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Posts Tagged holidays
A Jew’s Christmas To-Do List
Posted by Sarah in Uncategorized on December 24, 2009
It’s that time of year. Only one more day until Christmas – until radio stations go back to playing regular music and stores become less crazy. Most have spent weeks, if not months, getting hyped for the holidays. They’ve planned out their presents and meals, and now it’s here. Tomorrow is the big day!
So, if you don’t celebrate Christmas, what’s there to do?
As a Jew, there are tons of things you can do to fill your Christmas day. Some are typical and some are not, so pick and choose whichever fit for you!
1. Enjoy the famous Chinese food and a movie – Yes, I know. It’s the most stereotypical activity for Jews on Christmas, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good one! Since most places are closed on Christmas, it’s hard finding good food…which leads us to Chinese restaurants. They’re one of the few places open, and with so many delicious options, they’re hard to resist! The same limited selection goes for non-restaurants, which is why so many Jews follow up or precede their meal with a trip to the movies. Careful though, in places like NYC and other highly populated Jewish areas, I’m betting theaters may be busy.
2. Celebrate Christmas – Sure, you may not practice Christianity, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t something to gain from participating in the Christmas holiday. Spend time with friends who celebrate and find out what makes the holiday so great for them. As someone who has experienced Christmas through loved ones for the past few years, I can tell you that it’s totally worth it. Why? Because happiness is happiness, and there’s something contagious about it no matter the reason.
3. Plan a game tournament – If you feel like there’s no where to go with every place closed, stay home! There’s nothing wrong with spending the day indoors and playing all the games you can get your hands on. Indulge your competitive side by inviting friends or family over and holding a day-long gaming tournament. The time will fly and the memories will be great!
4. Go outside – It’s true. December isn’t exactly the warmest time of the year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy being outside. Right now, with all the snow on the ground, it’s hard to resist playing in it. Build snowmen, create snow angels, have a snowball fight, and just let loose. When you’re finished, you can spend the rest of the day inside getting warm.
So, if you’re at a loss of what to do with your day tomorrow, try one of these suggestions and have fun!
-Sarah
Gelt and Candles and Goblins, Oh My!
Posted by Sarah in Jewish Books, Jewish Knowledge on December 10, 2009
Celebrating Hanukkah can be rough. I know, I know. You’re probably wondering how 8 days of presents could possibly be a hardship. Well, maybe that part isn’t bad, but as Jews we walk around stores inundated with Christmas decorations hoping for just a little glimmer of some Hanukkah cheer too.
A few weeks ago, I walked into Barnes & Noble and was browsing in the children’s section (shocker, I know). Despite being one of my favorite stores, it was depressing to see all the classic Christmas stories displayed throughout the room with only one side of a book carousel devoted to Hanukkah stories.
It’s true, there aren’t many famous Hanukkah stories. But, if you’re looking for a classic this season and the bookstore isn’t giving you the options you need, look no further! I know the best Hanukkah story, one that blows all others out of the water – Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins. My mom used to read this to me when I was little, and to this day, I still believe that it is by far the best Hanukkah story around. So, here are five reasons why Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins is the only book you need this Hanukkah season!
1. Goblins – What could be better than mixing Hanukkah and goblins? These fantasy creatures add spice to any story and are sure to draw in both kids and adults (the evidence being that I still love this story).
2. The Illustrations – While a little darker than your typical children’s story, the drawings in this book are amazing. Kids are drawn into an entirely different world and able to visualize the story’s crazy creatures and their actions.
3. Hershel – The main character is a really clever guy! Apparently based on a real person, he may not be your typical hero, but he fills the shoes quite nicely.
4. The Tools of Trickery – Hershel uses everything from a menorah to hardboiled eggs to a game of dreidel to a jar of pickles to outwit the goblins in this story. This strange arsenal is not only funny but effective, allowing Hershel to save Hanukkah for the villagers.
5. The Moral – The story is entertaining and readers will certainly be drawn into the alternate reality. But, even better, this tale has an amazing message: nothing should stop you from celebrating those things that are important to you. While a Jewish story, this great lesson makes Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins great for everyone!
-Sarah
Jewish puppets sounding off on Chanukkah!
Posted by Naomi in Link Roundup on December 9, 2009
I’ll be honest with you. I don’t have anything for you about Jewish books this week (I know, I know…). Finals are about to begin, so when my mind is chock full of multivariate regressions and oligopolistic competitions (yeah, I don’t really know what that is, either) – well, it’s a little tough to stay on top of the Jewish book world.
