How did Esther have authority to ask the Jews to fast on Pesach? Why does Esther phrase her request as fast “on me” similar to the way Rivka says to Yaakov that the curse will be “on me” (if Yitzchak finds out it’s Yaakov trying to steal the blessing)?

Besides the phrase being part of the Torah reading for the 8th day, is there a deeper reason why the last day of Chanukah is called “Zot Chanukah”?

The Chanukah miracle could have been commemorated in a single day. Why, then, is Chanukah an 8-day holiday? The answer lies in Brit Milah, one of the focuses of the Greeks’ spiritual oppression of the Jews.

Chanukah like other holidays is a story about Jews being victorious over their oppressors. Even though, like other holidays it’s not a “happily ever after” story we still celebrate nonetheless.

Phil Chernofsky presents Torah Tidbits audio for Yom Kippur 5771 with a discussion of the basic laws of Yom Kippur including the 5 restrictions, Kol Nidrei, and the section of Mussaf where we recount the special avodah – temple service – performed on Yom Kippur

Facts and Figures about the New Year AT A GLANCE 5771 has 385 days, including 55 Shabbatot, the longest possible year in the Jewish calendar. Calendar 5771 is a 13-month year, known as a Jewish “leap year” (shanah me’uberet), in which the month of Adar is doubled (intercalated). The Jewish calendar works in cycles both of […]

Yosef, his brothers, Chanuka – history repeats itself Parsha Pic: Paro’s birthday (end of sedra)