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Tag: Mitzvah
Why I Love Tefillin
Rabbi Lauren Tuchman writes "Why I Love Tefillin" and explores how all people can wear tefillin, based on her own experience.
Rabbi Lauren Tuchman
February 6, 2024
Accessories for Prayer
Every Day
Why We Cover Challah at the Shabbat Table
Why we cover Challah at the Shabbat table can be found when we learn about manna and the seven species of Israel.
Hazzan Sara Geffen Geller
January 30, 2024
Erev Shabbat
Holidays
Understanding The Jewish Call To Sustainability
Understanding the Jewish call to sustainability is rooted in a new category of mitzvot: bein adam l'adamah, between the self and the Earth.
Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin
January 3, 2024
Climate and Environment
Living
The Mitzvah of Environmental Sustainability
What does Judaism say about environmental sustainability? Yishuv Ha'olam is the mitzvah to build and maintain a sustainable world.
Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin
January 3, 2024
CJLS
Climate and Environment
Bright Wings
Parashat Haazinu is the poem that Moshe sings to the people of Israel before he delivers his deathbed blessing, discussing bright wings.
Ilana Kurshan
,
Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva
June 12, 2023
Parashat Haazinu
Parashat Haazinu Dvar Torah
Study Guide: Food or Famine? Up to Us?
The study guide for parashat Eikev explores the Shema and the mitzvot mandated by the sacred prayer, such as mezuzot and tefillin.
Vered Hollander-Goldfarb
,
Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva
June 6, 2023
Parashat Eikev
Parashat Eikev Study Guide
A Conduit of Blessing
In this parashah, Moshe prepares the people for their entry into Israel, extolling the conduit of blessing that they are about to conquer.
Ilana Kurshan
,
Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva
June 6, 2023
Parashat Eikev
Parashat Eikev Dvar Torah
Study Guide: Danger of Complacency
This week's study guide explores the danger of complacency in relation to our parashah, using commentary by Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch.
Vered Hollander-Goldfarb
,
Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva
June 5, 2023
Parashat Va'etchanan
Parashat Va'etchanan Study Guide
Spies and Tzitzit: Camels and Death
Our parashah is bookended by the story of the spies and tzitzit. This leads to a discussion on the obligation of mitzvot.
Ilana Kurshan
,
Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva
May 28, 2023
Parashat Shlach
Parashat Shlach Dvar Torah
Why Prayer Matters
Tefillah is more than the sum of its parts and encompasses far more than the obligation to recite certain specific daily prayers.
Rabbi Dr. Karen Reiss Medwed
,
The Observant Life (Book)
May 16, 2023
Every Day
Prayer
What is a Kippah?
There is a wide range of specific customs related to the issue of covering the head, including what to cover it with.
Rabbi Dr. Karen Reiss Medwed
,
The Observant Life (Book)
May 11, 2023
Accessories for Prayer
Every Day
Fasting While Ill
It is considered forbidden to fast on fast days if injurious to one’s health, for the sake of performing positive commandments.
Rabbi Carl Astor
,
The Observant Life (Book)
May 10, 2023
Health
Illness
Study Guide: For the Land is Mine
The study guide for Behar focuses on the concept of Shmitah, the rest year, and the language used to refer to it.
Vered Hollander-Goldfarb
,
Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva
April 26, 2023
Parashat Behar
Parashat Behar Study Guide
Study Guide: Plugging of the Loophole
The study guide for Kedoshim synthesizes Rashi, Rashbam, and Ramban to discuss a text from Vayikra about holiness.
Vered Hollander-Goldfarb
,
Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva
April 19, 2023
Parashat Kedoshim
Parashat Kedoshim Study Guide
How Old Is Old?
Public buses in Israel feature a sign that quotes from a verse in this week’s parashah: “You shall rise before the aged'' (Leviticus 19:32).
Ilana Kurshan
,
Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva
April 19, 2023
Parashat Kedoshim
Parashat Kedoshim Dvar Torah
Study Guide: Let Go!
This week's study guide presents commentary on the shemitah—sabbatical year—and giving to the poor or giving tzedakah.
Vered Hollander-Goldfarb
,
Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva
February 5, 2023
Parashat Mishpatim
Parashat Mishpatim Study Guide
Study Guide: Tabula Rasa?
The study guide for Parashat Yitro discusses the Ten Commandments and the relationships between fathers and children.
Vered Hollander-Goldfarb
,
Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva
January 27, 2023
Parashat Yitro
Parashat Yitro Study Guide
Bridegroom of Blood
Shemot describes the early years of Moshe’s life up to the pivotal moment when he is informed of his mission awaiting him in Egypt.
Ilana Kurshan
,
Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva
December 30, 2022
Parashat Shemot
Parashat Shemot Dvar Torah
Songs for Hanukkah
Hanukkah songs include those that follow candle lighting, as well as S'vivon sov sov sov, Hanukkah O'Hanukkah, and Neir Li.
Reena Bromberg Gaber
December 6, 2022
Hanukkah
Holidays
What is The Menorah?
The central mitzvah of Ḥanukkah is the lighting of the menorah at home and in the synagogue. This brings light to the darker winter months. ...
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
December 6, 2022
Hanukkah
Holidays
How to light the Hanukkah Candles
Read here for the procedure for lighting candles for Hanukkah. This includes the blessings, song ideas, and order for lighting candles.
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
December 5, 2022
Hanukkah
Holidays
Sukkot at Home
While celebrating Sukkot at home, rituals include lighting candles, sitting in the sukkah, and customs related to the sukkah.
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
October 28, 2022
High Holidays
Holidays
Rituals of Sukkot
Sukkot, one of the shalosh r’galim, the three pilgrimage festivals is celebrated five days after Yom Kippur.
Rabbi Alan Lucas
,
The Observant Life (Book)
October 14, 2022
High Holidays
Holidays
The Shofar on Rosh Hashanah
Sounding of the shofar is a characteristic mitzvah of Rosh Hashanah. The holiday is alternatively called the Day of Sounding the Shofar.
The Observant Life (Book)
,
Rabbi Alan Lucas
September 16, 2022
High Holidays
Holidays
T’fillah/Prayer: A Mitzvah to Take a “Time Out”
T'fillah, Jewish prayer, is rooted in self-judgment, reflection, and connecting to something greater than ourselves.
The Observant Life (Book)
,
Rabbi Dr. Karen Reiss Medwed
June 29, 2022
Prayer
Understanding Prayer