How to Say the Mourner’s Kaddish
This prayer praises God’s greatness and God’s ability to bring peace to the world.
Who Are Messianic “Jews”?
These Christians observe some Jewish practices, but the major Jewish denominations do not recognize their faith as a form of Judaism.
Acheinu: A Prayer for Freeing Captives
For over 1,000 years, this prayer has been recited in the presence of the Torah, when Jews are gathered together.
Maimonides (Rambam) and His Texts
One of the greatest Jewish scholars of all time, he was both a traditionalist and an innovator.
Ask the Ethicist: Restaurant Politics
Can I keep eating at a restaurant if the owner’s politics disgust me?
Next Torah Portion
Summary
In the Torah portion Behar, God describes the laws surrounding resting the land and crops every seven years, as well as the Jubilee year every 50 years. God permits the use of slaves but provides stipulations including the obligation to eventually free your slaves. In Bechukotai, God tells the people of Israel that if they follow God’s commandments, they will be provided with rain to feed their crops. God then describes the long list of punishments that will be inflicted on the Israelites if they do not follow God’s laws.
Featured Commentary
Parashat Behar-Bechukotai: The Dark Side of Torah Ethics
Engaging with difficult passages in the Torah requires sitting with complexity and tension.
Kaddish Minyan With Rabbi Rachel Isaacs (Mondays)
Hosted by: My Jewish Learning
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STUDY RESOURCES
Recharge Now
Our weekly Shabbat newsletter, Recharge, features a thoughtful, timely essay to enrich your Shabbat. Here are a few of our recent pieces:
What Holds Us
Rooting ourselves in sacred story, time, nature and harmony.
Confronting Our Enemies
We don’t need to love our enemies, but we might want to value them.
On the Omer and Orchids
The force of life is stronger than death.
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How much time is required between eating meat and dairy?
The Jews of Argentina
The largest Jewish community in Latin America has struggled through the economic and political upheavals of the 20th century.
36 Questions for Jewish Lovers
Rabbi and marriage counselor Ari Sytner offers 36 questions for Jewish couples to achieve greater intimacy and harmony.
The Kabbalistic Secret of Kissing
What the Zohar teaches about love-making and the coming of the messiah.
The Omer as a Period of Mourning
An overview of the restrictions Jews traditionally observe during the 49 day period between Passover and Shavuot.