Midrashic literature states that the Arba’ah Minim represent either four bodily organs (heart, spine, eyes and lips) or four different types of Jews (those who are learned and pious, only learned, only pious, or neither.) By taking the Four Species together, we symbolically unite diverse entities (parts of the body or individual Jews) to uniformly […]

How are the themes of the Torah and Haftarah for the 1st day of Rosh HaShanah connected to the holiday? Why does the akeida play a central role on this day? Asking God to judge us on our potential and remember our love relationship – the Torah readings of Rosh Hashana with Rabbi Avrohom Gordimer, […]

The Kohen Gadol is forbidden to enter the Kodesh HaKodashim (Holy of Holies) in his regular, golden-thread priestly vestments [“Bigdei Zahav”]. Rather, special white garments [“Bigdei Lavan”] are required for Yom Kippur Avodah in the Kodesh HaKodashim. Chazal explain that this rule is predicated upon the negative inferences of the golden-thread vestments, for they invoke […]