NOTE: Each holiday begins and ends at sundown on the days listed. | |||||
Jewish Year | 5772 |
5773 | 5774 | 5775 | 5776 |
Secular Year | Sep ’11 – Sep ’12 |
Sep ’12 – Sep ’13 |
Sep ’13 – Sep ’14 |
Sep ’14 – Sep ’15 |
Sep ’15 – Sep ’16 |
S’LICHOT SERVICE | Sep 24 | Sep 8 | Aug 31 | Sep 20 | Sep 5 |
ROSH HASHANAH |
Sep 28-30 |
Sep 16-18 | Sep 4-6 | Sep 24-26 | Sep 13-15 |
YOM KIPPUR | Oct 7-8 |
Sep 25-26 |
Sep 13-14 | Oct 3-4 |
Sep 22-23 |
SUKKOT | Oct 12-19 | Sep 30-Oct 7 | Sep 18-25 | Oct 8-15 | Sep 27-Oct 4 |
ATZERET – SIMCHAT TORAH |
Oct 19-20 |
Oct 7-8 | Sep 25-26 | Oct 16-17 |
Oct 4-5 |
CHANUKAH | Dec 20-28 |
Dec 8-16 |
Nov 27-Dec 5 | Dec 16-24 | Dec 6-14 |
TU BISH’VAT | Feb 7-8 |
Jan 25-26 | Jan 15-16 | Feb 3-4 |
Jan 24-25 |
PURIM | Mar 7-8 | Feb 23-24 |
Mar 15-16 |
Mar 4-5 | Mar 23-24 |
PASSOVER | Apr 6-13 |
Mar 25-Apr 1 | Apr 14-21 |
Apr 3-10 |
Apr 22-29 |
YOM HASHOAH | Apr 18-19 | Apr 6-7 | Apr 26-27 | Apr 15-16 | May 4-5 |
YOM HAZIKARON |
Apr 24-25 | Apr 14-15 | May 4-5 |
Apr 21-22 |
May 10-11 |
YOM HAATZMA-UT |
Apr 25-26 |
Apr 15-16 | May 5-6 |
Apr 22-23 |
May 11-12 |
LAG BA’OMER |
May 9-10 |
Apr 27-28 | May 17-18 | May 6-7 | May 25-26 |
SHAVUOT | May 26-27 |
May 14-15 | Jun 3-4 | May 23-24 |
Jun 11-12 |
TISHAH B’AV |
Jul 28-29 |
Jul 15-16 |
Aug 5-6 | Jul 25-26 |
Aug 13-14 |
NOTE: Each holiday begins and ends at sundown on the days listed. |
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June 2012
By urjnetworkadmin in OC This Month at Or Chadash
More Than One Way to be Jewish
This week in Israel, in a historic decision helped by the work of the Reform Movement’s Israeli Religious Action Center, the first non-orthodox Rabbi is to be paid by the State of Israel under a ruling by the Israel Attorney General. Israeli Rabbi Miri Gold, who first heard the news on the radio said, “This is a big step for religious pluralism and democracy in Israel. Israeli Jews want religious alternatives and with this decision the State is starting to recognize this reality. There is more than one way to be Jewish even in Israel.”
This week in Israel, in a historic decision helped by the work of the Reform Movement’s Israeli Religious Action Center, the first non-orthodox Rabbi is to be paid by the State of Israel under a ruling by the Israel Attorney General. Israeli Rabbi Miri Gold, who first heard the news on the radio said, “This is a big step for religious pluralism and democracy in Israel. Israeli Jews want religious alternatives and with this decision the State is starting to recognize this reality. There is more than one way to be Jewish even in Israel.”
For less than a week Israel has begun enjoying advances in religious freedom for non-orthodox Jews, particularly Reform Jews. How fortunate we are to live in Flemington where there are myriad ways to be Jewish. We are blessed that our community supports many different paths toward fulfilling our diverse religious needs. It has not always been the case that Hunterdon – particularly the Jewish community here – has been so blessed. But for a quarter of a century now, Reform Judaism has had a home at Or Chadash, the Reform Temple of Hunterdon County, moving from living rooms, to churches and firehalls to our own building. Over the course of the upcoming year Or Chadash will be celebrating our 25th Anniversary.
