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Holidays
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A set of source sheets examining aspects of the Jewish holidays.
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The Origin of Chanukah Customs
An explanation of the customs of Dreidels, gelt, presents, the story, latkes, sufganiyot, candles, and “Maoz Tzur”.
David Schwartz
•
1840
Views
•
November 20, 2021
•
Donuts
,
Menorah
,
Latkes
,
Gelt
,
Sufganiyot
,
Chanukah
,
Dreidel
,
Doughnuts
,
Chanukah Menorah
,
Candles
,
Maoz Tzur
,
Gifts
,
Dreidels
,
Presents
Shivat Tziyon: The Return to Zion in Jewish Liturgy
An examination of references to returning to Israel or Jerusalem in the liturgy
David Schwartz
•
561
Views
•
April 10, 2023
•
Safam
,
Liturgy
,
Zionism
,
Passover
,
Zion
,
Seder
,
Hatikvah
,
Israel
,
Jerusalem
,
Prayer
,
Soviet Jewry
,
Return to Israel
,
Shivat Tziyon
,
Pesach
The Story of Matzah
Not Published
•
David Schwartz
•
30
Views
•
April 16, 2024
When is Shavuot?
This sheet looks at how Shavuot’s date was determined and how it got connected to the giving of the Torah
David Schwartz
•
257
Views
•
May 1, 2023
•
The Counting of the Omer Barley Offering
,
Shavuot
,
Ten Commandments
,
Counting the Omer
,
Mt. Sinai
What’s the Date of Shavuot?
This sheet looks at how Shavuot’s date was determined and how it got connected to the giving of the Torah
David Schwartz
•
22
Views
•
May 7, 2024
•
Counting the Omer
,
Shavuot
,
Mt. Sinai
,
The Counting of the Omer Barley Offering
,
Ten Commandments
Haftarah Machar Chodesh: A 3-Act Story
A set of questions to think more deeply about Haftarah Machar Chodesh, plus a Readers’ Theatre version.
David Schwartz
•
242
Views
•
October 3, 2023
•
David and Saul
,
King Saul
,
Jonathan
,
The Beatles
,
David and Jonathan
,
David
Chanukah: The Prequel
A history of the events leading up to Chanukah
David Schwartz
•
179
Views
•
December 3, 2023
•
Chanukah
,
Seleucids
,
Second Temple Period
,
Second Temple
,
Hanukah
,
Hanukkah
,
Hellenism
,
Ptolemies
,
Shimon haTzaddik
,
Antiochus
,
Alexander the Great
Jewish Halloween: Sources and Stories
A look at Jewish sources on Halloween topics, as well as Jewish “ghost stories”
David Schwartz
•
1311
Views
•
October 16, 2022
•
Pranks
,
Grim Reaper
,
Pumpkins
,
Dybbuk
,
Satan
,
Magic
,
Hell
,
Magicians
,
Demons
,
Zombies
,
Goats (שעירים)
,
Ibbur
,
Curses
,
Haunted Houses
,
Goat-Demons
,
Saul
,
En-Dor
,
Sacrifices
,
Golems
,
Goblins
,
Witches
,
Vampires
,
Ghosts
,
Exorcism
,
Dybbuks
,
Candy
,
Werewolves
,
Monsters
,
Black Cats
,
Halloween
,
Evil Spirits
The Story of the Four Cups
David Schwartz
•
3009
Views
•
March 9, 2021
•
Four Cups
,
Arba Kosos
,
Seder
,
Hagadah
,
Passover
,
Redemption
,
Arba Kosot
The Story of the Four Children
An examination of the evolution of The Four Children, including musical, artistic, and video versions.
David Schwartz
•
5340
Views
•
March 23, 2022
•
Estrangment
,
Pesach
,
Passover
,
The Fifth Child
,
The Four Children
,
Addiction
,
Guns
,
Seder
,
Women
,
The Four Sons
,
Baruch Hamakom
,
Miscarriage
,
Ben Aronin
,
Uncle Ben
,
Gun Control
,
Haggadah
,
Infertility
,
Maggid
,
Drugs
,
Assimilation
,
Gun Violence
,
Stillbirth
,
Holocaust
The Story of the Four Questions
An examination of how Ma Nishtana has evolved over time.
David Schwartz
•
6602
Views
•
March 24, 2020
•
Questions
,
Maccabeats
,
4 Questions
,
Maggid
,
Safam
,
Di Fir Kashes
,
Haggadah
,
Seder
,
Four Questions
,
Mah Nishtana
,
Ma Nishtanah
,
Theodore Bikel
,
Mah Nishtanah
,
Passover
,
Ma Nishtana
,
The Maccabeats
,
Theo Bikel
Should We Eat Machine-Made Matzah?
An examination of the controversy over machine-made matzah, styled as a trial, with primary and secondary sources provided.
