Eicha Reading on Tisha BAv in Old City of Jerusalem

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Cross-posted at Avid Editor’s Inights

Moses Rap – A Pesach / Passover Music Video

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Hat tip: Ben Bresky’s Israel Beat Blog on Arutz Sheva

Cross posted at Avid Editor’s Insights

Reb Shlomo Carlebach Favorite Passover Legend

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more about “Reb Shlomo Carlebach Favorite Passove…“, posted with vodpod

Time to Start Thinking About Chanukah Already?? My Succah is Still Up…

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We usually leave our Succah up so the neighbors can decorate it for Christmas. Anyway…here’s a cute video about Chanukah from the assimilated West coast.

Haman Song: a Purim rap

Why Are You Building a Sukkah?

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Here’s an interesting little piece of information for those who scorn rabbinic decree: Building a Succah anywhere but in Jerusalem is not a commandment from the Torah. It is, however, a commandment from the rabbis.

Deuteronomy 16:16 “Three times a year your males shall appear before HASHEM, your God, in the place that He will choose: on the Festival of Matzot, the Festival of Shavuot, and the Festival of Sukkot….”

It is important to understand what is meant by “in the place that He will choose”. What mysterious place is this? It seems there is a clue in Deuteronomy 16:5-6 … “You may not slaughter the pesach-offering in one of your cities that HASHEM your God, gives you; except at the place that HASHEM your God, will choose to rest His Name, there shall you slaughter the pesach-offering in the afternoon, when the sun descends, the appointed time of your departure from Egypt.”

Thus traditionally, Israel has three pilgrimages to Jerusalem; Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot. Since the Temple has been destroyed, the celebration of these three pilgrimage festivals was kept alive by rabbinic decree…those pesky fellows.

I, for one, am grateful to our wise Sages ZT”L. It is also important to note that according to the Torah, rabbinic decrees are binding on all Jews everywhere.

Chag Sukkot sameach.