Sometimes we take for granted the freedoms and choices that exist for us when we did not work to achieve them. Years of dedication went into the establishment of our Reform congregation, and each of us is privileged to be the beneficiaries of the work of those founders. This 25th Anniversary year will be filled with exciting programs and opportunities to gather and to learn and to celebrate and to perform wonderful acts of righteous living for our loved ones and those whom we may never meet and to ensure that Or Chadash will be here for many generations to come.
I look forward to seeing you over the coming months and sharing in the exciting celebration.
Shalom,
Rabbi Joe Forman
Glossary of Words and Terms for Jewish Living
By urjnetworkadmin in TO BE REVIEWED
Judaism is more than just a religion: it’s a culture, a language, a way of life. And, integrated fully into these Jewish traditions are unique words and sayings. Though words may have different roots or origins (Hebrew, Yiddish, German), their meanings are universal throughout the Jewish community. This glossary introduces some of the more common sayings appropriate for lifestyle and holiday events.
Berachah (pl. Berachot) – Blessing.
Shehecheyanu – Literally: “[God] who has kept us alive”.This is the blessing for beginnings, happy occasions. It is also said at candle-lighting, Kiddush, and at certain other specific times during festival observance.
B’rit Milah – Covenant of circumcision, traditionally performed on the eighth day of a boy’s life.
Mohel – Highly skilled ritual circumciser.
Kvater/Kvaterin– Godfather/Godmother: those who carry the baby into the b’rit ceremony
Sandak – Person who holds the baby during the ceremony.
Seudat Mitzvah – A festive meal which honors the observance of a mitzvah.
Mi Sheberach – Literally: “May the One who blessed”. A prayer usually, but not solely, recited after a person has been honored with a Torah blessing. There are various forms of this prayer, one of which is used to name a child.
B’rit HaChayim – Literally: “covenant of life”. A home ceremony for the naming of baby girls.
Pidyon Haben/Habat – Literally: “redemption of the (first-born) son/daughter.”Home ceremony which takes place on the thirty-first day of a child’s life.
Kiddush Pe’ter Rechem – Modern ceremony celebrating the birth of the first child.
Ken Ayin Hara (Kinna Hurra) – Literally: “against the evil eye.”
Chanukah – Literally: dedication.
Chanukat HaBayit – Literally: dedication of the house.Ceremonial hanging of the mezuzah.
Menorah – Seven- or eight-branched candelabra. Most commonly used to refer to the eight-branched Chanukah lamp.
Chanukiah – Eight-branched Chanukah menorah.
Gelt – Yiddish word for “money”; given as a Chanukah present, used for playing dreidel.
Dreidel – Yiddish for “top”; used in Chanukah game. Known in Hebrew as “sevivon“.
Nes Gadol Hayah Sham – Literally: “A great miracle happened there.”First letters of these four words are found on the dreidel.
Latke – Yiddish word for “pancake”. Potato latkes are traditionally eaten on Chanukah.
Sufganiyot– Jelly doughnuts served in Israel on Chanukah.
Ger/Gioret – “One who is invited to join the Hebrew tribe.”The masculine and feminine forms of the Hebrew term for convert.
Gerut – Conversion.
Halachah – Jewish Law.
Kabbalat Ol Mitzvot– Literally: “acceptance of the yoke if the commandments.”
Tevilah – Immersion in a ritual bath (mikveh) or any natural body of water which can serve as a mikveh.
Gan Eden – Literally: Garden of Eden; paradise.
Gehinom – Literally: Valley of Hinom; place of punishment.
Kevod HaMet – Honor due to the dead.
Taharah – Ritual purification.
Tachrichim – Burial shrouds.
Chevrah Kadisha – Group of people entrusted with the mitzvah of preparing the body for burial.
El Malei Rachamim – Literally: “God, full of compassion”; memorial prayer.
Keriah – Tearing of a garment or a ribbon as an expression of grief.
Shivah – Seven-day mourning period beginning with the burial.
Sheloshim – Thirty-day mourning period.
Unveiling – Dedication of the grave marker.
Yahrzeit– Anniversary of the death.
