Yom Kippur

Y=Yom Kippur shines the spiritual holiday of the Jewish year O=Only a day of atonement shines for the soul M=My Lord forgive me all my sins against you K=Kind brothers and sisters I come to you I=I personally ask your forgiveness please forgive P=Please Lord accept our fast and prayers today P=Please Lord accept our fast and prayers today U=Under this day after nightfall the whole year will be sealed R=Remaining in the synagogue the whole spiritual light comes alive . this poem has been... Read Full Story

israeli couples are no longer permitted to marry unless each can prove their matrilineal judaism to the satisfaction of the orthodox -- orthodox, mind you -- rabbis. born and raised in jerusalem? speak hebrew? fast on yom kippur? keep a kosher kitchen? meaningless. anyone unlucky enough to have an american parent gets an especially hard time of it, since american jews are notoriously lenient about their judaism. many couples marry abroad in order to avoid the discrimination. probably won’t... Read Full Story

Dear Haley, Happy New Year!!! La Shona Tova!! I say this with the belief that you will finish your conversion classes and become a full-fledged member of the Tribe. Rabbi Goldstein is not going to wait forever. For the love of god, you have five classes left. I realize that you thought the classes would consist of more wealthy, single men. I’m sorry you were disappointed, but get over it. If you want any chance at being the legal guardian to Baby G in the event that something happens to... Read Full Story

Several minutes before sunset on Friday night, the Jewish observance of Yom Kippur will begin. The first service is called “Kol Nidre, ” which means “all vows.”  If you are interested in what it sounds like, click here. In this prayer, G-d is asked to annul all personal vows made in the next year. It refers only to vows between the person making them and G-d, such as “If I could just do X, I’ll pray every day for the next year!”  Transgressions between people must be mended through a personal... Read Full Story

Sitting in shul this Shabbat, I began thinking how in less than two weeks I would be changing my seat and how Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur would be upon us. As I continue to get into the "mood" of Elul I thought about how long I yet have to go, but also of the consoling yet awe inspiring feelings that the Yamim Noraim instill. I look forward to my temporary seat change and the "holiness" and cleansing ability that that spot has for me each year. But it wasn't always like that... I remember as... Read Full Story