April 21st, 2011 by connor
by Connor Wahrman
The Pesach seder is packed with questions. Near the beginning, the Ma Nishtana has the youngest participant ask five questions: Why is this night different from all other nights? Why tonight do we eat only matzoh? Why tonight must we eat maror? Why tonight do we dip our food twice? Why tonight do we all recline? A little later, three of the four sons ask more questions: What are all the parts of the laws G-d has commanded you? What good is this service to you? What is this? And even later, there are three more questions: Why did our ancestors eat the Passover offering during the time of the Beis HaMikdash? Why do we eat this matzoh? Why do we eat this bitter herb? And near the end of the seder, there are 13 famous questions, starting with “Who knows one?” (“Echad Mi Yodeah?”). Read More.
Tags: holidays, mitzvot, passover
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April 14th, 2011 by talia
by Talia Lakritz
In grade school, I had a small obsession with ancient Egypt. I checked out books about pharaohs and pyramids from my school library. I sat for hours reading about mummies and tombs. I was fascinated by stories of Cleopatra, Imhotep, King Tut and other rulers of the time.
So when I found out that the Milwaukee Public Museum was to host an exhibit on ancient Egypt one April, I insisted that my family go see it. When we arrived, I was in my element. I scurried from one artifact to the next, reveling in the history in front of me while excitedly chattering about this earthen jug and that hieroglyph.
Then, somewhere among the broken pottery, the shriveled mummies and the weathered statues, I had an epiphany of sorts. Read More.
Tags: history, holidays, opinion, talia
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April 13th, 2011 by youngjewishmilwaukee
by Hannah Paley
On March 31, the women of the Milwaukee Jewish community celebrated Passover with the bi-annual Women’s Seder at the Jewish Community Center. This tradition, which was started in 1997, was a fun and enjoyable experience for women of all ages. Glancing around the room, I saw many mother-and-daughter groups enjoying the unique experience of an all-women’s seder together. Read More.
Tags: events, holidays, passover
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February 7th, 2011 by youngjewishmilwaukee
by Miryam Esther Jarcaig
Our ancestors suffered in the Holocaust, but despite their suffering, they did their best to perform the Mitzvos. I heard one particular story that had a major impact one me.
A young man was being taken away from his family to a labor camp. His mother took a risk and, as he was leaving, she slipped a shofar into his hand. Then he was gone. That year in the camp someone pointed out that it was the month of Elul, so they all gathered in a hidden place and he blew his shofar. Read More.
Tags: family, high holidays, history, holidays, rosh hashanah, sukkot
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February 7th, 2011 by youngjewishmilwaukee
by Tova Malka Appel
The sound of prayer fills the air. The room is hot and tense as each person pours out their heart to the Creator. Pages turn, tears leak out, and fists strike chests repeatedly, asking for forgiveness. A girl sits, stooped over her machzor, her prayer book, trying to focus on the words. Her head lifts, as the chazzan, the prayer leader, finishes a line. Her eyes alight on the rabbi, also huddled over his machzor. He is completely immersed in his prayers, singing to himself. With his heart and soul, he crying to the Almighty, “Forgive me! Forgive your lowly servant!” He is weak from fasting, as is the rest of the congregation. This is Yom Kippur. This is the Day of Repentance. Read More.
Tags: high holidays, holidays, yom kippur
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February 7th, 2011 by youngjewishmilwaukee
by Lytal Lerer
Imagine you are a person who has no money to buy food. Every night you go to bed with any empty stomach. You feel that no one can help you. There are families like this, and for them there is no pretending. If people had the time to help them, would they? Last November, Hillel Academy’s student council decided to become involved in a community project. They knew that Thanksgiving was coming up, and that a lot of people in the Milwaukee area didn’t have the money to celebrate with big meals. Read More.
Tags: holidays, mitzvot, social action, thanksgiving
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February 7th, 2011 by youngjewishmilwaukee
by Liora Bushee
What Chanukah means to me is light. The little flames on the menorah can brighten up a whole room. The lights remind us of all the miracles that G-d has done for us. Light also represents happiness and joy. Read More.
Tags: chanukah, holidays
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