Kaddish – Prayer praising God. There are several Kaddish prayers recited during the service, one of which is recited in memory of the departed.
Yizkor – Memorial services held on Yom Kippur and on the last day of Pesach, Shavout, and Sukot.
Seudat Havra’ah – Literally: meal of condolence; prepared by the friends of the mourners.
Mitzvah – Commandment; obligatory responses to our Jewish traditions.
Minyan – Quorum of ten people necessary for public prayer.
Tzedakah – Literally: justice, righteousness; the Hebrew word we use for charity.
Bar/Bat (Bas) Mitzvah – Ceremony marking youngster’s reaching the age of religious majority.
Haftarah – Selection from the Prophets read or chanted after the weekly Torah portion.
Talit (Talis) – Prayer shawl.
Hebrew School – After-school Hebrew classes.
Sunday School – Classes in history, customs, and ceremonies.
Religious School – Term that includes both Sunday school and Hebrew school, though in some synagogues it refers to only Sunday school. Sometimes Religious school is referred to as Torah school.
Cheder – Old-fashioned term for Hebrew school. In Eastern Europe, it was the primary school.
Shabbaton (pl. Shabbatonim) – A Sabbath program of study and celebration.
Kallah (pl. Kallot) – A conclave or retreat.
Chavurah (pl. Chavurot) – Informal group which meets together for study and celebration.
Ulpan (pl. Ulpanim) – Intensive Hebrew course.
MARRIAGE & HOME
Kiddushin – Marriage.
Ketubah (pl. Ketubot) – Marriage contract.
Chatan – Groom.
Kalah – Bride.
Chuppah – Canopy; it can be a talit, velvet or silk canopy, or floral arrangement.
Ring – Traditionally it is solid, without stones.
“Harei at mekudeshet li betaba’at zo kedat Mosheh v’Yisrael”– Literally: “Behold you are consecrated unto me, with this ring, according to the Law of Moses and Israel.” This is the Hebrew nuptial formula.
Sheva Berachot – Seven traditional blessings recited or chanted after the exchange of rings.
Kiddush Cup – For wine, which is drunk after the Sheva Berachot.
Glass to Break – There are various interpretations of the symbolism. The traditional explanation is that the glass is broken in memory of the destruction of the Temple.
Yichud – Time spent alone together by the bride and groom immediately after the wedding ceremony.
Aufruf – Calling up of the bridegroom for Torah blessings on the Shabbat preceding the wedding.
Mikveh – Ritual bath traditionally visited by the bride prior to the wedding.
Fasting – Bridal couple traditionally fasts on the wedding day prior to the ceremony.
Get – Religious divorce.
Chanukat HaBayit– Literally: dedication of the house.
Mezuzah – Ritual object consisting of a casing and a klaf (scroll) which is put on the doorpost(s) of the house.
Klaf – Handwritten mezuzah scroll containing Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 11:13-21.
Pushke – Tzedakah box.
Kosher – Ritually fit.
Trefe – Literally: torn apart; food that is not ritually fit. It is the opposite of kosher.
Parve – Containing neither meat/meat derivatives nor milk/milk derivatives and which can be eaten with either milk or meat meals, e.g., fruits, vegetables, eggs.
Milchig – Foods derived from milk or milk products.
Fleishig – Foods derived from meat or meat products.
Pesach – Passover.
Seder – Literally: order; refers to program of prayers and rituals for the home celebration.
Haggadah (pl. Haggadot) – Literally: telling.It is our duty to tell the story of Passover, particularly to the children.
Matzah – The unleavened bread eaten in recollection of the hurried departure from Egypt. The eating of matzah is obligatory only at the seder. During the rest of Pesach, one may abstain from matzah as long as all chamets is avoided.
Chamets – Leavened bread and anything made with wheat, rye, barley, oats, and spelt unless supervised to ensure that it has not leavened.
The Four Cups – Each has a specific place in the service. The first serves as the Kiddush; the second is taken at the conclusion of the first part of the seder; the third is the cup marking the conclusion of the grace after the meal; the fourth cup comes at the conclusion of the seder. The four cups are said to refer to the promises of redemption made by God to Israel.
The Four Questions – Questions asked at the seder. The answers to the questions form the rest of the Haggadah.
