Holiday Mitzvot

We wear our finest wardrobe and bake our best challah . . . we serve great meals—even better than on Shabbat . . . we give the children treats, buy our wives fine clothes and jewelry, and drink wine . . .

A shofar is a trumpet made from the horn of a kosher animal. The central mitzvah of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) is to hear the shofar blowning—as part of the prayer service.

On the holiday of Sukkot we sit in a sukkah, a hut that sit beneath the open sky, built to provide shade. We spend eight days in a flimsy outdoor hut to demonstrates our faith in G‑d…

On Simchat Torah we conclude, and begin anew, the annual Torah reading cycle, an accomplishment that produces unparalleled joy and dancing.

The menorah lighting was instituted as a publicity strategy: advertising to the entire world that G‑d makes miracles for those who stand up for truth and justice. Find out how this mitzvah is done . . .

The Shabbat before Purim is Shabbat Zachor. The day before Purim (in most years) is the Fast of Esther. Learn about the significance of these days and their associated observances.

Problem is, our homes are infested with the stuff. That’s why we go on a full search-and-destroy mission during the weeks before Passover. We attack any and all areas where food may enter . . .

Matzah is more than a food, it's the way we relive the Exodus. It's also the only mitzvah we have today that we actually eat and digest...

Egypt. The night before the Exodus. Families sat together, eating matzah and bitter herbs. A then, at midnight, the liberation began. Today, we, their grandchildren,do the same...

Our liberation was not yet complete. Not until the Sea of Reeds parted for us—and then crashed down to utterly destroy our Egyptian pursuers. Only then did we feel our chains fall away forever.

The Torah was given more than 3,300 years ago. Every year on the holiday of Shavuot we renew our acceptance of G‑d’s gift, and G‑d “re-gives” the Torah. Learn how to celebrate this special holiday . . .