Festivals archive
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Yom Kippur: The difference between hope and ‘good’ hope
Transcript: What’s the difference between hope and ‘good’ hope? Surely all hope is good? In our prayers at this time of the year, we say to Hashem ‘Uvechein tein kavod Read more... -
Rosh Hashanah: Two steps to achievable teshuva
Transcript: Here’s a question for you. What is not over the heavens, not over the seas but in our mouths and our hearts to do? This is how Parshat Nitzavim Read more... -
Elul: We can have hope in the future!
Transcript Confidence and trepidation are an integral part of the rollercoaster of our lives. This is so well presented in Psalm 27, LeDavid Hashem Ori, which we recite at this Read more... -
Shavuot: Oil, water, wine and milk are like Torah – how?
Transcript In our tradition, Torah is compared to four different types of liquids. Let us focus on this in anticipation of the festival of Shavuot through which we will dedicate Read more... -
Pesach: Why do we say, “Next year in Jerusalem”?
Transcript: Why during Pesach do we exclaim, “Leshanah haba’ah b’Yerushalaim,” – “Next year in Jerusalem”? Rabbi Nosson Finkel, the Sabbah of Slobodka, used to explain that the primary purpose of Read more... -
Pesach: Bitter herbs teach us what’s really important
Transcript: Do we have the right blessing? At our seder tables, we will be taking maror and we will dip it in charoset. However, the blessing that we will be Read more... -
Why is the Book of Esther included in Tanach?
Transcript Why is the book of Esther included in Tanach? You might be wondering: how could it be possible for Esther not to be in Tanach? It’s one of our Read more... -
Shemini Atzeret: A most unusual festival!
Transcript: Shemini Atzeret is a most unusual festival. Other festivals have special mitzvot: on Rosh Hashanah we blow the shofar; on Pesach we hold a seder; on Chanukah we light Read more... -
Succot: So many festivals in just a few weeks!
Transcript: This month is packed with major festivals, but we need them all. As I see it, in the same way as we need all three paragraphs of the shema, Read more... -
Yom Kippur: Guaranteed happiness in 5783?
Transcript How can we all guarantee that we’ll be happy in 5783? Our Yom Kippur Kol Nidrei evening service commences with a verse from Psalm 97: “Ohr zarua letzadik, uleyishrei Read more...