Judaism

Torah

Blessing the People With Love and Joy

Local

Does Birthright Stifle Teen Travel?

Shavuot

Synagogues Celebrate New Arrivals

Local

Philly Teachers Miffed Over Leave

By:

Aaron Passman

Some Jewish teachers in the Philadelphia School District are upset over the district's time-off policy as it pertains to Passover. The week of Monday, March 29 to Friday, April 2 was originally scheduled to be spring break, however Monday and Tuesday -- the start of Pesach -- were added back on the school calendar to partially make up for the...

Torah

'The Song of Songs,' 'The Holy of Holies'

By:

Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell, Jewish Exponent Feature

During Passover, we are all young again. We gather around the seder table and delight at how our positions have changed. Those who eagerly -- or reluctantly -- asked the Four Questions now lead others in prayer and song. As we remember our rich journey from slavery to freedom, we look forward in hope. And we are all young again...

Passover

Passover Season Transitions: Childhood to Leading the Service

By:

Susan Weiss, Jewish Exponent Feature

Jewish transitions are marked in a number of ways. For example, I used to sit at the kids' table for Passover -- you know, that folding card table placed at the end of the long, bedecked dining-room table. The kids' table didn't get the fancy tablecloth or the fine china. Our table was covered with a nice enough cloth, but...

Tradition

Begin to Count, and to Understand

By:

Rabbi Yael Levy, Jewish Exponent Feature

It was a beautiful spring night almost 30 years ago when I first experienced the counting of the Omer. As our seder on the second night of Passover came to a close, our host invited everyone out onto his redwood deck. There, under the full moon, he offered thanks, blessed the moment and said, "Today is the first day of...

Columns

Passover as Engine That Helps Drive the Kosher Industry

By:

Roger Horowitz

Passover brings Jews together -- across generations, denominations and distances -- as we travel to see parents, children, aunts, uncles and friends at our annual seders. Three-quarters of the Philadelphia-area's Jewish households will participate in a seder next week, according to a 2009 study sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. Much of this holiday is about food --...