The Cup of Elijah – Elijah is the herald of the Messianic Era when justice and peace will be realized.
Karpas – A green herb such as parsley or a green vegetable such as celery or watercress. It symbolizes spring.
Maror – The bitter herbs such as horseradish symbolizing the bitter plight of the enslaved Israelites.
Charoset – A mixture of fruits, nuts, and wine. Its color and consistency is a reminder of the bricks and mortar used by the Israelite slaves.
Shank Bone – Symbolic of the paschal sacrifice.
Egg – Represents the additional Passover festive offering, the “chagigah,” in the Temple.
Afikoman – A Greek word meaning “dessert.” We make the matzah the official dessert of the seder meal. To keep the children alert during the seder, the afikoman is hidden. The children find it and the leader of the seder must redeem it.
Opening the Door – We open the door to welcome symbolically the prophet Elijah.
Ma’ot Chitim – Literally: wheat money; money collected prior to Passover to assist the needy to celebrate the holiday.
Shabbat HaGadol– Literally: the Great Sabbath preceding Passover.
Purim – Literally: lots.
Megillah (pl. Megillot) – Literally: scroll. There are five megillot in the Bible. The one read on Purim is Megillat Esther.
Grogger – Noisemaker used to drown out Haman’s name.
Purim Schpiel – Humorous play put on at Purim.
Shabbat Zachor– The Shabbat immediately preceding Purim. Its name is taken from the additional Torah portion read that day- Deuteronomy 25:17-19 – which begins with the word “zachor” (remember).
Mishlo’ach Manot– Sending portions of food to friends to celebrate the holiday; also referred to as “Shalach Monos“.
Hamantashen – Filled three-cornered pastries supposed to represent Haman’s hat.
Rosh Hashanah – Literally: the “head of the year”; the New Year.
High Holy Days – Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Also known as the “High Holidays” or “the Holidays”.
Shofar – Ram’s horn.
Chet – Literally: “missing the mark”; a Hebrew term for sin.
Teshuvah – Literally: “returning”; a Hebrew term for repentance.
Selichot – Penitential prayers.
Tashlich – Traditional ceremony in which individuals symbolically cast their sins into a body of water.
L’Shanah Tovah Tikatevu – New Year greeting meaning “May you be inscribed (in the Book of Life) for a good year,” sometimes shortened to “Shanah Tovah“.
Yom Tov – Literally: “a good day”.The term has come to mean “holiday”. It is often pronounced Yuntiff and the standard holiday greeting is “Good Yuntiff”.
Gemar Chatimah Tovah – Literally: “May you finally be inscribed (in the Book of Life) for good”. After Rosh Hashanah and through Yom Kippur, this greeting is used.
Machzor – High Holy Day prayer book.
Shabbat – Sabbath.
Shabbos – Yiddish and Ashkenazic Hebrew pronunciation for the Sabbath.
Kodesh – Holy.
Kavanah – Intention.
Mitzvah – Commandments.
Minyan – Quorum of ten necessary for public worship.
Challah – Braided egg bread, for Shabbat and festivals.
Kiddush – Blessing recited or chanted over wine, emphasizing the holiness of Shabbat and festivals.
Tzedakah Box (Pushke in Yiddish) – Container for collecting money for charitable purposes. It is customary to give tzedakah prior to candlelighting in the home.
Havdalah – Literally: separation. Ceremony on Saturday night, dividing the Sabbath from the beginning of the week.
Shavuot – Literally: “weeks”. This festival occurs seven weeks after Pesach.
Confirmation – Ceremony marking completion of the religious school courses, often held on Shavuot.
Blintzes – Cheese- or fruit-filled crepes.
Simchat Torah – Literally: “Joy of the Torah.”Holiday marking the conclusion of the yearly cycle of Torah readings and the beginning of the new cycle.
Torah – Literally: “teaching.”In a narrow sense it is the Five Books of Moses, hand-written on a parchment scroll. In a broad sense, it is everything which flows from this (i.e. Judaism).
TaNaCH – Acronym for Torah, Nevi’im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings)- the three sections of the Hebrew Bible.
Bimah – The raised platform in the synagogue where the Torah is read.
