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
Attitude of Gratitude in Judaism
Aspects of giving thanks in Judaism, along with videos of songs.
David Schwartz
•
2434
Views
•
November 9, 2022
•
Eilu D’varim
,
Sukkah
,
Cantor Rachel Brook
,
Shir Soul
,
Asher Yatzar
,
Modim
,
Sukkot
,
Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach
,
Food
,
Debbie Friedman
,
Kol B’Seder
,
Prayers
,
Joe Buchanan
,
Tzvika Pik
,
Leah
,
Rabbi Josh Warshawsky
,
Bentching Gomel
,
Dan Nichols
,
Shabbat
,
Hallel
,
Thanksgiving
,
Shehechiyanu
,
Nefesh Mountain
,
Harvests
,
Dayenu
,
Modeh Ani
,
Amidah
,
Birkat Hamazon
,
Maccabeats
,
Grateful
,
Gratitude
,
The Maccabeats
,
Hakarat Hatov
,
Homelessness
,
Blessings
Making Friday Evening Meaningful
Explanation of Shabbat evening rituals, with both basic and deeper explanations.
David Schwartz
•
2146
Views
•
February 7, 2022
•
Angels
,
Exodus
,
Shalom Aleichem
,
Shabbat
,
Sam Glaser
,
Ephraim
,
Eishet Chayil
,
Candles
,
Blessings
,
Fiddler on the Roof
,
Washing
,
Salting of the Sacrifices
,
Menashe
,
Birkat Kohanim
,
Blessing
,
Parental Blessing
,
Amen
,
Hands
,
Priestly Blessing
,
Kiddush
,
Friday Evening
,
Wine
,
Hamotzi
,
Motzi
,
Washing of the Hands
,
Cantor Neil Schwartz
,
Mikdash Me’At
,
Jacob's Blessing
,
Creation
,
Blessing Children
,
Grape Juice
,
Rituals
,
Salt
,
Challah
,
Grapes
Personally Connecting to Avinu Malkeinu
Background, questions, and music for Avinu Malkeinu
David Schwartz
•
2986
Views
•
September 5, 2022
•
Rosh Hashanah
,
Rabbi Eliezer B. Hyrcanus
,
Rabbi Eliezer Ben Hyrcanus
,
Rabbi Akiva
,
Yom Kippur
,
Avinu Malkeinu
,
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Prayers
,
Slichot
What is Sh’mini Atzeret?
The basics and not-so-basics of Shemini Atzeret
David Schwartz
•
143
Views
•
October 12, 2024
•
Sukkot
,
Water
,
Cantor Neil Schwartz
,
Rain
,
Yizkor
,
Sh'mini Atzeret
,
Shmini Atzeret
,
Geshem
,
Shemini Atzeret
What's a Lulav and Etrog?
The basics and not-so-basics of lulav and etrog.
David Schwartz
•
214
Views
•
September 30, 2024
•
Willows
,
Four Species
,
Myrtles
,
Peoplehood
,
Eliana Light
,
Lulav
,
Laws of the Four Species
,
Community
,
Sam Glaser
,
Laws of Sukkot
,
Hoshana Rabbah
,
The Jewish People
,
Body
,
Etrog
,
Sukkot
,
The Land of Israel
,
Hallel
,
Lulav and Etrog
,
Dreams
What is Rosh Chodesh?
A text-based summary of the Rosh Chodesh basics.
David Schwartz
•
2632
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
Comparing High Holiday and Shabbat Services
Comparing Shabbat, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur services
David Schwartz
•
482
Views
•
September 15, 2024
•
Prayers
,
Mincha
,
MiSinai
,
High Holidays
,
Yom Kippur
,
Shacharit
,
Arvit
,
Rosh Hashanah
,
Shabbat
,
MiSinai Tunes
,
Cantor Neil Schwartz
,
Shabbat Prayers
,
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Prayers
,
Liturgy
,
Ma'ariv
How to Get Meaning from the Shofar
Not Published
•
David Schwartz
•
204
Views
•
May 17, 2024
Personally Connecting to Ashamnu
An examination of the various aspects of how we do Ashamnu, plus musical examples
David Schwartz
•
6248
Views
•
September 28, 2022
•
Appeasement
,
Liturgy
,
Yom Kippur
,
Prayer
,
High Holidays
,
Selichot
,
Clothing
,
Vidui
,
Yamim Noraim
,
Ashamnu
,
Forgiveness
,
Reconciliation
,
Alicia Jo Rabins
,
Cantor Neil Schwartz
The Evolution of Yom Kippur
Looking at Yom Kippur in the Torah and Mishnah, and some academic comparisons to similar practices in the Ancient Near East.