But! I can’t leave you empty handed, now can I? After all, Chanukkah begins on Friday night! So consider this (adorable!) Chanukkah video my gift to you. Enjoy!
-Naomi
“‘Oy’ is just ‘Yo’ backwards”… apparently!
Posted by Naomi in Link Roundup on November 26, 2009
Ok, pop quiz: anyone know what’s special about right now??
Um, well, yes, it is in fact Thanksgiving. But that wasn’t exactly what I was going for…
Right now, we’re in the midst of celebrating the Jewish month of Kislev – sometimes known as “the Hanukka month.” Well, ok, no one actually calls it “the Hanukka month,” but basically, that’s what it is. And the festival of lights is coming up fairly quickly, as this recently released video from Nefesh B’Nefesh reminded me earlier this evening:
Gosh darn it, will flashmobs never stop being cool?
Happy Kislev, Happy Thanksgiving… and happy almost-Hanukka!
Naomi
All good things must come to an end…
Posted by Naomi in Jewish Innovation, Uncategorized on October 12, 2009
Wow. What a month. We’ve just been through a bevy of Jewish Holidays: Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah. That’s an awful lot of hours clocked in the synagogue. And an even more awful lot of food.
It’s been, simultaneously, both a fun month, and a difficult one. Last night, as we marked the closing of Simchat Torah, my friends and I reminisced about our favorite High Holiday tunes, and joked (somewhat seriously) that now that the holidays were over, we wouldn’t see each other again until next year. But we were also kind of excited – excited to have our regular Sundays back, excited for normal (shorter) synagogue services to resume, excited to not eat quite as much every weekend.
But despite all that excitement, there was still a general sense of gloominess. Now that the holidays are over, we’ll be entering the holiday-less Jewish month of Cheshvan (in fact, there are no more Jewish holidays until Chanukkah, which this year begins in mid-December). This month is sometimes also known as “Marcheshvan” – in Hebrew “mar” means “bitter”. And an entire month with no fun holidays is a bitter month, indeed.
So what can we do to keep away the Marcheshvan blues, and to bring a bit of Jewish joy into our lives? Well, I have a couple of ideas for ya:
1. Check out the newly redesigned JPS website! (In particular, check out the all-new feature on the right side, towards the bottom… that’s right, you can now stream the JPS Audio Bible! Each week, the new Torah portion will be posted, along with the full text, so you can read along as you listen. Genesis is up right now – check it out!)
2. Find a way to incorporate a bit of Judaism into the upcoming secular holidays. Thanksgiving (my all-time favorite secular holiday!) is a day ripe for an infusion of spirituality. Brainstorm with your family how you can make the day meaningful – have a discussion over dinner about the things you are grateful for, compose your own Thanksgiving prayer, or volunteer to serve Thanksgiving dinner at a local soup kitchen. (I’m a bit stuck on Halloween – “act-of-kindness or treat” just seems a little bit lame. Any ideas?)
3. Stock up on your Chanukkah gifts. It’s never too early! (And FYI: JPS is having an early-bird Chanukkah sale – 40% off select titles!)
4. Get involved with Jewish Social Action Month – KolDor has earmarked October 19th – November 17th as a month for Jews to get involved in social action projects. Check out their site for a listing of volunteer opportunities, or to put up an event of your own!
5. Now that the weather is getting chilly, it’s time to whip out those fleece blankets, brew a cup of steaming hot tea or apple cider, and crack open a good book. In fact, now that we’re beginning the Torah reading cycle from the top, how about cracking open the Good Book?
Do you have any other creative ideas for brightening up Marcheshvan? Let me know!
- Naomi
Televised Services – Too Much?
Posted by Sarah in Jewish Books on September 17, 2009
When it comes to offering easy ways to pray, how much is too much?
I was reading a great eJewish Philanthropy blog post today that discussed the availability of free High Holiday services for those wishing to participate without spending a lot of their hard-earned money. As someone who was until recently a student, I definitely appreciate the fact that there are places to pray without having to pay for a seat. And, in these economic times, the idea has become more commonplace as synagogues wish to avoid discouraging attendance. Therefore, as I read this post, I was pleased to see such a variety of ways to participate in the High Holidays without putting a huge dent in your wallet. However, I soon stumbled upon the mention of a possibility that startled me: Jewish TV Network actually offers a televised Kol Nidre service!
Source: http://www.fotosearch.com
Needless to say, I’ve never heard of this before, and the idea doesn’t make me happy.
