Holidays

For Jennifer Raskas, the seder narrative reflects on the past and informs the future.

Yom Kippur marks the end of an 11 week period when thematic haftarot about the destruction of the Temple, consolation following its loss, and repentance replace haftarot connected to the weekly Torah reading. What can this grouping teach us about the nature of forgiveness and reconciliation? Hannah Abrams explains.

Poet Yehoshua November notices a defining characteristic of contemporary poetry—fixation on the ordinary. In light of Hasidic theology, November argues that appreciation for the holiness of the ordinary underlies Megillat Esther and the celebration of Purim.

In this essay, Fernando de Beer considers ideas of morality and ethics underlying the Unetaneh Tokef prayer.

Tzvi Sinensky explores the Biblical origins of Tu be-Av.

Abe Mezrich presents a poem on the Book of Ruth.

David Schwartz explores thematic similarities between the Hanukkah miracle and Pharaoh’s dreams.

As we prepare for Passover, enjoy these three poems by Bruce Black meditating on the past, present, and future of our Exodus.

In this poem, Avi Schild reflects on the source of the blasting cry we hear on Rosh Hashanah.

The Ne’ilah prayer, which we recite only once a year, clearly represents a moment of great religious drama, but its precise nature and purpose are somewhat mysterious. Alan Jotkowitz presents four different models for understanding Ne’ilah, drawing upon the teachings of Rav Yehuda Amital, Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, and Rav Ya’akov Medan.