Texts
Topics
Community
Donate
Log in
Sign up
Site Language
עברית
English
Holidays
Collection
A set of source sheets examining aspects of the Jewish holidays.
Sheets
Filter
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
•
248
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
•
8
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
•
236
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
•
174
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
•
1283
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 Matzah
Not Published
•
David Schwartz
•
26
Views
•
April 16, 2024
The Story of the Four Cups
David Schwartz
•
2982
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
•
5312
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
•
6561
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
•
310
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
•
74
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
•
6117
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
•
428
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
•
207
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
•
1876
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
•
1540
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
The Origin of Chanukah Customs
An explanation of the customs of Dreidels, gelt, presents, the story, latkes, sufganiyot, candles, and “Maoz Tzur”.
David Schwartz
•
1817
Views
•
November 20, 2021
•
Donuts
,
Menorah
,
Latkes
,
Gelt
,
Sufganiyot
,
Chanukah
,
Dreidel
,
Doughnuts
,
Chanukah Menorah
,
Candles
,
Maoz Tzur
,
Gifts
,
Dreidels
,
Presents
Queen Vashti: A 3-Act Story
An examination of Vashti’s story with discussion questions
David Schwartz
•
699
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
•
260
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
What is Rosh Chodesh?
A text-based summary of the Rosh Chodesh basics.
David Schwartz
•
1741
Views
•
January 12, 2022
•
BimBam
,
Reading Torah
,
Lord of the Rings
,
Birkat Hamazon
,
Hallel
,
Rabban Gamliel
,
Samaritans
,
Kiddush Hachodesh
,
Kippalive
,
David and Jonathan
,
Fire
,
Ya'aleh V'yavoh
,
Moon
,
Leap Year
,
David
,
Music
,
Birkat Hachodesh
,
Women
,
Months
,
David and Saul
,
Musaf
,
Golden Calf
,
Amidah
,
Menstruation
,
Trumpet
,
Rosh Chodesh
,
Reading of the Torah
,
Calendar
,
Leyning
,
Sacrifices
Editors
DS
David Schwartz
Owner