Aliyah -Literally: “going up”; the honor of being called to recite the blessings over the Torah.
Parashah – The weekly Torah portion.
Shemini Atseret – Literally: “the eighth day of assembly”; conclusion of Sukot.
Hakafah (pl. Hakafot)– Torah procession(s) around the sanctuary.
Sukkot – Feast of Booths. Name of one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals.
Sukah (pl. Sukot) – Booths, hut, or tabernacle covered with branches and decorated with hanging fruit, vegetables, and other decorations.
Ushpizin – Mythic guests invited to the sukkah.
Lulav– Palm branch, with myrtle and willow sprigs attached.
Etrog – Citron.
Hakafah (pl. Hakafot) – Procession, circling the sanctuary with the Torah.
Yom HaAtzma-ut – Literally: “Day of Independence”; Israeli Independence Day.
Diaspora – Jewish communities outside of Israel.
Galut – Exile.
Zionism – The belief that there should be a Jewish homeland in Zion (Israel).
Yom HaShoah – Literally: “Holocaust Day.” A day set aside to remember the Holocaust and to honor the memory of those who perished.Shtetl (pl. Shtetlach) – A small Jewish village in Eastern Europe.
Yiddish – Judeo-German; the everyday language of the Jews of Eastern Europe.
Mamaloshen – Literally: “mother language”; affectionate term for Yiddish.
Pogrom – Organized attach on the Jewish community.
Anti-Semitism – An irrational hatred of Jews.
YOM KIPPURYom Kippur – Day of Atonement.
Shabbat Shuvah – Sabbath of Return, between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It gets its name from its haftarah which begins “Shuvah Yisrael, Return, O Israel” (Hosea 14:2).
Kol Nidrei – Literally: all vows. Opening prayer for Yom Kippur eve.
Yizkor – Memorial service recited on Yom Kippur, as well as the last days of Sukot, Pesach, and Shavuot.
Yahrzheit Candle – Memorial candle lit on the anniversary of a loved one’s death and also on those days when Yizkor is recited.
Find more interfaith family resources on the Union’s Department of Outreach and Membershipwebsite.
Morning & Bedtime Rituals for Children
By urjnetworkadmin in Blessings
From the Union’s publications, Wake-Up Rituals: Crafting Jewish Tradition for Young Childrenand Jewish Bedtime Rituals produced by the Department of Lifelong Jewish Learning.
UPON WAKING
Modeh Ani is the traditional prayer to be said by children. Hold your child in a chair or sit on the bed with them, and share a special moment of closeness before the morning rush begins. Recite Modeh Ani together.
For young children, sing or recite the blessing in English and in Hebrew. As they get older, encourage them to join you for the English and then later for the Hebrew.
Modeh ani l’fanecha, melech chai v’kayam, shehechezarta bi nishmati b’chemlah;
rabah emunatecha.
I give thanks to You, O God, eternal and living ruler, who in mercy has returned my soul to me; great is your faithfulness.
BEFORE EATING
Take time in the morning to remember those who worked so that we would have food. Say a blessing as a family.
Baruch atah, Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, hamotzi lechem min ha-aretz.
We praise you, Eternal God. Thank you for the food you provide for us to eat.
BEFORE GOING TO BED
The Sh’ma
The Sh’ma has been the Jewish declaration of faith for thousands of years. Jews everywhere say the Sh’ma, but especially in the morning and at night, to remind ourselves that life is a gift from God. It is our personal and communal expression of belief in God and in the unity of the Jewish people, as well as our recognition that there is a relationship between God and the Jewish people.
The Sh’ma is between you and God and between you and your child. It is an expression of belief and affection. Feel free to express love for your child as you express love for God. Show your affection visibly.
What works best for you and your child should be your guide to crafting your own Jewish bedtime ritual. You can begin by just reciting the Sh’ma, or looking at colorful picture books, or humming a relaxing melody. Transforming bedtime into Jewish time lets your child understand that being Jewish is a way of life, and a constant source of comfort.
Blessings for Life’s Moments
By urjnetworkadmin in Blessings
Shehecheyanu – Celebrating a Festive Occasion
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam,
shehehchehyanu, v’kiy’manu, v’higianu laz’man hazeh.
