Rabbi's Message

blog post 3-5

The Light & Joy of Purim

Pictured above: TLC students and CBT adults at an intergenerational program   They Tried to Kill Us (We Survived, Let’s Eat!) You’ve almost certainly heard this explanation of nearly every Jewish holiday, perhaps associated with Passover. Or Hanukkah. For reasons too numerous to mention, I’ve come to believe its origin is actually the Book of Esther. When the holiday of Purim—considered a minor festival because it isn’t mentioned in the Torah—was instituted by the ancient…

Dedication - Hanukkah & Hanukat HaBayit

Dedication

Much has been written in the last few weeks about the convergence of Hanukkah & Christmas. I’m more interested in Hanukkah’s crossover from 2024 to 2025. Today, the eighth day of Hanukkah, coincides with the second day of the Hebrew month of Tevet and the second day of the month of January, which is the second day of the new year of 2025. The significance of this connection between Hanukkah and the new year occurred…