Let’s think about it. The High Holiday season is one of the few (maybe even the only) times a year that almost every Jew attends services. Synagogues only typically half full or scraping by to get a minyan find themselves forced to offer a standing room only section as pews fill to capacity. Picture it. A time of year when such a large group comes together to pray. The sense of community is fantastic! So, imagine my disappointment upon discovering that people may have a way to avoid attending services, thanks to the offering of a televised gathering. Do people really need a reason to stay home? The option certainly makes sense for those physically unable to attend. In fact, I think it’s wonderful that these people still have a way to experience the holidays. But, what about everyone else?
In a society where technology is so prevalent, do we really need it taking over another aspect of our lives? Relying on a TV for services eliminates the communal feeling, the commitment ones makes to G-d by attending services, and the feeling of participation. Therefore, this High Holiday season, I beg you! Go to synagogue. Feel the connection. And, truly ring in the New Year.
-Sarah
To Do List: Write Your Own Torah
Posted by Sarah in Jewish Books, Jewish Knowledge on September 15, 2009
The New Year is upon us! Just a few more days until we ring in year 5770, and while Naomi shared what to expect from this weekend’s torah portions, don’t forget the necessary preparations for the coming holidays. Don’t know what to do? Look to last week’s parsha, Vayelech, for some guidance.
Source: http://www.davidrose.us
Sure, Vayelech primarily discusses Moses’ pending death and the fate of the Israelites (don’t worry, Joshua leads them into the land of milk and honey!). Based on this, you might be wondering how Vayelech prepares you for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. In a wonderful (as always) G-dcast cartoon, the narrator explains how this parsha reminds Jews that they should write their own Torah. Whoa! Before you start panicking about how you could ever fulfill this, think about the possibilities. According to G-dcast, there are two ways you can complete this seemingly impossible task:
1. Sponsor the writing of a Torah – it’s not cheap, but it keeps you from having to spends hours upon hours (well, more like months upon months) writing the entire Torah in tiny Hebrew.
2. Embody the Torah – that is, integrate the Torah and it’s teaching into your everyday life.
Parshat Vayelech from G-dcast.com
More Torah cartoons at www.g-dcast.com
While G-dcast’s suggestions stopped there, I began to wonder if there was a third choice. When you think about it, the Torah is the story of the Jews – how they came to be, their rituals, their laws, their history. So, couldn’t writing your own Torah be interpreted as writing your own story as a Jew? Perhaps this isn’t what was intended by the parsha, but what’s to stop you from chronicling your life for the education and understanding of future generations?
Keeping this third choice in mind, completing this task is an ideal way to prepare for the coming High Holy Days. These holidays purposely ask people to reflect on the past year, think about what they could have done differently, and make plans to do better. What better way to do that than to write down the story of your life and take from it important lessons for the New Year? If your entire life seems like too much, maybe try tackling just the past year. Think of it as drafting an outline before writing a paper. Once completed, your story will help you develop goals for the year, as well as indicate from whom you will need to seek forgiveness. Then, you can face the New Year prepared and ready to thrive.
-Sarah
Rosh Hashanah: Bringing you the best in Tanakh drama
Posted by Naomi in Jewish Books, Jewish Knowledge on September 13, 2009
Well, I had hoped that by now I would have visited at least one Jewish cultural site or literary event in New York City and have been able to share the experience with all of you. Sadly, however, it turns out that conventional wisdom holds true: graduate students have no life. Perhaps in a few weeks, once I’ve got a routine down, I can work on becoming the next Jewish Rick Steves. (I can see it now: Jewish Literature Through the Back Door!)
In the meantime, however, I want to remind you all that there’s a really big day coming up. I’ll give you a hint: it involves apples and honey and big sparkling balls dropping in Times Square…
Wait. Scratch that last one. But otherwise, yes, you guessed right: this upcoming weekend is Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year! Whether you mark the day with a big family get-together or a day full of prayer in Synagogue, it’s easy to feel that sense of joy and community which permeates the holiday.
Now, if you do happen to be a synagogue-goer on Rosh Hashana, make sure that you don’t snooze off during the Torah readings. Rosh Hashana Torah reading is where all the action is: you’ve got the story about God promising 90-year old Sarah that she will bear a son; the story of the binding of Isaac, her son; and the Haftorah portion about Hannah, whose story inspired the Jewish conception of prayer. Take some time to read these stories, and to think about their histories and implications. These stories are the foundations for Jewish historical conceptions of prayer, of God, and of peoplehood. Reading them, perhaps you’ll learn a bit about ancient Jewish history. You may gain new insight into why Jews pray the way that they do, or about the language that Jews use to talk about God. Perhaps you’ll even be personally inspired. Whatever you take away from the Rosh Hashana Torah readings, one thing is for certain: you’ll learn that Tanakh certainly ain’t dull.
