"Netilat yadayim" is the Jewish word depicting the religious washing of hand with the help of a cup.

One of the most well known Jewish customs connected with the observance of Shabbat (the Sabbath) is the lighting of lamps or candles before…

A mezuzah is a little box that is nailed to the doorpost of a Jewish home. The Hebrew word mezuzah means doorpost. It is generally placed…

In many Jewish synagogues a minyan is required for public prayer times. A minyan is a group of at least 10 Jewish men over the age of 13…

A mikvah, מקווה, is an immersion pool that is used for ceremonial cleansing.

The Yiddish language is a wonderful source of rich expressions, especially terms of endearment (and of course, complaints and…

A yarmulke in Yiddish, or a kippah in Hebrew, is a small head covering. Kippah literally means covering. Professor Jacob Lauterbach has…

There are several Jewish traditions surrounding the death loved ones. We say the mourner’s kaddish. It is not a mournful dirge, but rather…

When reading sometimes it is helpful to have something to guide us so we don’t skip a line of text.

Ever been invited to a bar or bat mitzvah and wonder what that even is?

The Western Wall is the western portion of the retaining wall of the Temple Mount where the Temple stood. The Hebrew for Western Wall is…

Kiddush is from the Hebrew word for holy or sanctify, to set apart as holy. God set the Sabbath apart as holy. Saying the kiddush on Friday…

Tzedakah is from the word meaning righteousness. A tzadek is a righteous person.

A chupah is a large covering that is often used at weddings to cover the bride and groom.

A tallit is a prayer shawl. Tallitot (plural of tallit) are rectangular in shape and have fringes called tzitzits at the four corners.

When a Jewish family moves into a new home, relatives and friends can bring housewarming gifts that honor their Jewish traditions and…

LUNAR-SOLAR CALENDAR.The Jewish calendar is based mainly on the phases of the moon; but it also regulates itself to a lesser degree by the…

Prior to the Holocaust, Yiddish, a language more resembling Middle High German than anything else phonetically, was widely spoken by 11…

The Yiddish language is a western Germanic oral and written dialect used by the Ashkenazi Jews of central and eastern Europe for the past…

The Magen David is the six pointed star also known as the Star of David. Magen David literally means "shield of David." It is not certain…

"Shema Yisrael, Adonai Elohenu, Adonai Echad." These wordsare the first words in every mezuzah. They are written in everytefillin and are…

A little holiday comedy to kick off the season. Comedian Elon Gold explains why Jews are better off without Christmas Trees

The shofar, made from a ram's horn, has been used by our people for thousands of years. The blowing of the shofar was used to call the…

The Torah says “And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your…

The custom of reading from the Torah on Saturday mornings is so old that it is difficult to be certain when it first started.

Why do we hang a mezuzah? Find out in 60 seconds.

Many cultures have different ways of dealing with death. One Jewish custom is to place a stone on the grave of someone who died.

Many understand the Torah to be the five books of Moses. And that is true but what many Jews call Torah is not the Torah but what is…

Bread plays a very important role in Jewish tradition. In the Torah when Holy visitors come to visit Abraham we read, “Abraham hurried to…

Music is very important in Jewish life and has a significant role in the worship services. Because of this a special person known as a…

Throughout the ages the Jewish people have been extremely careful to honor the name of God. Some won’t even spell the whole name in order…

The word Bar Mitzvah (spelled בר מצוה in Hebrew) means "one to whom the commandments apply".

Have you ever wondered what a shochet is? It is known that Torah observant believers keep a special tradition to avoid certain kinds of…

Male circumcision is a well known Jewish tradition. Avraham (Abraham) was called by God and highly honored. God said “’I will cause you to…

When a young boy reaches the age of thirteen he is termed a bar mitzvah, which literally means a son of commandments or son of good deeds.…

Havdallah means “separation” and is a service used to separate the holiness of the Sabbath from the rest of the week. It separates the day…

It is often said of Judaism that it is less a faith than it is a way of life. For Judaism enters into all aspects of our life. This is seen…

Bill Gates

Sha'atnez is the term used for clothing made with a mixture of wool and linen fibres. This mixture is clearly forbidden in two places in…

Orthodox believe that at Mount Sinai, God gave to Moses not only the written Torah but also oral interpretations and laws as well. They…

Slow cooked stews dominated Saturday menus in Jewish homes for millennia, in every continent, period, and culture.

Is it permissible for a woman to wear a Tallit? Many Orthodox authorities rule it out because they claim that it is a positive commandment…

Thousands of Jewish communities around the world came together for Havdallah. Watch Netanel Hershtik and the Maccabeats capture the mood of…

Americans Try Israeli Food for the First Time

A mekhitza is a dividing wall or barrier that is used to separate men and women. It could be simply a separate room, a curtain, or anything…

Candles are very special in Jewish tradition because they are said to represent the light from the menorah used in the tabernacle. Candles…

Although the early history of the calendar is not clear, most scholars believe that the present calendar is a combination of two systems.…

Maccabeats Lead Havdallah

US health officials on Tuesday released a draft of long-awaited federal guidelines on circumcision, saying medical evidence supports the…

"...You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk." Deuteronomy 14:21 Many take this verse to mean it isn't kosher to have meat and…

Spiritually Uplifting End to Shabbat in Israel

Many cultures have different ways of dealing with death. One Jewish custom is to place a stone on the grave of someone who died.

As many readers know, there are videos on Shalom Adventure to help you learn Hebrew, but what about learning some Yiddish vocabulary as…

“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Look, I have chosen the Levites from among the Israelites to serve as substitutes for all the firstborn sons…

Is it permissible for a woman to wear a Tallit? Many Orthodox authorities rule it out because they claim that it is a positive commandment…

Spiritually Uplifting End to Shabbat in Israel

Slow cooked stews dominated Saturday menus in Jewish homes for millennia, in every continent, period, and culture.

Thousands of Jewish communities around the world came together for Havdallah. Watch Netanel Hershtik and the Maccabeats capture the mood of…

You may have noticed that pomegranates are often portrayed in Jewish art in decorations for candle holders, plates, and other kinds of…

The Yiddish language is a western Germanic oral and written dialect used by the Ashkenazi Jews of central and eastern Europe for the past…

A mekhitza is a dividing wall or barrier that is used to separate men and women. It could be simply a separate room, a curtain, or anything…

Dude it's Shabbos.

הפטרה (Haftarah), the name given to the reading from the Prophetic books which follows the Torah reading.

Bread plays a very important role in Jewish tradition. In the Torah when Holy visitors come to visit Abraham we read, “Abraham hurried to…

Prior to the Holocaust, Yiddish, a language more resembling Middle High German than anything else phonetically, was widely spoken by 11…

Orthodox believe that at Mount Sinai, God gave to Moses not only the written Torah but also oral interpretations and laws as well. They…

Male circumcision is a well known Jewish tradition. Avraham (Abraham) was called by God and highly honored. God said “’I will cause you to…

"...You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk." Deuteronomy 14:21 Many take this verse to mean it isn't kosher to have meat and…

Kiddush, like candles, sanctifies the Sabbath. Making kiddush is a simple religious act that sanctifies the Jewish Sabbath, making it…

The Hebrew word "tzedakah" derives from the biblical word "tzedek" meaning righteousness or justice. Helping those in need is not merely…

It is very common to associate the color blue with the Jewish people. It is on the flag of Israel which was influenced by the prayer shawl…