Omer
Revealing the invisible: Jewish artists bring Mount Sinai to life
For artists who take on the challenge of depicting scenes from the Torah – particularly Moses and the giving of the Ten Commandments – the process begins with preparation.
Parashat Behar-Behukotai: Quality vs quantity
Jerusalem hills finally recovering from devastating 2025 wildfires
Celebrating Lag Ba’omer, a heroic chapter in Jewish history - opinion
Lag Ba'Omer 2025 will act as vehicle to express prayers for hostages, soldiers, all Jews - opinion
Beyond the Headlines: A weekly glimpse into the Israel you won’t read about in the news
Lag Ba’omer celebrates life with carob, haircuts, and bonfires - opinion
The Lag Ba’omer tradition of children playing with bows and arrows is associated with the Bar Kochba revolt. Rabbi Akiva’s students likely died fighting the Romans, not from the plague.
Counting the Omer: A journey from Passover to Shavuot
The pilgrimage festival of Shavuot at the conclusion of the Omer period was in thanksgiving for God’s blessing and protection of the land and its produce.
Finding the balance: What Jewish law teaches us about avoiding political extremes? - opinion
The liberals are cursing the conservatives; the conservatives are cursing the liberals. Accusations from friends and congregants alike, seeing only the other at fault, blind to our own shortcomings.
Thoughts on Shavuot and the counting of the Omer
Torah is more than the Pentateuch – it’s an expression of the ‘mind of God’
When Jewish holidays can seem like too much, and meaning-making too soon
How can we engage in acts of ritual remembering when we are living in between “they tried to kill us” and “we prevailed?”
Israel’s Independence Day is a time for mourning and celebration - Opinion
Challenging traditional Jewish mourning practices during the Omer, exploring their historical development and significance in Jewish time.
Parashat Tazri’a Metzorah: The value of eight
The number eight, or rather the “eighth day” during this period of time in the Jewish liturgical calendar, gets a lot of attention and invites us to investigate.
A Zionist Omer: Significant days in Israeli history
A proposal for a Zionist counting of the Omer, a purposeful reflection on the significance of just a few of the anniversaries, commemorations, and celebrations in the weeks ahead.
The Omer: Counting the days from Passover to Shavuot
Counting the Omer links us to the words of the Psalms: “Number your days so that you may acquire a heart of wisdom.”
