Judaism

Yarmulkes can be knitted, crocheted or felted. Some carry the famous Nike swoosh or a university logo and some are plain black velvet or suede. No matter what these small, fitted skullcaps look...

In Jewish tradition, honoring the Sabbath on Friday night at sundown includes lighting a lamp. Often the lamp is lit with candles, but some families and synagogues use oil lamps. Many Jewish...

Kashrut, or "keeping Kosher" means that a person follows Jewish law in what they can/can't eat and how they prepare food. Laws are derived from the Bible, such as not eating pork, as well as...

The Jewish calendar is neither a solar calendar (365.25 days) as the Gregorian calendar is, nor is it a lunar calendar (354 or 355 days) as is the Muslim calendar. According to Jewish belief, the...

Learning Hebrew letters requires practice and skill. Hebrew is somewhat different than English. Be prepared to study the words of the Hebrew alphabet in order to learn Hebrew words properly. A...

Many Jewish individuals or families have at least one mezuzah inside their homes. This traditional item, a scroll made of parchment paper with verses of the Bible on it, can be handed down from...

Fasting in Judaism is one of the oldest ways to show our respect for G-d. Learn how to prepare to fast, last minute.

A shofar is a musical instrument made from the hollowed-out horn of a ram or antelope. It is ritually blown at certain services leading up to and during the Jewish High Holy Days (Rosh Hashanah...

The Haggadah is a book that serves as a guide to fulfilling the commandment in Exodus 13:8: "And you shall tell your child on that day, saying: It is because of that which the Lord did for me when...

So you're ready to light a menorah for the first time this Hanukah. But how on earth do you do it correctly? This article will explain to beginners how to light Hanukah candles.

A prayer shawl, or tallith as it is known in Judaism, is a symbolic garment worn during important Jewish events and holidays. Though the prayer shawl is traditionally worn by men, women can also...

In Judaism, a bar mitzvah technically isn't something you can plan: a boy becomes a Bar Mitzvah (or a girl becomes a Bat Mitzvah) at the age of 13, when he is considered old enough to observe the...

Think of this as a big pot of stew to feed a crowd, only way better. It's a mix of flavors from across the world. Traditionally called a 'tsimmes' (which in Yiddish means, to make a fuss) and...

The typical course of human history regarding religion is that, with each successive generation, some become more attached to their birth religion while some become less attached to their birth...

So you’re hunting for a kallah gown but you don’t know which style to choose. Not to worry; below are some styles that will flatter your figure.

Observant Jewish men wear tefillin during morning prayers. Tefillin are never worn at night. Tefillin consist of one box (shel yad) strapped onto the hand, and the another box (shel rosh) strapped...

There are about as many latke recipes as there are families making them! They range from crispy morsels to amorphous masses of potato & onion. Any way you look at it, a good latke is worth...

There are many considerations when purchasing Tefillin. Tefillin are holy objects that observant Jewish men wear during morning prayers. (In some more liberal Jewish communities, women also choose...

Meeting and dating Jewish women means finding a mate with a rich heritage and religious conviction. If you are Jewish or just want to date Jewish women, there are many ways to meet them if you put...

With the up coming holiday season with Thankgiving and then Chanukkah, its important to know how to kasher the turkey or what ever meats you may have. This article will show which foods are...

Hanukkah, or the Feast of Dedication, is one of the great festivals of the Jewish faith. The tradition began in 165 A.D. when a Hebrew army under Judas Maccabeus defeated the Syrians and...

The range of Shabbat services in New York City is almost limitless. Of course, you can find your standard Orthodox, Conservative and Reform services. However, you can also find services with fun...

Preparing your family's Passover meals takes a lot of thought and careful planning. Using discretion when selecting foods for your Passover meals is essential for avoiding inadvertently serving...

New York City has a significantly large Jewish presence. Finding Shabbat activities in the city shouldn’t be a problem, not matter what congregation you prefer and where in the city you...

Many people decide to crochet their own yarmulke by hand instead of purchasing one that is manufactured or made by a company.

If you want to buy a baseball cap, there are numerous variations: with or without team names, various logos, different colors, long and short bills and seasonal varieties. When you want to...

If you are running a Jewish program on a college campus, particularly if you are explicitly associated with Hillel, you can likely obtain a grant for your program from one of Hillel's grant pools....

Although Shabbat dinner is inherently different than a dinner you would host on any other weeknight, there is no reason not to use the opportunity to invite guests to a memorable meal. The...

On May 7 and 8, 2008, the State of Israel will celebrate its 60th anniversary. While this is the actual date of Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel's Independence Day, many Jewish communities across the world...

One of the four new years of the Jewish calendar, Tu B’Shvat celebrates the birthday of trees. In recent times, the holiday has become a kind of Jewish Earth Day, allowing participants to think...

Pruim is one of the most fun Jewish holidays of the year. Celebrating Purim is fun and easy.

Purim is a festive time, and here are tips on how to plan a Purim celebration in your own home, church or synagogue.

Seder is the meal eaten during the first night of the Passover holiday. It is celebrated by Jews and Christians alike, although rituals vary slightly at the Christian Seder. Passover celebrates...

A farbrengan is a chassidic gathering that usually occurrs on the first day of the Jewish month, after the Sabbath and on chassidic holidays. The purpose of the gathering is to share Torah...

Hearing a Jewish child say a blessing before taking a bite of food is one of the most gratifying rewards of raising someone in the Jewish faith. Their simple "thank you" to the Creator warms the...

A bar mitzvah, the Jewish ceremony that marks the passage of a boy into adulthood, is a joyous time for the bar mitzvah boy and his entire family. It may be a challenge to find a gift for a...

Tzitzit are the fringes Jewish men wear on four-corned garments, such as the tallit gadol (worn over the clothes during the morning prayer--also known as the prayer shawl) and the tallit katan...

While the majority of Judaica stores in America are located in the New York area, many Jews cannot delay the purchase of a gift or necessary Judaica until their next trip to New York or to Israel....

If you live in New York or Israel, you probably have a favorite Judaica store. However, those visiting from out of town may have only a faint idea of where to find the Judaica they are looking...

One of the most memorable Sabbath moments for many Jewish children is hearing their fathers make Kiddush (ritual with wine to usher in Shabbat) with a gleaming cup in hand. A Kiddush cup should be...

When buying gifts for a Jewish couple on their wedding day, you will want to consider beautiful, practical items as well as presents which reflect their Jewish heritage. You can find appropriate...

A mezuzah brings a Jewish atmosphere into a home while fulfilling one of the most important Torah commandments. A mezuzah is a small parchment scroll containing Biblical verses. It is usually ...

Mezuzahs have been prized for thousands of years as sacred, beautiful objects that immediately create a Jewish atmosphere in a home. Believed by many to provide protection against illness and...

In Jewish Law, the prohibition against eating insects is quite stringent, so it is important to check all food for bugs before cooking and eating. Many foods are quite easy to check except for...

While buying and preparing kosher fish may be simpler than selecting kosher meat, you'll need to pay attention to many details when shopping for it. Whether you are buying fresh fish, pickled...

A Mezuzah is a small case that is attached to the door posts of Jewish homes. The case contains a scroll upon which are written the words of Torah (the bible). As someone enters or leaves...

While some people grow up experiencing Seder traditions, sometimes someone might be new to a holiday and may not know why certain foods are eaten while other foods are avoided. Passover traditions...