Friday, April 22, 2011
Pesach Chol HaMoed
The intermediate days of Passover are known as Chol HaMoed. At the Shabbat Service, the Torah reading is from both Exodus (33:12~34:26) and Numbers 28:19~25. The Haftorah reading is from Ezekiel (37:1 ~ 14).
Friday, April 15, 2011
Acharei Mot / Shabbot HaGadol
Acharei Mot: After the Death
Shabbat HaGadol
Shabbat HaGadol is the Shabbat service immediately before Pesach (Passover). Shabbat HaGadol means The Big or Great Shabbat. It is called that because traditionally, this was one of the few Shabbat services during the year in which the rabbi gave a sermon. (Actually, today, most Shabbat services come with a sermon.) The Shabbat HaGadol sermon generally focuses on the Passover preparations and commemorates the preparations of the Israelites from their flight from Egypt.
There is a special haftarah reading for the Shabbat HaGadol, which is Malachi 3:4~24. The haftarah is about the end of days and the return of the profit Elijah. It is a traditional belief that Elijah will return during Passover. For this reason, we include a cup of wine for him at the seder meal.
Shabbat HaGadol
Shabbat HaGadol is the Shabbat service immediately before Pesach (Passover). Shabbat HaGadol means The Big or Great Shabbat. It is called that because traditionally, this was one of the few Shabbat services during the year in which the rabbi gave a sermon. (Actually, today, most Shabbat services come with a sermon.) The Shabbat HaGadol sermon generally focuses on the Passover preparations and commemorates the preparations of the Israelites from their flight from Egypt.
There is a special haftarah reading for the Shabbat HaGadol, which is Malachi 3:4~24. The haftarah is about the end of days and the return of the profit Elijah. It is a traditional belief that Elijah will return during Passover. For this reason, we include a cup of wine for him at the seder meal.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Books Set in Medieval Europe: France
Maggie Anton has written a series of books about the three daughters of Rashi. Salomon Ben Isaac, better known as Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Itzachak) was born in 1040 and died in 1105. He is one of the most famous Talmudic scholars of his age. He had no sons, but taught his daughters Talmud during a time when women were not typically educated.
Rashi lived in Troyes, France, and established a Yeshiva there. He also had a vineyard to support his family, his wife and three daughters. Anton carefully researched this time period to incorporate not only biblical knowledge and Rashi’s writings, but minute details of life in France during this time period. Each book describes superstitions, sexual rituals and marital relations, the celebration of Jewish holidays, childbirth and life-cycle events.
The series is interesting and clearly well researched.
Rashi's Daughters: Book 3: Rachel, by Maggie Anton (2009)
Rachel is Rashi’s the youngest and most beautiful daughter. She is madly in love with her husband, Eliezer.
This book is set during the First Crusade. Marauders of the First Crusade massacre nearly the entire Jewish population of the Germany city of Speres, where her father began his Talmudic studies. Eliezar is a merchant who travels frequently to Spain, where the Sephardic Jewish tradition is vastly different from that in France. Eliezer wants Rachel to join him there, but she fears life there. In France, she has the freedom to pursue her religious studies and maintain her business of wool manufacturing. In Spain, she will be forced to stay out of the public eye. Marital customs are also vastly different in the Sephardic community. Eliezar takes a second wife. When Rachel learns of this, she is, of course, saddened. This give Anton an opportunity to explore the Jewish laws regarding divorce.
Read: November 6, 2009
Rashi's Daughters: Book 2: Miriam, by Maggie Anton
Miriam was Rashi's middle daughter. The love of her life died after they were engaged, but before they married. This created a sort of "widowhood" for Miriam. Miriam eventually marries a man who is filled with longing for other men. Thus, Anton explores homosexuality during this time period. Miriam and Judah eventually settle into a loving but sexless marriage, after the birth of their four children.
Miriam becomes a midwife, a trade she learned from her Aunt Sarah. In addition, she learns to become a mohel. The community, however, is not ready for a female mohel, so she must rely on family members to have sons to preform circumcisions.
Read: April 13, 2009
Rashi's Daughters: Book 1: Joheved, by Maggie Anton (2005)
Rashi's eldest daughter was Joheved. Anton explores daily life of women during the latter part of the 11th Century. She discusses love and sex in the context of marriage as well as the laws of niddah, or the separation between man and women during and after a woman's monthly period. Joheved is also responsible for assisting in the family's wine trade. Anton provides details of the practices of vintners at this time in history.
Rashi lived in Troyes, France, and established a Yeshiva there. He also had a vineyard to support his family, his wife and three daughters. Anton carefully researched this time period to incorporate not only biblical knowledge and Rashi’s writings, but minute details of life in France during this time period. Each book describes superstitions, sexual rituals and marital relations, the celebration of Jewish holidays, childbirth and life-cycle events.
The series is interesting and clearly well researched.
Rashi's Daughters: Book 3: Rachel, by Maggie Anton (2009)
Rachel is Rashi’s the youngest and most beautiful daughter. She is madly in love with her husband, Eliezer.
This book is set during the First Crusade. Marauders of the First Crusade massacre nearly the entire Jewish population of the Germany city of Speres, where her father began his Talmudic studies. Eliezar is a merchant who travels frequently to Spain, where the Sephardic Jewish tradition is vastly different from that in France. Eliezer wants Rachel to join him there, but she fears life there. In France, she has the freedom to pursue her religious studies and maintain her business of wool manufacturing. In Spain, she will be forced to stay out of the public eye. Marital customs are also vastly different in the Sephardic community. Eliezar takes a second wife. When Rachel learns of this, she is, of course, saddened. This give Anton an opportunity to explore the Jewish laws regarding divorce.
Read: November 6, 2009
Rashi's Daughters: Book 2: Miriam, by Maggie Anton
Miriam was Rashi's middle daughter. The love of her life died after they were engaged, but before they married. This created a sort of "widowhood" for Miriam. Miriam eventually marries a man who is filled with longing for other men. Thus, Anton explores homosexuality during this time period. Miriam and Judah eventually settle into a loving but sexless marriage, after the birth of their four children.
Miriam becomes a midwife, a trade she learned from her Aunt Sarah. In addition, she learns to become a mohel. The community, however, is not ready for a female mohel, so she must rely on family members to have sons to preform circumcisions.
Read: April 13, 2009
Rashi's Daughters: Book 1: Joheved, by Maggie Anton (2005)
Rashi's eldest daughter was Joheved. Anton explores daily life of women during the latter part of the 11th Century. She discusses love and sex in the context of marriage as well as the laws of niddah, or the separation between man and women during and after a woman's monthly period. Joheved is also responsible for assisting in the family's wine trade. Anton provides details of the practices of vintners at this time in history.
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