The bitter & the sweet

Ask the rabbi: why do the children "Steal" the afikoman?

Well, bless my Seder!

What are the special prayers of Pesach?

Stock in a non-kosher food compony, or sells chametz on Pesach?

What’s new, Israel?!

The Hurt & the Hope

The Jewish People languished in slavery & degradation for more than a century. Somehow, rather than blame Hashem for our sad state of affairs, we reached out to Him & looked to Him to save us.

Why Do We Need an Acronym of the 10 Plagues? Why Do We Take Out Some Wine?

It's Coming Soon: the Great & Awesome Day of Reckoning

As a nation, we have always maintained the highest moral code. Even under the greatest duress, when we have been discriminated against & treated cruelly, we did not respond in kind.

Is Enough Ever Enough??

The hands-down winner in the “favorite song of the Seder” contest, of course, is Dayenu. But would it really “have been enough” if G-d divided the sea & we did not safely cross it?!

The “poor” Bread: Rich in Meaning

We begin our narrative of the Seder – following a few ritual prerequisites – with the saying of Ha Lachma Anya (“This is the bread of affliction...”). This is a most unusual item, with myriad questions abounding.

What Is Birkat Ha-ilanot, the Blessing on Trees?

Lean on Me

Pesach, for all its myriad symbols – the Exodus, the Splitting of the Sea, the Hagada – has one primary icon: the Matza.

Pesach’s “Open-Door” Policy

Everyone likes a nice intro! In fact, even our Chagim have an “intro” to set the mood for them before they begin. Pesach, I suggest, has Parshat HaChodesh. Always read before the month of Nisan. In essence, our calendar - & our history - begins again.

It’s in the Bloods

IN EVERY GENERATION

THIS IS BIG, FOLKS!

PESACH: BLOOD AND GUTS

JUST SAY, “THANKS!”

THE 10 PLAGUES – OR PRESENTS?