Festivals archive
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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... -
Is Rosh Hashanah on the wrong day?
Transcript: Do we celebrate Rosh Hashanah on the right day? In our davening on the New Year we proclaim, “HaYom harat olam!” – “This is the day on which Hashem Read more... -
Elul: I am for my Beloved
Transcript “I am for my Beloved and my Beloved is for me.” These beautiful words, authored by King Solomon in Shir HaShirim 6:3, in the orginal Hebrew, “Ani ledodi vedodi Read more... -
The Chief Rabbi’s D’var Torah for Shavuot and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
Transcript There is a strong connection between the festival of Shavuot and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. On the festival, for our Torah reading, we will read from Parshat Yitro about Read more... -
Pesach: Are you thirsty without knowing it?
Transcript When are we thirsty without even knowing it? At our seder tables, we declare, “Kol dichfin yeitei v’yeichol. Kol ditzrich yeitei veyifsach.” – “Let all who are hungry come Read more...