We praise You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, for giving us life,
for sustaining us, and for enabling us to reach this season.
Washing Hands
It is customary to remove all jewelry from the hands before washing. Fill a cup of water and pour it over your right hand. (Note: If your dominant hand is your left hand, reverse these instructions.) Next, take the cup in your right hand and pour it over the left hand. This is repeated two or three times. Then say the following blessing before drying your hands. Some do not speak between the hand-washing blessing and the blessing over food.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam,
asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al n’tilat yadayim.
Our praise to You, Eternal our God, Sovereign of the universe:
You hallow us with Your mitzvot and command us to lift up our hands.
Eating Bread
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam,
hamotzi lechem min haaretz.
Our praise to You, Eternal our God, Sovereign of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
Lighting a Yahrzeith (Memorial) Candle
Before lighting a yahrzeit candle, take a moment to bring to mind the relative you are remembering. You might choose to read the following prayer:
O God, grant us the strength as we mourn the loss of ________.
We will always have cherished memories of him/her.
Bless our family with light and peace. May ______’s memory continue to serve as a blessing and an inspiration to all who knew and loved him/her.
Zichrono/zichronah livrachah
His/her memory is a blessing.
Mourner’s Kaddish may be recited at this time.
May 2012
By urjnetworkadmin in OC This Month at Or Chadash
Developing Our Jewish Identity
It is written in the book of Joel (3:2-3): “The old shall dream dreams, and the youth shall see visions.” Next week we have a wonderful opportunity to gather as a community to reflect on life, to share in the joy of family and friends, and to celebrate the youth of our synagogue. It is my pleasure to invite the entire Or Chadash community to the Festival of Shavuot and Service of Confirmation on Friday, May 11th at 7:00 PM. Confirmation marks not only the culmination of a decade of religious education, but the development of a more mature understanding of one’s religious identity. Our 14 Confirmands will each be sharing with us how they perceive their Jewish identity.
As I state in the Confirmation program for the evening: Reform Judaism presents both the opportunity for creative expression and the challenge of discovering an authentic path to Jewish living. This year’s Confirmation class learned about one of the core values in Jewish living: Tzeddakah. We studied familiar topics and unfamiliar lessons about them. We traveled to the Religious Action Center in Washington, D.C., lobbying on Capitol Hill to try to change the world; we visited Brooklyn to experience the Hassidic Jewish world and to eat some amazing challah; we spent time in Philadelphia at the national Museum of American Jewish History to learn about the communities of earlier generations of Jews who shaped the foundations of American Judaism and watched a play about racism; we made and ate hamantaschen – complete with fortunes; we listened in horror as an Auschwitz survivor shared her story of the Holocaust; and we piloted the Reform Movement’s Teen Philanthropy program which enabled our students to explore with professionals and with one another the diversity of needs in our local and global communities and together understand the challenges of smart giving. We continued a journey of Jewish learning and living that we hope will endure a life-time.
I often remark that Judaism speaks with many voices. On May 11th we take pleasure in celebrating the many voices of Reform Judaism, voices of our Confirmation class.
We invite you to get a glimpse of our Confirmands’ visions and hear their rich and diverse voices.
Shalom,
Rabbi Joseph M. Forman
The History and Origins of Passover
By urjnetworkadmin in TO BE REVIEWED
*The History and Origins of Passover
Pesach, known as Passover in English, is a major Jewish spring festival, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt over 3,000 years ago.
The ritual observance of this holiday centers around a special home service called the seder (meaning “order”) and a festive meal; the prohibition of chametz (leaven); and the eating of matzah (an unleavened bread). On the eve of the fifteenth day of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar, we read from a book called the hagaddah, meaning “telling,” which contains the order of prayers, rituals, readings and songs for the Pesach seder. The Pesach seder is the only ritual meal in the Jewish calendar year for which such an order is prescribed, hence its name.
The seder has a number of scriptural bases. Exodus 12:3-11 describes the meal of lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs which the Israelites ate just prior to the Exodus. In addition, three separate passages in Exodus (12:26-7, 13:8, 13:14) and one in Deuteronomy (6:20-21) enunciate the duty of the parents to tell the story of the Exodus to their children. The seder plate contains various symbolic foods referred to in the seder itself.