David Schwartz
•
315
Views
•
April 9, 2023
•
Jewish History
,
Pesah
,
Machines
,
History
,
Laws of Matzah
,
Technology
,
Machloket
,
Dinei Chametz
,
Laws of the Passover Night Seder
,
Matzah
,
Passover
,
Laws of Passover
,
Seder
,
Matzahs
,
Chametz
Sephardic Pesach Customs
Sephardic Pesach Customs
David Schwartz
•
83
Views
•
April 7, 2024
•
Mimouna
,
Seder
,
Sefardic
,
Sefardi
,
Pesach
,
Sephardi
,
Passover
,
Kitniyot
,
Sephardic
Al Hanisim
A sheet about the Chanukah prayer “Al Hanisim”, along with 5 explanations for why we celebrate for 8 days and light lights. Musical samples are included.
David Schwartz
•
6138
Views
•
November 29, 2020
•
Chanukkah Menorah
,
Liturgy
,
Maccabees
,
Prayer
,
Birkat Hamazon
,
Amidah
,
Maccabeats
,
Miracles
,
Al Hanissim
,
Purim
,
Al Hanisim
,
Josephus
,
Six13
,
Chanukah
,
Hasmoneans
,
Safam
,
Yom HaAtzmaut
,
Janukah
,
Tefila
,
Laws of Chanukkah
Ruth: A 4-Act Story
A set of questions to examine Ruth’s story, plus a Readers’ Theatre version.
David Schwartz
•
435
Views
•
April 21, 2023
•
Hope
,
Ruth
,
Alicia Jo Rabins
,
Shikhechah
,
Discussion Questions
,
Blessings
,
Conversion
,
Kindness
,
Welcoming Guests
,
Harvest
,
Welcoming
,
Book of Ruth
,
Food
,
Bible Raps
,
Megillat Rut
,
Stereotypes
,
Girls in Trouble
,
Leket
,
Naomi
,
Readers’ Theatre
,
Winnowing
,
Harvesting
,
Converts
,
Shavuot
,
Boaz
,
Rut
,
Widows
,
Parenting
,
The Book of Ruth
,
Abraham
,
Threshing
,
Chalitsah
,
Peah
,
Passive
,
Harvests
,
Peoplehood
,
David
Esther: An 8-Act Story
Looking at the Purim story from Esther's perspective, along with some videos.
David Schwartz
•
211
Views
•
July 4, 2023
•
Mordechai
,
Women in Tanakh
,
Women
,
Megilat Esther
,
Mordekhai
,
Haman
,
Esther
,
Safam
,
Ahasuerus and Esther
Grog and Groggers: The Origin of Purim Customs
The origins of Hamantaschen, Groggers, Costumes, Shpiels, “Chag Purim”, Drinking, Seudah, Megillah, Matanot LeEvyonim, and Mishloach Manot
David Schwartz
•
1899
Views
•
February 20, 2022
•
Alcohol
,
Hamantaschen
,
Groggers
,
Wine
,
Costumes
,
Laws of Purim
,
Purim
,
Matanot Levyonim
,
Megilla
,
Mishloach Manot
,
Drinking
,
Purim Shpiel
,
Seudah
V'haya Im Shamo-a: A Prayer for Tu B'shvat?
Examining Tu B'Shevat, the 2nd paragraph of the Shema, and the confluence thereof
David Schwartz
•
1547
Views
•
December 14, 2020
•
Second Paragraph of the Shema
,
Environment
,
Tu B'Shvat
,
Gematria
,
Ecology
,
Orlah
,
Shema
,
Tefillin
,
Shacharit
,
Trees
,
Rosh Hashanah
,
Arvit
,
Tefila
,
Environmentalism
,
Ma’ariv
,
Sh'ma
,
Tu B'shevat
,
Literary Devices
,
Mezuzah
,
V'haya Im Shamo-A
,
Prayer
Queen Vashti: A 3-Act Story
An examination of Vashti’s story with discussion questions
David Schwartz
•
722
Views
•
January 31, 2023
•
Women in Tanakh
,
Women
,
Megilat Esther
,
Girls in Trouble
,
Sexuality
,
Alicia Jo Rabins
,
King Achashveirosh
,
Debbie Friedman
,
Esther
,
Ahasuerus
,
Drinking
,
Consent
,
Vashti
A Children’s Tu B’Shevat Seder
A Tu B’Shevat Seder appropriate for kids.
David Schwartz
•
267
Views
•
January 18, 2024
•
Choni HaMeagel
,
Tu Bishevat Seder
,
Trees
,
Four Cups
,
Tu Bishvat
,
Grape Juice
,
Wine
,
Seder
,
New Year
,
Four Cups of Wine
,
Fruit
,
Birthday of Trees
Editors
DS
David Schwartz
Owner