Jewish Culture

No one knows exactly how the tradition of placing small stones at gravesites began. This is a common Jewish practice that is sometimes shared by other cultures, and may have its origins in ancient...

Kosher foods are those which fit the rules of the Jewish religion. There are specific customs to follow when labeling foods kosher, and all have special markings on their packaging labels to make...

Throughout Russia's history, the czars refused all Jews entry into Russia. The First Partition of Poland, in 1772, brought hundreds of thousands of Jews into Russian territory. Russia's rulers...

Civil (Gregorian) calendar years are not difficult to convert into Jewish calendar years. The Gregorian calendar is the calendar system commonly used throughout the world, in which years are...

The Jewish people have a history of expulsion from wherever they set down roots. In modern years, only the state of Israel has given Jews a home. It is partly because of feeling like a guest in...

In 1791, sparked by growing anti-Semitism in Russia, Catherine II (Catherine the Great) created the Pale of Settlement in order to re-settle and segregate Russia's Jewish population. Eventually,...

Netanya is a tourist center and beach resort located in the Centre District of Israel. The city's name is also spelled as Nathania.

Since the 1880s, Jewish immigrants from around the world have come to settle in Israel. If you're looking for a long-lost Jewish relative, searching Israeli records is a good place to start....

Ancient Jewish music comes from synagogal music used in the Temple in Jerusalem. According to many religious sources, hymnal and psalmic music was used throughout religious Jewish history.

Jewish festivals cycle over the course of a year. Many Jewish holy days and festivals, such as Purim, Passover and Chanukah, incorporate food as central to the celebration. Jewish festivals and...

Elie Wiesel is one of the most recognizable and influential survivors of the Holocaust. His experiences fueled his lifelong career as a literary figure, teacher and defender of human rights. He is...

Herod I, also known as Herod the Great, was the king of Judea from about 37 to 4 B.C. He is known for being a friend to the Romans.

In ancient times, an armor-bearer was a soldier's right hand man. In a time when soldiering meant hand-to-hand combat and heavy equipment, skilled armor-bearers were in high demand.

Shofars, also spelled shophars, are musical instruments created and developed by ancient Hebrews. The shofar is made of a ram or antelope horn. It has a flattened mouthpiece from which the user...

Kibbutzim, collective Jewish communes in Israel and Palestine, played an integral part in Jewish settlement within Palestine and the inception of the state of Israel. The nature, function and...

Israeli circle dances are also called Davidic dances in honor of the most notable dancing king, David. These dances are a combination of Israeli folk and choreographed dance movements. The steps...

Ancient Jewish birthing methods were largely governed by Jewish religious laws. These laws circumscribed Jewish life since biblical times and have remained fairly constant for several thousand...

Jewish people celebrate Purim by giving food baskets. This custom is called mishloach manot, which is Hebrew for "sending portions". Follow simple guidelines by filling Purim baskets with at least...

Keeping kosher can be a challenge when you're not used to it, but a little advanced planning makes it much easier. Once you're familiar with all the kosher foods and preparation methods available,...

Observant Jews follow the Jewish Dietary Laws, or kashrut, which determines which foods are permissible to eat or kosher. The dietary laws fall into several categories, which animals are...

The term "kosher" describes foods that fall under the Jewish dietary law, or kashrut. The law prohibits the eating of certain types of food and dictates the methods of slaughtering, cooking and...

To kick off the festivities, the host family is introduced with great fanfare by the DJ or master of ceremonies. Parents are first, followed by siblings and finally the Bar or Bat Mitzvah boy or girl.

Kugel is a traditional ethnic food that has been a fixture on the Jewish table for 800 years, according to JewishRecipes.org. The name is pronounced koo-gel or ki-gel, depending on the region of...

A bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah marks the entry of a 13-year-old boy or girl into the adult Jewish community. The first act as an adult is to read that week's portion of the Torah in Hebrew during a...

Hebrew or Ivrit ( ע'רת) is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family. Semitic is a designation that refers to descendants of Shem, the son of Noah. When Theodore...

