{{location.city}} {{location.region}} {{location.country}}
{{zmanim.engDateString}} / {{zmanim.hebDateString}} / {{zmanim.parsha_shabbos}}
~ {{formatTime(zmanim.sunrise)}} ~ {{formatTime(zmanim.sunset)}} Candles ~ Fri.{{formatTime(zmanim.candle_lighting_shabbos)}}

Life

Purim: V’nehafoch Hu – An Opportunity for Change

March 16, 2011, by

The greatest problem facing the Jewish People today is not anti-Semitism, nor is it the threat of Israel’s enemies; rather, it is the tragedy of massive assimilation and intermarriage. The statistics are gruesome: nearly one-third of all Jews maintain no connection to any Jewish institution, retain no affiliation with any Jewish organization, and make no

The Ultimate Plot

March 16, 2011, by

The Megillah is the ultimate Great Plot. Really. It has all the ingredients of The Good Novel – suspense, treachery, and the intervention of a Hidden Hand — never mentioned, but always felt, behind the curtain, pulling the puppet strings. Imagine the Jews of Shushan as they watched the political situation grow more and more

Purim and the Blessing of Unity

March 16, 2011, by

Klal Yisrael. All of Israel. One people. One community. One. Newspapers and web sites recently reported about several hundred passengers – Orthodox yeshiva students, tourists, secular college-aged Jews on Birthright – who were scheduled to fly to Israel found themselves stranded at JFK by the terrible blizzard that struck the northeast at the end of

Slice of Life, Purim

March 16, 2011, by

One of the biggest problems I have when it comes to Purim is how I’m going to fill my myriad of Shalach Manot baskets and not have to take a second mortgage out on my house to buy all the stuff it will take to not make them look awkwardly under filled, slightly bare because

The Queen You Thought You Knew

March 2, 2011, by

The Book of Esther can easily masquerade as a child’s tale. There’s a villain out to hang Mordechai and murder his countrymen; a king who enjoys drinking; and a beautiful and noble queen. There are assassins, palace intrigue and a climactic battle scene — and a happy ending, to boot. What more could you ask

Experience Megillat Esther “Our Way”

February 22, 2011, by

Don’t miss out, sign up now to include your deaf, hard of hearing, visually challenged, learning disabled, and elderly members of your community in this wonderful opportunity. Experience Megilat Esther in a new way on Purim this year. To find out more, download a demonstration or order a copy, please visit: Our Way Power Point

Acharei Mot-Kedoshim: Dressing Up on Purim

April 22, 2010, by

One of the most prominent customs practiced today on Purim is to dress up in costumes, and this custom is mentioned already in the Rishonim. The Rema mentions that it is acceptable even for men to dress up as women (although there are dissenting opinions), even though this seemingly violates the prohibition of “A man’s

Purim and Yom Kippur: An Odd Couple?

February 24, 2010, by

On their face, there could not be two more unlikely holidays to wed than Yom Kippur and Purim. Even the youngest child knows that Purim is a holiday meant for fun and celebration, for costumes and parties. Yom Kippur, on the other hand, is the most solemn day of the Jewish calendar, calling on us