Tag Archive for Jewish holidays

| March 7, 2015
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Jews Dress Up on Purim as Arabs to Ascend the Temple Mount

Jewish worshippers this Purim dressed up as Arabs in order to get around the police’s restrictions on Jews praying on the Temple Mount.

By Ben Ariel, Canada

 

A group of Temple Mount activists were spotted dressed up as Arabs on Friday in order to be able to enter the compound.

The Jewish activists did not do this in the spirit of Purim, which was celebrated in the capital on Friday. They did it in order to get around a ban on Jewish prayer which was imposed by the police.

Despite a court ruling earlier this week which said that police “must make sure that Jews are able to pray on the Temple Mount”, officers have been restricting Jewish prayer at the compound since Wednesday, telling worshippers that the restrictions are in accordance with a decision by the political leadership following pressure from Jordan.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| April 14, 2014
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When was the Passover Haggadah written?

Different Rabbis composed different portions during different periods, for instance, the ancient ‘Four Questions’ was modified when Jews gave up sacrifices.

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After the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 CE, the Jewish religion faced one of its greatest challenges: adapting to this new reality, in which a central focus of religious observance was suddenly and brutally gone.

Dayenu in the the Birds' Head Haggadah manuscript, South Germany. c.1300

Dayenu in the the Birds’ Head Haggadah manuscript, South Germany. c.- 1300 Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons/Sodabottle

The Jewish leadership reestablished the Sanhedrin, the Jewish legal council recognized by the Romans, in the city of Yavne. Handed the daunting task of leading the Jewish people down a new road was Rabban Gamaliel II, who resided over the Sanhedrin assembly as Nasi.

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Category: Jewish News | Tags: , ,
| November 28, 2013
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In Chanukah message to Jews & Israelis Obama invokes ‘Thanksgivukkah’

Like the Pilgrims, the Maccabees ‘made tremendous sacrifices so they could practice their religion in peace’ commented President Obama.

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The spirit of “Thanksgivukkah” has become so pervasive that even U.S. President Barack Obama decided to get in on the fun in a holiday message.

Hanukkah at the White House, Obama, 2010

Barack and Michelle Obama take part in the Hanukkah candle lighting ceremony, 2010. – Photo by The White House

On the evening of the lighting of the first candle of Hanukkah Wednesday night, the U.S. leader sent “warm wishes to all those celebrating Hanukkah” in a statement from the White House, and made note of the unique convergence of the American celebration with the Jewish festival. Continue Reading »

Category: Jewish News | Tags: , , ,
| October 1, 2013
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Israel’s Deputy FM Elkin Requests UN Recognize Yom Kippur

The request for formal recognition as official UN holiday is not unusual since currently there are 10 formal ‘UN holidays,’ with 2 of them the Muslim holidays of Id al-Fitr & Id al-Adha.

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Deputy Foreign Minister Ze’ev Elkin (Likud) and Israel’s ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor have launched a joint initiative to get the United Nations to recognize the Jewish high holiday of Yom Kippur as an official UN holiday.

Deputy FM Ze'ev Elkin and UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ze’ev Elkin and UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson. – Photo by Courtesy

The two spoke with UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson on Monday, requesting international recognition for the importance of the holiday to Jews, and to allow UN employees to take the day off without it being considered a vacation day. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,