Indiana Jones made the Ark of the Covenant famous, but the artifact held a special place in Jewish folklore for many thousands of years before that. It is particularly noteworthy because Judaism...

The Jewish yarmulke or kippah is worn by Jewish men and boys to show respect for God and, according to the Jewish Literacy website, to show Jewish pride. There are many ways to make a yarmulke,...

Kosher meat laws include requirements regarding which types of fowl and land animals can be eaten and how they must be slaughtered. Restrictions cover separation of meat and dairy, and the...

Judaism and depression asks a dual question about religion and medicine. Depression can weaken the link between man and God, disturbing his ability to feel his faith. Judaism is not only about the...

Judaism is a religion that is celebrated by Jewish people all over the world. There are also certain cultural similarities among these different people, although they are from a variety of...

Judaism is one of the oldest existing religions. It predates Christianity, Islam, Sikhism and many other faiths. As is to be expected with such an ancient religion, there are a great many customs...

The Israeli flag is a symbol of national pride for Jews. It represents a safe haven in a world where they often find themselves being persecuted.

Marrying someone from a foreign country is complicated by a variety of factors not faced by those marrying another U.S. citizen. While each relationship is different, these factors can include...

Tracing your Jewish family tree back to its roots may seem like a bigger job than you can handle, particularly when it comes to researching ancestors overseas, or more than a couple of generations...

Add a new tradition to your Chanukah celebration this year by presenting the family with a handmade Chanukah board game. In playing the game, family members will encounter both traditional...

Visiting Israel is the ultimate dream of a lifetime for many people of faith. Three of the world's major religions--Judaism, Christianity and Islam--all have ties and history connected to this...

A Judaica gift can be wonderful choice for a wedding, Bar or Bat Mitzvah, or other Jewish life-cycle event, as well as for any other secular occasions. The following are some tips for buying a...

These pocket filled pastries are a traditional Jewish holiday treat for Hannukah or the Sabbath. Sesame-seed crusted pastries stuffed with a beef or cheese mixture make great for appetizers for...

In this era of MTV's hit show "My Super Sweet 16," many parents are tempted to throw parties for their kids' birthdays that rival Broadway revues in terms of extravagance. A Bat or Bar Mitzvah is...

Like all of the world's major religions, Judaism comes under fire from time to time from representatives of other religions, non-practicing people and even Jews themselves. However, a careful and...

Bread is a symbolic food for people of the Jewish faith. There is a ritual called Netilat Yadayim which Jews perform to purify the hands and prepare for the blessing of the bread. Follow these...

As you mature, you may develop a greater respect for religious laws. For example, if you are Jewish, you might wish to find ways to make your home more kosher. The Torah prescribes a holy diet...

Serve challah bread at the beginning of the Shabbat meal on Friday and on Jewish holidays. A staple in Jewish homes, challah deserves a place on everyone's table. Finish your meal with a dessert...

Flour is the magic ingredient to any bread recipe. It creates gluten and allows the bread to stretch and rise. Mixing flour correctly is necessary to create a light, tasty loaf of challah bread....

Join the generations of bakers who baked challah before you and mix your challah ingredients by hand. Mixing by hand is easy but it does take some physical effort. Enjoy the entire process of...

The Jewish Teen Alliance is a community group for Bay Area residents who are Jewish or interested in getting involved with Bay Area Jewish events and programming. The Jewish Teen Alliance, or JTA,...

Surges of anti-Semitism are generally a good sign that the moral and ethical decay of a given society is under way. Part of the danger of anti-Semitism lies in the fact that, for many, the hatred...

The Torah states that Jewish people are mandated to count the days between Passover and Shavuos, known as the Counting of the Omer. The Counting of the Omer begins with a blessing and is often...

Lighting the candles for Shabbat is one of the few Mitzvot that only a woman can perform. It is by lighting the candles that the woman of the house signifies that her household is ready for...

For generations, Nisan was the first and most important month of the Jewish calendar. It was associated with Passover and was celebrated in a variety of ways. The first of Nisan falls close to the...