What is Purim and How It is Celebrated by Kids?
Purim is a Holiday that Celebrates the Salvation of Jews in Ancient Persia Purim is one of the most pleasant Jewish holidays. Purim is celebrated on the 14th of Adar, this date More »
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) – A Day of Self Reflection and Repentance
Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement is considered to be one of the holiest holidays in the Jewish tradition. Yom Kippur ends the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and More »
So what is the Passover Seder Plate?
The Seder plate is the central object at the Passover table. Since Passover is about commemorating the story of Exodus, many Jewish symbols are used to demonstrate the sufferings of the Israelites More »
Rosh Hashanah – The Jewish New Year and Its Significance
Rosh Hashanah is the holiday that marks the beginning of the New Year according to the Jewish calendar. Rosh Hashanah is the time of the year when we praise the creation of More »
Hanukkah – A celebration of lights!
The fight against oppression The Jewish people have struggled throughout history to preserve their religion as a nation. More than 2000 years ago, king Antiochus, the leader of the Greek Empire, occupied More »
Rosh Hashanah Gift Giving
In the Jewish culture Rosh Hashanah is the holiday that celebrates the beginning of a New Year. It literally means “head of the year” in Hebrew. Rosh Hashanah is a celebration of everything good we have in our lives thanks to God. It is also a time to reflect on our good deeds and bad deeds from the year that is passing, and think about how we can improve ourselves in the New Year. The period between this holiday and the next, which is Yom Kippur, is a period of ten days at the end of which one gets judged for their past deeds and their attempt to change their ways.
Yom Kippur is a day of fasting where one gets the chance to look at themselves and their actions closely and decide what changes they need to make in order to be closer to God and to be a better person. It allows people the chance to learn from past actions.
Some Jewish people give gifts on this holiday as a way of welcoming the New Year. While it is not a mandatory custom to give gifts, it is usually perceived as a nice and welcomed gesture. Most people appreciate receiving a special gift to start their New Year with in a form of a religious or spiritual object they can use. It can also be a decorative ornament for their home. Some of the more popular gifts include plates – whether the plates relate to the custom of dipping the apple or bread in honey, or to the festive Rosh Hashanah meal itself.
More on Rosh Hashanah customs
The Rosh Hashanah holiday is celebrated in the fall and is a celebration of a new Jewish year. As with other Jewish holidays, Rosh Hashanah is based on the Jewish Lunar Calendar. The ten day period between Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur is the time to reflect on any actions that may have had a negative impact on others. It is also the time to think about strengthening one’s connection with God and the community.
This period is dedicated to healing and mending the relationship with God, oneself and others. The idea is for the Jewish person to be ready on Yom Kippur to start fresh and make amends with people that they may have wronged. During this time people wish each other a good year and also tell each other that they hope they are judged favorably in the Book of Life.
Hebrew Calendar – The Landscape of Israel
Honey dishes make sweet Rosh Hashanah gifts!
As a holiday Rosh Hashanah is very significant to the Jewish people. It is known for its elaborate festive meal that happens on the first night of the holiday. Usually the family gets together for a festive dinner to mark the beginning of the holiday with different foods, each symbolizing a positive aspect of the holiday and the New Year.
Jewish people pray over the food and eat apples and bread dipped in honey to symbolize the sweetness of the New Year and to wish upon everyone abundance and prosperity. Honey symbolizes sweetness but also wealth, both of which are welcomed in the New Year.
Pomegranate – much more than décor
It is customary for Jewish people to eat fresh fruit from Israel on Rosh Hashanah and the pomegranate is the most common fruit consumed during this time. The pomegranate is an important symbol of the New Year as it often symbolizes wealth and abundance of good things to come for the New Year. Jewish people pray over the fruit in hopes that this year they are able to do as many good deeds as the number of the seeds in the pomegranate. Because of the symbolic meaning this is a common theme that inspires Rosh Hashanah gifts. The fruit itself is beautiful because of its bright color and familiar shape, while creative designs add flair to plates and other gifts that people like to give and receive at Rosh Hashanah. You can find these items at the Judaica web store that offer a wide selection of Rosh_Hashanah gifts from Israel.
So what is the Passover Seder Plate?
The Seder plate is the central object at the Passover table. Since Passover is about commemorating the story of Exodus, many Jewish symbols are used to demonstrate the sufferings of the Israelites and to celebrate the miracles that God brought to them in Egypt.
A Seder plate usually has six designated spots, each is dedicated to a traditional food that has symbolic significance in relation to the Passover holiday.
