Everything that happened went into his journal. And in his spare time, he updated his calendar to commemorate significant events. Along with the birthdays of friends and family, there were about ten days set...
by Eliyahu Berkowitz | f 15, 2022 | Hebrew Language, Zephaniah
Countless miracles led to the establishment of the modern state of Israel, not the least of which was the resurrection of Hebrew as a spoken language. Much of the credit for this goes to one man, who died a century ago. Eliezer Ben Yehuda played such a prominent role...
by Eliyahu Berkowitz | f 23, 2022 | Jeremiah, Sigd
Today, the 29th day of the Hebrew month of Cheshvan, is Sigd, a holiday unique to Beta Israel Ethiopian Jews. Celebrated 50 days after Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Sigd is a Ge’ez/Amharic word meaning “prostration” or “worship”. What exactly does this...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 3, 2022 | Faith, God, Jonah, Light Unto the Nations, Prayer, Repentance, Rosh Hashana, Sukkot, Temple, Tishrei, Yom Kippur, Zechariah
By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz When I think about the High Holidays, I picture synagogues full of Jews, the men wrapped in snow-white prayer shawls swaying silently, the women praying fervently. They are Jewish holidays and the pinnacle of the Hebrew calendar. These are...
by Eliyahu Berkowitz | f 29, 2022 | Fast of Gedaliah, Good and Evil, Jeremiah, Repentance, Rosh Hashana
Today, the day after Rosh Hashanah (Hebrew New Year), Jews observe a minor fast day from dawn until dusk. This fast day, known as the Fast of Gedaliah, laments the assassination of a righteous governor of the Kingdom of Judah named Gedaliah. Though the murder of...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 4, 2022 | Isaiah, Ninth of Av, Redemption, Revelation and Prophecy, Temple
Everyone in high school was afraid of Mr. Brickman who we called “Mr. Brick Wall” behind his back. He was from the old school of teaching and any student who entered his classroom chewing gum would be wearing the gum on his nose until the bell rang. Mr. Brick Wall...
