Category Archives: Holidays

Passover, Freedom, and Two Movies

Just in time for Passover, I watched two movies that were about freedom.  Actually, they’re not really about freedom at all, but because Passover is neigh, I could not help reacting to the subtle threads that connected these two disparate … Continue reading

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Heschel, King and Moral Grandeur

Normally, I don’t post my weekly e-mail messages on the blog, but I figured, this week, given the occasion, I would do so.  If you want to receive our weekly e-mail, by the way, just send the office an e-mail … Continue reading

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Women Dancing

After all our talk about the gender issues in the Maccabeats video, I would like to offer this Fountainheads video as a sort of path-not-taken-often-enough.  In this video, sun by men and women, some people are wearing kippot, others not, some … Continue reading

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The Yentl Problem–Updated

Last year at Hanukah (you may see several other spellings for this word over the next few weeks on this blog) the Maccabeats, an a cappela group from Yeshiva University had a huge YouTube hit with their cover/parody Candlelight.  Now, … Continue reading

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Spirit of the Holiday: Redemption

Over the next few weeks, I hope to be running a series of articles and reflections that I think highlight the various themes and ideas of the High Holiday season (which is, alarmingly, upon us).  Any suggestions for this series … Continue reading

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Spirit of the Holiday: Perspective

Over the next few weeks, I hope to be running a series of articles and reflections that I think highlight the various themes and ideas of the High Holiday season (which is, alarmingly, upon us).  Any suggestions for this series … Continue reading

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The Spirit of the Holidays: Judgment

Over the next few weeks, I hope to be running a series of articles and reflections that I think highlight the various themes and ideas of the High Holiday season (which is, alarmingly, upon us).  Any suggestions for this series … Continue reading

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The Spirit of the Holidays: Teshuva

Over the next few weeks, I hope to be running a series of articles and reflections that I think highlight the various themes and ideas of the High Holiday season (which is, alarmingly, upon us).  Any suggestions for this series … Continue reading

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Today is a Fast Day…

I’m serious.  Read all about it.  As usual, it has to do with Babylonians.  What doesn’t? It begins at sunrise and ends when you finish davening kabbalat shabbat and maariv, say kiddush, and eat dinner.

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Hanukkah in NOLA

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On the Eighth Night of Hanukkah

I posted this video.  Flash mob + Hanukkah parody song = video gold! Watch this video on YouTube

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On the Seventh Night of Hanukkah…

I posed this video, because it takes an already dorky concept and somehow makes it even more dorky:

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On the Sixth Night of Hanukkah

I posted this video… Watch this video on YouTube Update: Video link fixed.

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On the fourth night of Hanukkah

I posted this video:

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Some Hanukkah Obligations

I know I am a little bit late on this, but I though a little information about the mitzvoth (obligations) of the holiday of Hanukkah might in order. The main obligation of this holiday is the lighting of the candles.  … Continue reading

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