Vayigash continues the narrative of Joseph and his brothers, but, unlike in the book of Genesis, there are no miracles or divine revelation in Vayigash.
When Disaster Strikes By R. Miriam Berkowitz
One Saturday night in November, 1995, I was making havdala with JTS rabbinical students spending a year in Israel Matt Berkowitz, Matt Eisenfeld z”l and Shai Held in their apartment in Rehavia. The calmness of the evening broke down when an urgent announcement of the tragic and unexpected murder of then Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was made on the radio.
Jewish Life Flourishing in Ukraine Camp Ramah Yachad
Israeli cantor and musician Saralee Shrell-Fox shares her experience teaching in this unique camp, which provides an opportunity for teenagers to encounter a joyous Jewish community environment and create connections that last a lifetime.
Learn about the Jewish Prayer Modes with Rabbi Avi Novis-Deutsch
Music and prayer have been combined since ancient times. A prayer tune, conveyed from generation to generation, sets the atmosphere for the service and allows the congregation to focus on the connection with the Divine.
Get right into the mode for the upcoming Holiday with Rabbi Avi Novis-Deutsch, as he explains with great emotion and passion how the same verse is recited in different tunes in multiple synagogues around the neighborhood.
Happy New Year from The Schechter Institutes!
Rabbi Professor David Golinkin, President of The Schechter Institutes, inaugurates Shavua Tov @ Schechter with a short exploration of Psalm 27, the Penitential Psalm, and a Rosh Hashanah greeting.
Why do we Wear a Kittel and use White Torah Mantles, Table Covers and Ark Curtains in the Synagogue on the High Holy Days? Responsa in a Moment: Volume 10, Issue No. 1, September 2015
Asked by Rabbi Rachel Schwartz on the behalf of a pupil at a Hebrew school in the United States: Why is the kittel worn on the High Holy Days? When were Torah scrolls first dressed in white for the High Holy Days and what prompted this change?
Yom Kippur and Procrastination
Erev Yom Kippur, minutes before the storm. A point of time in the regular weekday that is nonetheless all holiness. It is the moment of awe as the Day of Judgment approaches, the eleventh hour, our last chance. Yom Kippur itself is a time of forgiveness, but what is the role of the day before?
When Should One Correct the Torah Reader?
n some synagogues the Gabbai corrects the Torah reader every time he makes even the slightest error in pronunciation or cantillation, while, in others, the Gabbai only corrects the Torah reader if he/she makes and error which changes the meaning of the text. Which practice is more correct?
How Long Should a Child Recite the Mourners’ Kaddish for a Parent? Responsa in a Moment: Volume 7, Issue No. 4, January 2013
It is common practice today for a child to recite kaddish in memory of a parent for 11 months, even though the normal period of mourning is 12 months. How long should a child recite kaddish for a parent and why?
Is the Entire Kotel Plaza Really a Synagogue? Responsa in a Moment: Volume 4, Issue No. 3, February 2010
