Friday night we sanctify Shabbos with Kiddush, after 25 hours we take leave of Shabbos with Havdalah. Havdalah which means separation is a ceremony of rituals, of blessings, just like with Shabbos. We make rituals over speech, smells, sight, hearing and also taste to separate the Holy and the mundane.

Havdalah

Havdalah is performed after nightfall on saturday evening, when it is dark enough to see the 3 stars become visible, also important not to do Havdalah earlier as it is forbidden lighting and putting out flames untill after Shabbos. 

Tu Bishvas is the New Year for trees. This day marks the trees from blooming  in Israel, a new circle of fruitbaring.

And we mark this day by eating fruit, the kinds that Torah praises in the Holy land, like promengranates, figs, grapes,dates and olives.

Before eating the fruits there is bracha to recite.

Tu BiShvat Q & A at Chabad.org

15 Tu B' Shevas Essays

In this day Tachnun is omitted from Shacharis and Mincha    

Purim is a great holiday we celebrate on the 14th of Adar. The story about Purim with the salvation of the Jewish people in Persian Empire of Haman, to plot to kill all Jewish people, men, women, the elderly and children every single day.

The story begins when King Ahasuerus had his wife Queen Vashti executed for not fallowing his orders, he then arranged a beauty pageant to hind him a new Queen. A Jewish girl named Esther was in favor and she became the new Queen, without revealing her true identity.

In the meantime, Haman, a Jew-hater was appointed to be Prime Minister of the Persian Empire.

Mordechai, the leader of the Jewish people and also cousin  of Esther, was defiant of the Kings orders and refuse to bow down to Haman. Haman was enraged and convinced the King to order a decree of extermination of all Jews on the 13th of Adar, this was the date chosen by lottery made  by Haman.

Mordechai convinced all Jews to repent, fast and pray to HaShem. Meanwhile Esther asked the King and Haman to join her to a party. 

At this party, Esther revealed her true identity. Haman was hanged and Mordechai was made the new Prime Minister and he issued a new decreed, granting the Jews to defend themselves against their enemies.

On Adar 13, the Jews rallied together and killed many of their enemies, it took one more day to finish the job.

On the 14th of Adar they celebrated their victory, this was in the Capital of  Shushan.

Purim recipes 🍩

While the people outside Shushan celebrated their victory on the Adar 14, the Jews in Shushan were still very much ingaged in the task to freed  the City of it murderes and other villians, it was only the fallowing day that they also could celebrate this great salvation.

From this time on, all Jews celebrate on the 14th of Adar and feel obligated to observe every year the       

The fast of Esther on the 13th of Adar, the day before Purim and to mark this day, all Jews fallow their repentance and  The Megillah is read every year on erev Purim and on Purim day in Shul.

The four Mitzvahs of Purim  

👑 Reading Megillat Esther

🎁 Mishloach Manos

💰 Matanos L' Evyonim

🍮 Seudah

Tha Laws of reading the Megillah.

Brachos for reading the Megillah

Pesach is the most important Jewish holiday, which marks the end of slavery and the Exodus out of Egypt. The Torah tells us that the Pesach refers to the scrifice of the Paschal Lamb, its also refers to G'D passed over the houses of the Jewish people during the 10 plaques on the Egyptians and  the slaying of the first born. With Pesach we celebrate the freedom, the story of the Exodus and the Passover Seder held on the first night which marks the beginning of this holiday.

Pesach is observed for seven days in Israel and for eight days in the rest of the world. The main event of the holiday is the Seder, a festive meal in which the Haggadah is receited. During these days its forbidden to eat Chametz, the main reason for this is when the Jews quickly had to escape Egypt, they didn't had enough time to let the bread rise, instead of bread they ate Matzah, which is unleavened bread. Part of the Seder includes hiding Afikoman, this one half of the Matzah which kept between two other Matzahs during the Seder and its later hidden for the children to go in search for the afikoman and usually they receive a reward of finding it.

Days before Pesach, its for many a very busy time, preparing and cleaning every corner of the house and remove all Chametz from the house, some Jews burn it,or symbolical sell the Chametz.

Open the door for Eliyahu Hanavi

With Pesach we use special dishes, which are not used outside the holiday, the food we prepare at Pesach goes beyond the usual rules of keeping Kosher, there are special rules preparing food that is Kosher for Pesach. 

