Shofar and Blessings

Kiddush-Jewish Tradition

Kiddush is from the Hebrew word for holy or sanctify, to set apart as holy. God set the Sabbath apart as holy. Saying the kiddush on Friday evening dates back about 2,500 years.

Traditions

Americans Try Israeli Food for the First Time

Traditions

Tallit

A tallit is a prayer shawl. Tallitot (plural of tallit) are rectangular in shape and have fringes called tzitzits at the four corners.

Traditions

Kaddish

There are several Jewish traditions surrounding the death loved ones. We say the mourner’s kaddish. It is not a mournful dirge, but rather praise to the Giver of Life. Mourners tear their garments,…

Traditions

Shabbat Candles

One of the most well known Jewish customs connected with the observance of Shabbat (the Sabbath) is the lighting of lamps or candles before sunset on Friday night.

Traditions

Mezuzah

A mezuzah is a little box that is nailed to the doorpost of a Jewish home. The Hebrew word mezuzah means doorpost. It is generally placed on the right side of the door about one quarter of the way…

Traditions

Torah Reading

The custom of reading from the Torah on Saturday mornings is so old that it is difficult to be certain when it first started.

Traditions

Netilat Yadayim - Ritual Hand Washing

"Netilat yadayim" is the Jewish word depicting the religious washing of hand with the help of a cup.

Traditions

Haftarah

הפטרה (Haftarah), the name given to the reading from the Prophetic books which follows the Torah reading. This custom is so old that its origin is unknown and even the derivation of the name is far…

Traditions

Spiritually Uplifting End to Shabbat in Israel

Traditions

History of the Mezuzah in 60 seconds

Why do we hang a mezuzah? Find out in 60 seconds.

Traditions

Challah

Bread plays a very important role in Jewish tradition. In the Torah when Holy visitors come to visit Abraham we read, “Abraham hurried to the tent where Sarah was and said to her, ‘Hurry, prepare…

Traditions

Tzedakah

Tzedakah is from the word meaning righteousness. A tzadek is a righteous person.

Traditions

Tsitsit

The custom of putting Tsitsit, fringes or tassels, on the corners of garments originates in the biblical commandment: Speak to the people of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the…

Traditions

The Yiddish Handbook: 40 Words You Should Know

The Yiddish language is a wonderful source of rich expressions, especially terms of endearment (and of course, complaints and insults)….Jewish scriptwriters introduced many Yiddish words into popular…

Traditions