Seder Plate by Israeli Judaica Artist Shraga Landsman
The Seder plate usually has six designated spots. In these spots, we place traditional foods that have a symbolic significance.
What are these six dishes? This your check list for the Seder:
Maror (מרור) and Chazeret (חזרת)- two kinds of bitter herbs that symbolize the harsh lives of the enslaved Israelites in Egypt.
Charoset (חרוסת)- a sweet brown mixture that resembles the clay used by the Israelites during construction work for Pharaoh.
Karpas (כרפס) – a vegetable, usually parsley, dipped in salt water- a metaphor to the bitter tears of the enslaved Hebrews in Egypt.
Zroa (זרוע) – usually a chicken wing – a reminder of the sacrifice that was offered to God in the sacred Temple in Jerusalem.
A Roasted egg (Bietza ביצה) – There are many theories for what the egg stands for. According to one theory, eating a roasted egg is a sign of mourning and grief. The roasted egg is also thought to be eaten as a reminder of the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
Maror maror on the wall, what is the most delicious of them all?
Let’s admit it, Passover’s traditional foods may not be a celebration of the senses, but the Seder plate can definitely be a celebration for the eye!
Placed at the center of the festive table, the Seder plate is usually one of the most impressive items in the Judaica collection.
Both decorative and practical, the Seder plate has become a popular gift for Jewish people all across the world. The Seder plate adds festivity and color to the table on a holiday that celebrates the most important gift of all – freedom.
Israeli Judaica artists design original Seder plates in many sorts of styles and shapes. These artists skillfully combine modern influences with traditional motifs.
Where to buy a Seder plate by Israeli artists?
Discover Israel’s leading Judaica artists who specialize in Seder Plate designs at Canaan Online.
A wide selection of Seder plates is also avaiable at Judaica Store
Best Current Israeli Movies about Love, Family and all the Rest…
Israeli movies have made a serious progress in the last decade. In recent years, Israeli movies have successfully captured fractions of the turbulent Israeli society with its complexity. Israeli movies have dealt with many issues, such as the orthodox society, the Israeli army, sexual orientation, prostitution and much more, showing the world that Israel is much more than a place of conflict.
Israeli movies have shown the world the normality of the Israeli society. In the beginning of the millennium, new high-quality Israeli movies have emerged that dealt with universal issues as love, family and lost.
Nina’s Tragedies (Hasonot Shel Nina), 2003
When this movie starring our very own talented Israeli actress Ayelet Zurer was released, it was received with much enthusiasm by the Israeli audience and the critics. This is a bitter sweet comedy that reflects life as they are with sensitivity and humor. Ayelet Zurer does a fantastic job in the leading role.
Broken Wings, 2002
A family is falling apart with the sudden death of the father. A bitter-sweet drama by Nir Bergman, one of Israel’s most talented directors and scriptwriters. Bergman also created In Treatment, a compelling Israeli drama that was adapted by HBO. Both the film and the TV are highly recommended.
Lost Islands
This is one of the best Israeli movies ever. Two twin Israeli brothers find out that it’s not so easy to fulfill your dreams.
Intimate Grammar (HaDikduk Hapnimi), 2010
This film is based on a novel by the highly acclaimed Israeli author David Grossman.
Turn Left at the End of the World (Sof Ha’Olam Smola), 2004
A very enjoyable film by well known director, Avi Nesher. As a family from India moves in to a desert neighborhood in Southern Israel in the 1960′s, the family’s eldest, beautiful daughter discovers friendship and romance with the lovely local French girl.
Shlomi’s Stars ( Ha’Kochavim Shel Shlomi), 2003
16 years old Shlomi lives with his restless mother, his soldier brother and their ill grandfather. Although not doing well in school, Shlomi is a gifted cook and takes care of most household chores. One day, the school’s principal finds out Shlomi is actually a genius and tries to get him into a more suitable curriculum. However, Shlomi is more interested in taking care of his family and his new love interest, the beautiful girl next door.
Aviva My Love (Aviva Ahuvati), 2006
Aviva, a hard-working hotel cook in the small northern Israeli town of Tiberias, is on the brink of finally fulfilling her lifelong dream to become a writer.
Rosh Hashanah – The Jewish New Year and Its Significance
Rosh Hashanah is the holiday that marks the beginning of the New Year according to the Jewish calendar. Rosh Hashanah is the time of the year when we praise the creation of the world. The ten day period beginning with this holiday is a time for self-evaluation and repentance: the Jewish person examines how he or she can become a better person in the upcoming year.
