Israel tradition

The life-changing magic of washing your hands (on Passover)

One element of the washing is called “shifshuf yadayim,” which literally means “rubbing the hands,” and is initially described in the Tosefta (Yadaim 1:2), a 2nd-century CE compilation of Torah law.

‘WE’VE ALL heard that we need to wash our hands to help hamper the spread of coronavirus, but the exact precautionary measures can be confusing at best and conflicting at worst.’
 A WOMAN examines the influx of matzah boxes in a supermarket on Wednesday in Jerusalem ahead of the Passover holiday.

Passover, tradition and the value of money

 ‘MY JERUSALEM’ historical photographs taken by Aviv Yitzhaki.

This week in Jerusalem: Tradition, tradition!

EXALTING IN Sukkot at the Western Wall

The hour of great people


Etrog: The Sukkot symbol with Chinese roots

In ancient times, people would simply use whichever fruits they had harvested in that season, such as pomegranates, grapes, dates and figs.

The Succot citron, etrog,  is protectively wrapped in silky flax padding and safeguarded in a covered ornamental box.

Uncovering the tallit, the long-standing traditional textile in Israel

The tallit (prayer shawl) is a customary Jewish prayer garment.

‘The Dry Bones Passover Haggadah’

A slim book with a wealth of knowledge and humor

Yaakov Kirschen at home in Herzliya

The tische: Anatomy of a ‘nigun’

Melodies derive from but also reflect the singer’s inner life.

Hassidic Jews celebrate Purim in Jerusalem’s Mea She’arim neighborhood.

A community of cousins

A.J. Jacobs sets out to prove that we’re all just a little bit related.

Family tree. (Illustrative)

Trusting one’s fellow man

It seems that satisfaction with life is also related to the tendency to trust others.

A secular and religious Jew walk arm in arm as a celebration of Jewish unity

Jewish history helped me understand transgender communities

Students should be comfortable studying communities and people who are hard to categorize.

THREE PAINTINGS seized by the Nazis are displayed at an official ceremony in Paris March 11, 2014

4 reasons why Israel is the perfect place for your spontaneous vacation!

Be it the pulsing nightclubs in Tel Aviv or the rolling emerald hills of the Golan—Israel offers a unique vacation that caters to every kind of traveler.

Kibbutz Be’eri Cycling Routes

Just a Thought: On Tikkun Leil Shavuot

The original Tikkun Leil Shavuot was not staying up all night listening to shiurim.

The practice of ‘Tikkun Leil Shavuot’ is to dedicate one whole night to the study of Torah and discussion

The Tisch: Counting for unity

This is an omer theme that we dream of realizing on our own day, a dream of unity, of fraternity, of love for each other. This is what we count toward; this is what we are counting on.

Men harvest wheat on Komemiyut on May 3

The dichotomy of freedom

There are so many rules and regulations dictating how to observe Passover properly that it boggles the mind how anyone can feel free at a time like this.

Love puzzle