Wishing you all a happy and sweet New Year,
Naomi
“I Wonder, Wonder Who Wrote The Book of Love?”
Posted by Naomi in Jewish Books, Jewish Knowledge on August 5, 2009
Source: http://images.inmagine.com
(That was a one-hit wonder by the Monotones, in case you’re curious.)
Following on the heels of Tisha B’Av (the most somber day in the Jewish calendar) is the festival of Tu B’av – the Jewish holiday of love. In days gone by (during the Second Temple period, to be exact – around 2500 years ago), young, unmarried women would don white dresses and dance in the vineyards. There, according to the Mishna, they would sing, “young man, consider whom you choose to be your wife” – and hopefully, some eligible bachelor would take notice. (After all, it is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife… Anyone? Anyone?) After the destruction of the Second Temple, the dancing and matchmaking of Tu B’Av fell out of practice, and the holiday went on a nineteen-hundred year hiatus.
Recently, however, the day has experienced a resurgence in popularity, especially in Israel. The entertainment, beauty, and flowers and cards industries have begun to have a field day promoting Tu B’Av as the Jewish alternative to Valentine’s Day. And uniquely, though it’s a Jewish holiday, there are essentially no rituals and no liturgy associated with it – so if you want to celebrate the day, pretty much anything goes! Host a romantic dinner party, send some flowers to a loved one, sign up on JDate, or… check out some Jewish books on love and relationships (hey, you’re reading a Jewish book blog, what did you expect?). Here are a few popular ones you may want to consider:
● Love Your Neighbor and Yourself: A Jewish Approach to Modern Personal Ethics, by Rabbi Elliot Dorff
● Treasury of Jewish Love: Poems, Quotations & Proverbs
● Kosher Sex: A Recipe for Passion and Intimacy
● God, Love, Sex, and Family: A Rabbi’s Guide for Building Relationships That Last
● The Jewish Way in Love and Marriage
● Dating Secrets of the Ten Commandments
● Kabbalah on Love (Technology for the Soul)
Happy reading! XOXO,
- Naomi
A Tisha B’Av overview, and some suggestions for reading
Posted by Naomi in Jewish Books, Jewish Knowledge on July 30, 2009
Today is Tisha B’Av, the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av, and it is considered to be the saddest and most serious day in the Jewish calendar. Tisha B’Av was the day when it was decreed that the Jews would wander in the desert for 40 years before they could enter the Land of Israel. In 586 BCE, on Tisha B’Av, the Babylonian army destroyed the First Temple. In 70 CE, on the ninth of Av, the Second Temple was destroyed – an act which forever altered Judaism and almost marked the downfall of the religion.
After the destruction of the Second Temple, the Rabbis began to notice a pattern, that the month of Av – and especially the ninth day of that month – was a herald for many disastrous events to befall the Jewish people. Both the expulsion from England in 1290 and the expulsion from Spain in 1492 occurred on Tisha B’Av. The emptying of the Warsaw Ghetto – 9 Av, 1942. The bombing of the JCC in Buenos Aries, in which 90 people were killed and 300 injured – 9 Av, 1994.
Of course, not every calamitous event in Jewish history has occurred during the month of Av, and many a Tisha B’Av has passed with nary a bother. But because of the deep significance of the Temple’s destruction to the Jewish psyche, Tisha B’Av has become the representative day of mourning for all the sufferings of the Jewish people. And when an event like the 1994 Buenos Aires bombing occurs, its sting is just a little sharper, because it happened on Tisha B’Av.
Source: http://www.holidays.net
Tisha B’Av is observed with ritual mourning practices, as if mourning the passing of a loved one. In addition to a 25-hour fast, Jewish tradition mandates refraining from wearing leather, washing one’s body, and using perfume. Active mourning rituals include the reading of Eicha (Lamentations) and Kinot (Hebrew elegies written at different periods in Jewish history). And while regular Torah study is discouraged (because the study of Torah is meant to be joyful), the study of Job and Jeremiah, as well as the portions of Talmud and Midrash that discuss the destruction of Jerusalem, is encouraged.
My suggestion? If you can, set aside a little time today to do just that. Read through the book of Lamentations, or, with a friend, read and discuss the many probing questions posed by the book of Job. Reflect a little. Think about humanity’s capacity for cruelty, and where that has led us over the centuries. And think about what we can all do to offset that, and to make our world just a little bit kinder.
-Naomi
