Author Archives: alreguelajat

Reconstructionist Judaism is a modern religious movement based on the ideas developed by Mordechai Kaplan (1881-1983). Its beginnings date back to 1922, when Kaplan founded the Society for the Advancement of Judaism, a synagogue in New York City where he … Seguir leyendo →

No one questions that the Seder is the central ritual of the Passover holiday. It is written in Exodus 13:8: “Thus you shall recount to your son on that day, because of what the Lord did for me when I … Seguir leyendo →

King David is credited with establishing the first Hebrew orchestra and choir. Most of the musicians and singers were from the tribe of Levi. It is recorded in Chronicles 1:15 that David asked the Levites to appoint singers from among … Seguir leyendo →

The Shield of David, or Magen David in Hebrew, is a six-pointed star formed by two equilateral triangles with the same center and facing opposite each other, forming a hexagon inside. This figure has been used as an ornament and … Seguir leyendo →

The beginning of a new month, Rosh Chodesh in Hebrew, was determined in ancient times by observation. The beginning of a new month was marked by the appearance of the new moon or crescent moon. Observers would report their sighting … Seguir leyendo →

Donniel Hartman, in his book, “Putting God Second: How to Save Religion from Itself,” tells the story of a famous Hasidic master who, walking down a street, heard the cry of a baby coming from the home of one of … Seguir leyendo →

The Midrash is a method of interpreting biblical stories that goes beyond their simple meaning. It fills in the gaps in the biblical narrative that are only hinted at in relation to an event. The purpose is to understand difficult … Seguir leyendo →

Both Conservative or Masorti Judaism and Orthodox Judaism consider the observance of halakha as fundamental. Both maintain that Jewish law, halakha, is defined by the Torah, the Mishnah, the Talmud, the codes, and rabbinic responsa. Both believe that the commandments … Seguir leyendo →

Celebrating Purim, like Hanukkah, does not derive from a divine commandment, unlike the festivals mentioned in the Torah, so it is a holiday of more recent origin. Some biblical scholars, such as Hayyim Schauss, maintain that Purim initially arose among … Seguir leyendo →

Josephus ben Mattithiahu was born in Jerusalem in 37 CE, during the Roman occupation of the Land of Israel, and died in Rome at the end of the first century CE. As a young man, he was sent to that … Seguir leyendo →