Category Archives: Mo’ed

It has been said that there are numerous ways of defining who or what Jews are. There are definitions based upon culture, religion, ethnicity, geological location and biblical history. One further definition is that Jews are people of the calendar … Continue reading →

Posted on 09/10/2020 by Aleinu | Leave a comment

Tomorrow is Shabbat HaChodesh (“Sabbath [of the] month”), which is the Shabbat that precedes the month of Nisan during which Pesach (Passover) is celebrated (Exodus 12:1-20). Traditionally, Rosh Chodesh Nisan is the first month of the Jewish year according to the schedule … Continue reading →

Posted on 20/03/2020 by Aleinu | Leave a comment

The Shabbat during Chol Ha’moed Sukkot has a special Torah reading, Exodus 33:12 – 34:26. In it we read of Moshe’s encounter with Hashem after the incident with the molten calf. Hashem affirms that He will continue to go with … Continue reading →

Posted on 18/10/2019 by Aleinu | Leave a comment

We are in the midst of the Days of Awe, between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, when introspection is the order of the day and each of us is attempting to ensure that all is right between ourselves and Hashem … Continue reading →

Posted on 04/10/2019 by Aleinu | Leave a comment

In the list of the mo’adim (festivals) that Hashem told Moshe to proclaim to Bnei Yisrael in Vayikra (Leviticus) 23, “Speak to Bnei-Yisrael, saying: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you are to have a Shabbat rest, a … Continue reading →

Posted on 29/09/2019 by Aleinu | Leave a comment

There is an interesting commentary on חֻקַּת עוֹלָם, “an everlasting law” in the last verse of the Torah reading for Yom Kippur morning (Leviticus 16:1-34). Even when there is no Temple, if we repent on Yom Kippur, the day itself … Continue reading →

Posted on 28/09/2018 by Aleinu | Leave a comment

This week’s Torah portion is Vayelech, Deuteronomy 31:1-30.[i] For the encouragement of many of us, this portion begins, וַיֵּלֶךְ, מֹשֶׁה; וַיְדַבֵּר, Moshe walked and talked with Bnei-Yisrael. Why is this encouragement? Quite simply because the next verse states that Moshe was … Continue reading →

Posted on 14/09/2018 by Aleinu | Leave a comment