Matzah are the main part of Seder, but we have also:

🔹️Maror , horseradish, a reminder of the Bitterness of the Savery

🔹️The Salt- water  simbolizing the Tearse of the Slaves.

🔹️Charoset , which is a sweet paste and made of Fruit and Nuts.

🔹️Zeroah, its a shank bone, and representing the Pesach scrifice.

🔹️Beitzah, they are hand-boiled eggs and symbolazing Life and Birth.

🔹️Karpas, this is a green leaf vegetable, like lettuce and symbolizing Hope and Redemption.

🔹️Its a required to drink the Four cup of wine.

Peasch Sheni

This day represents a second chance, when for example someone was unable to take part or  in a state of impurity ( contact is a dead body) and couldn't prepare the Pesach offering.

The second chance is achieved through Teshuvah, which means "  return " ! On the second Pesach there is de second chance to observe the Mitzvah of the Pesach offering.

Customary this day is eating Shumrah Matzah, and by leaving out Tachanun from the prayer service.

The lessons derived from Pesach Sheni- second chances .

➿➿➿➿➿🍷🍷🍷🍷➿➿➿➿

Pesach recipes

How to prepare you Seder pate quickly & Easily

Lag B'omer is on the 33rd day of the Omer count and is celebrated on the 18 of Iyar

Lag B'omer is a very special holiday, why it is special and also very important, I will get to that later, but first I like to tell a bit more about The counting of the Omer.

The counting of the Omer begins on the second day of Pesach to Shavuot,  what is the Omer and what does it mean?

Sefirat Omer, means the counting of the Omer, this is a period of 49 days from Pesach to Shavuot, from the Exodus out of Egypt until the Jews received the Torah, its rooted in the Kabbalistic concept of the Sefirot, this is also known as The Tree of Life, and the Counting of the Omer is a time of spiritualty.

But how does the counting of the Omer relates to the anticipation and the preparations for receiving the Torah? Well it is like this, after they left Egypt, the Jews spend the next 49 days in the desert preparing themselves spiritually for the most important experience of all times. The giving of the Torah to Moshe on mount Sinai to give to the Jews, and in this period each one was climbing with one step at the time, up to the emotional ladder towards a higher purity, this period has as much relevance to our lives today

Vayikra 23:9~14

The use of the Bow and Arrow symbolizes the Rainbow, which appeared after the great flood in the days of Noah,and is a symbol from HaShem, that He would never destroy the world, His creation by flooding it. The sages declared that Rabbi Shimon's goodness protected the entire generation, which means there was no need for the rainbow to appear, but with the passing of Rabbi Shimon there is now a reason for the rain( bow), this is where the Bow and Arrow comes from still till this day.

The Zohar also tells us that before the coming of the Moshiach, a very bright rainbow will been seen in the sky.

As the Torah is our only external tool where we meet our challenges of life every days life, we do have something very special to hold on to, the commandments, which we will preserve in order because HaShem created this world with a purpose, its not so much all the do' and the dont's, its more that the Torah tells us that bad will always try to overshadow the Good, but very deep down inside there is this Goodness, that Spark which will tell us what to do when we faces challenges, we do not always know where to find it or how to reach this part of our mind, at this point the Mystical Dimension of the Torah comes in and guides us to the very essence of our being, our Neshama.

Yom Hillula , the celebration by the anniversary of the death of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, on Lag B'omer there are Bonfires, but also Pelgrimages to the Burial place of Rabbi Shimon in the town if Meron in Israel. The Bonfires or the lighting of it symbolizes the ' Spiritual Light' brought to the world by Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.

On the day of his death he said " Now its my desire to reveal secrets" The day will not go to its place like any other day, for this entire day stands within my domein. It stayed daylight, until Rabbi  Shimon had completed his final teachings and then he died. 

The light of the fires symbolizes the Spiritual light, and this shows us how powerful light really is.

Before his death he did commanded his fallowers to mark the day of his passing as a day of celebration rather than a sad day, he wanted it to be a happy day.

