Category: Festivals

Rabbi's Corner – April 2024: Free, Together

4/1/2024

"Why is this night different from all other nights?" This Passover question echoes across history; it's especially poignant this year amidst war, antisemitism and so much more tugging at the Jewish spirit. It's easy to forget that we are one people sharing a single human garment. This year reminds that there is no true Jewish freedom in mere individualism however comfortable, or in an echo chamber however reassuring, or in silencing, or in mere blame and finger pointing. This year demands that we all make space at our seder tables – and in our hearts – for the missing and diverse, what most comforts and what most challenges. After all, the only way we ever can be truly free is together.

Rabbi's Corner – January 2024: Spring Ahead?

1/2/2024

Happy 2024! I hope this secular year dawns bright and hopeful for you and your loved ones.

And, Jewishly speaking, happy spring! It's weird but true: we're on the runway for spring already.

The Jewish calendar has two over-arching time motives. One is the summer-autumn move of seven weeks leading to Rosh Hashanah, then through Yom Kippur and Sukkot to Simhat Torah. The other is the winter-spring move from Tu b'Shevat through Purim and Passover to Shavuot. And because this year's Tu b'Shevat falls "early" in January, we are entering onto the runway to spring.

It feels crazy early, and that's the main point....

Rabbi's Corner – December 2023, Darkness and Light

11/26/2023

Most every spiritual system has a festival time of year dedicated to shining light in the darkness. As the Northern day reaches its lowest ebb, Jews around the world prepare to celebrate Hanukkah – the Festival of Lights. Hanukkah's nightly ritual of kindling candles has become one of Judaism's most cherished rituals.

Especially this year, it's about much more than candles.

Joy Beyond the Walls: Sukkot for Moderns

9/26/2023

By Rabbi David Evan Markus
Sukkot 5784 (2023)

We made it through the High Holy Days of 5784. We rang in the Jewish new year. We honored its double-celebration confluence with Shabbat. We stood together forgiven on Kol Nidre night. We plunged and soared on Yom Kippur, whose last shofar blast re-entered us into life after the High Holy Days.

Now we get to celebrate together. The festival of Sukkot, our "Season of Joy," begins the evening of September 29 – yet again coinciding with Shabbat. So we're off the Torah cycle for two more weeks while we revel in Sukkot and hang out in a sukkah.

You don't have a sukkah? It's still Sukkot, and there are lots of ways to celebrate.

Forward>>

Rabbi's Corner – April 2024: Free, Together

Rabbi's Corner – January 2024: Spring Ahead?

Rabbi's Corner – December 2023, Darkness and Light

Joy Beyond the Walls: Sukkot for Moderns

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