Don’t let the term New Year mislead you – this holy holiday is nothing like the North American New Year’s Eve party!
The serious part of the holiday – self- examination
Rosh Hashanah occurs right before Yom Kippur, and there’s logic behind it. On Rosh Hashanah Jewish people reflect on their past mistakes in the context of their relationship with G-d. They ask themselves, have I followed all God’s commandments?
Hanukkah – A celebration of lights!
The fight against oppression
The Jewish people have struggled throughout history to preserve their religion as a nation. More than 2000 years ago, king Antiochus, the leader of the Greek Empire, occupied the land of Israel. The occupation of the land and its people wasn’t enough for the Greeks, they wanted to take away the spiritual freedom of the Jewish people. Antiochus demanded that the Jews abandon their faith and surrender to the Greek Gods.
The oppressive verdict caused rivalry among the Jews under the leadership of the Maccabees.
The Hanukkah story: David and Goliath all over again
The Jewish people, though inferior in number, were determined to fight the well trained and armed soldiers of the Greek empire.
Like the Phil Collins’ song – Against All Odds
The story of Chanukah (also spelled Hanukah) tells that the Jews formed a small yet fierce army under the leadership of Judah Maccabee and his four brothers. The Maccabbees defeated the great Greek army but the victory didn’t come easy. It took three years of bloody fights to oust the Greeks out of the holy land.
Judah and his followers rededicated the Second Temple. They removed all of the Greek statues that filled the temple and made a mockery of the temple’s true purpose.
What does the Hanukkah menorah has to do with it?..
The Maccabbees wanted to light the holy Menorah in the temple, also known as the Eternal Light for its believed ability to shine forever. But to the Maccabbee’s misfortune, there was only a small jug of oil left for the lamp in the temple, which was only enough for one day. To everyone’s surprise, the small jug of oil kept the menorah lit for eight whole days. That was the Hanukkah miracle.
We mark this miracle of Hanukkah by kindling the lights of the special 9-candle menorah (Hanukiyah) for eight successive days.
The lighting of the Hanukiya also celebrates the great victory of the brave Jewish ancestors who fought over their right for religious freedom.
The Hanukkah menorah or Hanukia has 9 candle holders, the middle one, Shamah, is lit first and is used to light the other eight candles that are usually very colorful, one for each day. On the eighth day, all 9 candles are kindled, filling the Jewish home with sparkling flames and cheery colors.
This is why Hanukkah is also known as the festival of lights!
Other customs:
Dreidels
The children play with the dreidels that have Hebrew letters, one on each side –(Nun, Gimel, Hey and Shin). Each letter stands for a word that is part of the Hanukah blessing – Great Miracle Happened There. In Israel, the dreidel slightly differs by one letter, so the blessing there is – Great Miracle Happened Here.
As you can well see – anyone can join the party!
The best part – the food:
Unlike in the holy temple, not a drop of oil is spared in cooking on Hanukkah!
Sufganiyot
During the eight days of Chanukah it is customary in Israel to eat jelly donuts called Sufganiyot (plural of Sufganiah), which totally beats the Christmas eggnog! Sufganiya in Hebrew means a sponge. See yourself warned – one single donut contains about 500 calories!
According to Wikipedia, the largest bakery in Israel – Angel Bakeries – fries more than 250,000 sufganiyot every day during the eight days of Chanukah.
Another yummy treat is the potato latkes: to get these crispy pancakes you fry grated potatoes and onions in deep oil.
So if you don’t gain weight during this holiday, count that as your Chanukah miracle!
Havdalah Set: What does it Include?
Performed by millions of Jews around the word the Havdalah service marks the beginning of a new week. Havdalah set is a wonderful Judaica object that is often decorates Jewish homes. Before buying an Havdalah set you should know what it should include.
Havdalah set includes the three following objects:
A candle holder
A small dish or a glass
Spice box
Havdalah sets are made from a wide range of materials, such as silver or glass, and designed in various sizes and styles.
Since the Havdalah set is a visible article in the Jewish home, it has become a popular gift for many occasions which is both practical and decorative. Many designers have turned this ritual article into works of arts, you might be surprised you with their colorful designs and the joy project.
One of my favorite Havdalah set was designed by Israeli Judaica artist, Yair Emanual who brings his joyful spirit to historical Jewish motifs, such as the landscape of Jerusalem. How lovely!
