Judaism is the oldest monotheistic religion in the world, having originated in the Middle East more than 3,000 years ago with patriarch Abraham.
As the first Abrahamic religion, Judaism has played a major role in shaping the history of the world, having greatly influenced the development of Christianity and Islam, despite having always had a relatively small amount of adherents by comparison.
The religion itself is built off of the "written Torah" of the Bible, known in Judaism as the Tanach, and the "oral Torah" of the Mishna, Talmud and other great works of leading rabbis throughout history.
Judaism itself has no single leading figure, and is divided into multiple streams, such as the ultra-Orthodox (haredi), Orthodox, Conservative and Reform. Further differences also exist along the lines of historic Diasporic communities, such as Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jewry.
Today, the largest concentration of adherents of Judaism can be found in Israel, with the US having the second-largest.
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.
It may only happen once a year, but for weight watchers, the Seder meal can come at a hefty price of thousands of calories in one evening. So how can you reduce risk of weight gain?
If we are a nation that sees itself as a family, let us remember those families that have carried such a heavy burden throughout this war.
From ancient Egypt to now: A look at Jewish seder nights through the ages.
If you haven’t picked up a copy before the Seder, I strongly suggest you grab one as soon as you can. This trivia booklet is bound to sell like hotcakes.
Surely, freedom means the overthrow of rules? Why leave one bondage merely to enter another, even if only a symbolic one?
This Passover, as we retell the story of our journey from slavery to freedom, may we be mindful of the other people seeking to experience the same journey toward freedom.
Below are excerpts from Rabbi Aryeh A. Frimer’s book, chock-full of insights aimed at providing ample food for thought and discussion at the Seder.
Over the generations bedikat hametz (searching for leaven) has become a wonderful bonding opportunity for parents and children as we usher in the Passover holiday.
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