The story of Joseph gives us the background for how our people ended up in Egypt. It begins with our patriarch Jacob and his 12 sons. One of the sons, Joseph, was the most favored by his father, which caused tension between Joseph and his brothers, who sold him into slavery. The brothers told Jacob that a wild animal had killed Joseph. In truth, Joseph ended up in Egypt where he had many adventures, one of which landed him in jail.Through his ability to interpret dreams, Joseph became an advisor to Pharaoh, managing the country’s food supply so that the people would be fed during the predicted seven years of famine.The famine extended into the land of Canaan where Jacob and his family lived. Joseph’s brothers went down to Egypt in search of food and came before Joseph, but they did not recognize him. Eventually Joseph identified himself to his brothers and invited them and the entire household of Jacob to come down to Egypt so they would survive the famine.
Many generations later, a new Pharaoh arose “who knew not Joseph.” This Pharaoh enslaved the Hebrews and ordered all of their newborn baby boys killed.A newborn, Moses, was saved by the ingenuity of his mother and sister when he was set adrift in a basket in the Nile. As his sister Miriam watched, she saw that Pharaoh’s daughter discovered the baby and decided to raise the Hebrew child as her own. Miriam offered to arrange for a Hebrew nurse (Moses’ mother) to feed and care for the child.
Moses grew up, and one day he witnessed an Egyptian overseer beating a Hebrew slave. So angered by this sight, Moses killed the overseer. Subsequently, he saw two Hebrew slaves arguing and tried to stop them.They turned to him, and one said,”Will you kill me as you killed the Egyptian overseer?” Realizing that there was a witness to the murder and becoming concerned for his life,Moses escaped into the desert. On that journey, God appeared to Moses in a burning bush that was not consumed, and told him to go back to Egypt and deliver the Hebrews from slavery.
With his brother Aaron, Moses went before Pharaoh to demand that the Hebrews be set free. Pharaoh continually refused, and the plagues descended upon Egypt. With the 10th plague, the killing of the firstborn, Pharaoh relented and allowed the Hebrews to leave. In their haste, the Israelites took unleavened dough that baked on their backs into matzah.
The Passover Seder reminds us of our ancestor’s journey down into Egypt, our enslavement there and our eventual flight to freedom. In Jewish tradition, because of the centrality of this story, we are not simply to remember these events but to recount them as if we ourselves had experienced them.
Content provided by URJ
Find more Pesach resources on our website.
Blessing the Children: To bless a boy, a girl, or both.
By urjnetworkadmin in Blessings
Place your hands on the child’s head and say:
For a boy:
Y’sim-cha Eh-lo-him k’Ephra’im v’chi-M’nasheh.
May God inspire you to live in the tradition of
Ephraim and Menasheh.
For a girl:
Y’si-meich Eh-lo-him k’Sarah, Rivka, Rachel, v’Lei-ah.
May God inspire you to live like Sarah,
Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah.
For both boys and girls:
Y’va-reh-ch’cha Adonai v’yish-m’reh-cha.
Ya-eir Adonai pa-nav ei-leh-cha vi-chu-neh-ka.
Yisa Adonai pa-nav ei-leh-cha v’ya-seim l’cha sha-lom.
May God bless you and keep you.
May God’s light shine upon you, and may God be gracious to you.
May you feel God’s Presence within you always, and may you find peace.
Each holiday begins and ends at sundown on the days listed.
By urjnetworkadmin in Jewish Holidays
NOTE: Each holiday begins and ends at sundown on the days listed. | ||
JEWISH YEAR | 5774 | 5775 |
SECULAR YEAR |
Sept 2013–
Sept 2014
|
Sept 2014–
Sept 2015
|
S’LICHOT SERVICE | Sat AUG 31 |
Sat SEP 20 |
ROSH HASHANAH | Wed-Fri SEP 4-6 |
Wed–Fri SEP 24-26 |
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HaMotzi
By urjnetworkadmin in Blessings
The blessing over the bread
Uncover the challah and say:
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, hamotzi lechem min ha-aretz.
We praise You, Eternal God, Sovereign of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
Eat the challah.