All You Need to Know about Havdalah Service
Say “Farewell” to Shabbat Havdalah style
The Havdalah service marks the beginning of a new week. In Hebrew Havdalah literally means “to make distinction” – it is a mitzvah to symbolically separate regular days from the holy days – Shabbat and the holidays. The Havdalah service marks the end of a holy day and is performed weekly at the end of Shabbat, as the night falls.
Havdalah service – Celebration of the senses
The ceremony begins with a member of the family reciting blessings and pouring wine into a small dish until it’s about to overflow the cup. After the blessing of the wine, a special candle designated for this service only is lit. The lighting of the candle symbolizes the light of Shabbat that is being “turned off”. The candle is distinguished into the remains of the wine.
Sweet spices or anything with a sweet aroma is used during the services to remind us of the sweetness of the Shabbat.
Sunday is a day off for non-Jewish people, but for Jews Sunday is the first day of the week. When Shabbat is over, you wish a Jewish person to have a good week, or “shavua tov”!
Looking for an easy guide on how to perform Havdalah? Watch this footage!
Today you can find beautiful sets online for the Havdalah service.
Jewish Wedding Traditions: From Signing the Ketubah to the Breaking of the Glass
There are quite many Jewish wedding traditions that have been observed for generations. Although the wedding service is not that long, there are many Jewish wedding traditions. If you examine popular Jewish customs in Jewish communities around the world, you will notice that there are differences between Sephardic Jews and Ashkenazi Jews However, most of the prominent Jewish traditions are largely the same. What Jewish wedding traditions are you familiar with? Have you been invited to a Jewish wedding and knows not what to expect? In this short article I will introduce to the most common Jewish wedding traditions that are observed by religious and non-religious Jews to this day. Here is a short introduction to the prominent Jewish wedding traditions.
Ketubah:
The Ketubah is signed before the wedding service begins. The Ketubah is an important part of a traditional Jewish matrimony. The ketubah exemplifies Judaism’s view on marriage- as a sacred contract between man and woman. The Ketubah includes the husband’s commitments to his wife: to provide food, shelter and so on. The Ketubah is signed by two witnesses who must not blood related to the bride and groom. The Ketubah is usually read out loud under the Huppah.
Covering the face of the bride:
One of the most famous Jewish wedding traditions is the covering the face of the bride. Before the bride goes under the Huppah the groom, covers the bride’s face with a veil. This tradition is called badeken meaning “the covering” or a veil.
Chuppah;
Most of you are probably familiar with the Chuppah – a large canopy, under which the Jewish wedding service is performed. The Huppah is a metaphor for the new home that the couple will be building together.
Wearing Tallit and Kippah:
There are several Jewish wedding traditions that are not observed in all Jewish communities. In quite many Jewish communities the groom wears a Tallit under the Chuppah although it is not obligatory. Among Sephardic Jews, it is customary that the bride purchases a new Tallit for the groom.
The Jewish wedding ring:
According to Jewish law, the groom has to wed with a ring that must worth more than a dime. The ring has to be round and smooth, as a symbol for marriage life.
The Seven blessings:
The seven blessings are one of the most loved Jewish wedding traditions. Then, wine is poured into a glass and the bride and groom drink after the rabbi recites a blessing. According to the tradition of Ashkenazi Jews, after the drinking of the first glass, a second glass of wine is poured by the rabbi and the Seven Blessings, also known as Sheva Brachot, are recited. According to Jewish tradition, the seven blessing are often recited by the rabbi who performs the Kidushin or by guests; this is considered a great honor. The Seven Blessings are recited only if a ‘minyan’ is present. The seven blessings are usually chanted in both Hebrew and English.
Ani LeDodi VeDodi Li (I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine):
This is one of my favorite Jewish wedding traditions. Under the Huppah, the bride and groom recite this psalm from the biblical book, Song o Song, which is believed to have been written by King Solomon. Ani LeDodi, also known as “I am my beloved’s and my beloved’s is mine”, is traditionally interpreted as the divine love that God has given to the people of Israel. The people of Israel are equivalent to the wife, the beloved, and God in the one who blesses His people with eternal love.
Jewish blessings in praise of women
Breaking of the glass:
At the peak of the ceremony, the groom takes the wedding ring in his hand and in front of witnesses, the groom says the eternal prayer: “If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand wither” and then declares to the bride: “You are betrothed unto me with this ring, according to the law of Moses and Israel.” Finally, the groom smashes the glass with his feet as the audience cheers.
