Singing of Freedom
Oct 9, 2008 By David M. Ackerman | Commentary | Tishah Be'av | Yom Kippur
Maya Angelou鈥檚 celebrated poem, 鈥淐aged Bird鈥� (Shaker, Why Don鈥檛 You Sing. Random House, 1983) has long inspired me, especially at this time of the year. Grippingly, the poem contrasts 鈥渁 free bird [who] dares to claim the sky鈥� with 鈥渁 bird that stalks down his narrow cage,鈥� a creature of limited vision and range. Although the 鈥渃aged bird stands on the grave of dreams,鈥� he still has longing in his heart.
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The Meaning of the Shmurah Matzah
Apr 18, 2014 By Matthew Berkowitz | Commentary | Pesah
One of the centerpieces of seder night is the eating of matzah, the unleavened bread.
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Approaching The King
Sep 9, 2014 By Nancy Abramson | Short Video | Rosh Hashanah | Yom Kippur
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Going Up in Holiness
Nov 27, 2010 By David Levy | Commentary | Vayeshev | Hanukkah
Next Wednesday night, Hanukkah begins and Jews all over the world will gather around the menorah to light one candle for the first night of Hanukkah. We take it for granted that we light a candle on the first night, two on the second, and so on, but it could have been different.
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The True Story of Hanukkah
Dec 4, 2010 By Benjamin D. Sommer | Commentary | Hanukkah
What is Hanukkah really about? There are several answers to a question like this, since the meaning of a holiday or ritual develops and grows over time. I’d like to point out a fascinating tension between two understandings of Hanukkah that becomes clear from examining two popular songs many of us sing after lighting the candles.
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Seeing the World Around Us
Sep 18, 2010 By Marc Wolf | Commentary | Yom Kippur
On Rosh Hashanah our view is panoramic; on Yom Kippur it is myopic. This difference between the two holidays is intentional; the holidays are designed to live in stark contrast. Remarkably, just eight days ago, our focus was totally different than it is now. On Rosh Hashanah, for example, we gaze globally; on Yom Kippur, we exist locally.
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