David Schwartz
•
132
Views
•
August 1, 2024
•
Ancient Near East
,
Biblical Scholarship
,
Yom Kippur
,
Babylonia
,
Biblical Criticism
Personally Connecting to Psalm 27
Questions and musical examples to deepen a personal connection to Psalm 27 and “Achat Sha’alti”
David Schwartz
•
915
Views
•
August 21, 2023
•
Rosh Hashanah
,
Midrash Tehillim
,
Liturgy
,
High Holidays
,
Psalms
,
Prayers
,
Elul
,
Midrash Tehilim
,
Yom Kippur
,
Psalm 27
,
Chava Mirel
,
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Prayers
Personally Connecting to Havdalah
A sheet with questions to personally connect to Havdalah - also musical versions and the sources for each verse before the blessings.
David Schwartz
•
2503
Views
•
December 1, 2021
•
Grape Juice
,
Wine
,
Spices
,
Elijah the Prophet
,
Liturgy
,
Havdalah
,
Candles
,
Carlebach
,
Separation
,
Jamie Wendt
,
Prayer
,
Distinctions
,
Safam
,
Debbie Friedman
,
Shlomo Carlebach
,
Shabbat
,
Eliyahu HaNavi
Yom Kippur Through the Lens of Purim
Yom Kippur is also called “Yom Kippurim”, which could be broken up to mean “Yom K’-Purim”, “a day like Purim”. How does this shed light on Yom Kippur?
David Schwartz
•
4020
Views
•
September 4, 2020
•
Megilat Esther
,
Fasting
,
Book of Esther
,
Megillat Esther
,
Reluctance
,
High Holidays
,
Identity
,
Second Chances
,
Purim
,
Lotteries
,
Jonah
,
Deliverance
,
Megillas Esther
,
Yom Kippur
,
Esther
The Story of the Four Questions
An examination of how Ma Nishtana has evolved over time.
David Schwartz
•
7945
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
The Story of Matzah
Not Published
•
David Schwartz
•
238
Views
•
April 16, 2024
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
•
2832
Views
•
February 20, 2022
•
Alcohol
,
Hamantaschen
,
Groggers
,
Wine
,
Costumes
,
Laws of Purim
,
Purim
,
Matanot Levyonim
,
Megilla
,
Mishloach Manot
,
Drinking
,
Purim Shpiel
,
Seudah
Jewish Halloween: Sources and Stories
A look at Jewish sources on Halloween topics, as well as Jewish “ghost stories”
David Schwartz
•
2119
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 Origin of Chanukah Customs
An explanation of the customs of Dreidels, gelt, presents, the story, latkes, sufganiyot, candles, and “Maoz Tzur”.
David Schwartz
•
3007
Views
•
November 20, 2021
•
Donuts
,
Menorah
,
Latkes
,
Gelt
,
Sufganiyot
,
Chanukah
,
Dreidel
,
Doughnuts
,
Chanukah Menorah
,
Candles
,
Maoz Tzur
,
Gifts
,
Dreidels
,
Presents
Contemporary Kinot
Most Tisha B’Av Kinot are long and not-well known. This is a set of “contemporary Kinot” that will fit the mood of the day while being shorter and better known. It was put together by Cantor Neil Schwartz
David Schwartz
•
312
Views
•
July 30, 2024
•
Kinot
,
Kinnot
,
Av
,
Songs
,
Tisha B'Av
Mi She’ana: Finding Our Answers
An examination of the stories, with discussion questions, in Mi She’ana, along with musical examples
David Schwartz
•
318
Views
•
June 27, 2024
•
Akeida
,
Solomon
,
Mi She’anah
,
Ba’al
,
Mi She’ana
,
Elijah
,
Yom Kippur Eve
,
Samuel
,
Conquest of Jericho
,
Yom Kippur
,
Splitting the Sea
,
Prayer
,
High Holidays
,
Ta'anit
,
Kol Nidrei
,
Liturgy
,
Eliyahu
,
David
,
Jonah
,
Jericho
,
Philistines
Editors
DS
David Schwartz
Owner