Another tradition which marks Lag B'omer, is the day in which the plague killed 24.000 fallowers of Rabbi Akiva, for this reason the mourning period of Sefirat Ha'omer which will end for observant Jews on Lag B'omer with a Pelgrimages to mount Meron.

Rabbi Akiva was the teacher of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and as we remeber the deaths on Lag B'omer it describes also to love and respect one another. Rabbi Akiva says that Ahavas Yisroel is the key to everything and that the end of Golus is coming when we have ahavas  instead of issur sinas, how do we express this? The way to do this, is by not judging, but giving the peolle the benefit of the doubt, we have to stop being critical and not always think the worse.

The mystical origin of Lag B'Omer ~ Part  1 🔹️Who was Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai?  

The mystical origin of Lag B'Omer ~ Part 2.  Revealing the Hidden

Shavuot or Shavuos is known as the feast of weeks  as we celebrate the completion of the seven weeks of counting the Omer and is between Pesach and Shavuos.

Shavuos begins at sunset on Shabbat the 5th of Sivan until nightfall the 7th of Sivan.

Every year on Shavuos we renew our acceptance of HaShem's gift, and HaShem will give us the Torah as as a re- gift. 

The Torah been given to the Jews on mount Sinai to Moshe Rabbineu by HaShem on Shavuos over 3000 years ago. The giving of the Torah was one of the most spiritual events, which touches  the essence of our being, our Neshama, forever.

The Jews are counting down

Shavuos means oath, for on this day HaShem swore his devotion to the Jewish people and in return we promised to be forever loyal to Him.

How do we celebrate Shavuos 

Women and Girls light the chandles, this is in both days as we enter the holiday, on the first night of Shavuos we study the Torah all night, and Tikkun leil Shavuos, Tenach, Mishna, 613 Mitzvot and Zohar.

On the first day the whole family goes to Shul to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments. On the second day we recite the Yizkor in Shul, Yizkor means  "remember" and with this prayer we ask HaShem to remember the Souls of our family and friends who have passed away.

When we recite Yizkor, renew de connection between our family and friends and ourselves, this will bring more goodness to their souls in order to elevate them. Yizkor is also about to give to charity in honor of the deceased, we perform a positive deed in this world as they can no longer do this, so we do it for them instead.

Who recite the Yizkor is everone who last their parents or one of them, for everyone who still have two parents alive has to leave Shul during the service. For one's parent, one may recite for any Jew who has passed away, this could also be family or friends.

Ruth was a moabite princess, who was not very happy with the idol- worship of her people. 

It is strange when we read on Shavuos about this great women, and realizing she was not really a Jew by birth, but a Moabite princess. Maybe this is one of the most important lessons that we can learn from Ruth. Her genuine love for the Jewish people and the Torah, made her into one of the greatest Jewish women and ancester of Dovid HaMelech, and he in turn our redeemer.

But how did a Moabite princess of one of the not so friendly neighboring land of Israel, an example for Jewish women?

The story starts long before Ruth ever met a single Jewish person. As she became more and more disgusted with the idol- worship of her own people. Among all Gods they worshipped was Moloch, and in his honor young children were thrown into the fire, which was the lowest and the most cruel form of idol- worship. Ruth simply could not have mercy or find justice from this kind of idol- worship, and was in search for a new religion, something better and more truthful.

When the ten worst famines in history hits Israel, Elimelech, one of the most notalber of Judah camo to Moab. He hoped to find for him and his family a much better life there. It was then when Ruth became acquainted with this Jewish family and with their religion. Ruth was happy to marry one of their son's, eventhough this meant she had to give up the comforts of her royal position to join the Jewish family.

Meanwhile, things turned for the worse when HaShem punished Elimelech, for not staying with his own people back in Judah, to share their bad times,their sorrow and worries. Instead of helping them, he run away to Moab. Elimelech and his two son's died, which left Naomi a widow without children. She made the decission to go back to her homeland, where Elimelech owned some land. Naomi asked her two daughter in-laws, Orpah and Ruth if they wish to go with her to the poor en joyless life she had lead before. As it turned out , only Orpah, with some persuation, turned back to her own people. Ruth who became so convinced of the truth and beauty of Judaism, said that under no circumstances would she leave Naomi to return to rayal life, a life of idol- worship. Naomi coundn't persuade her, not even the argument that she had nothing to offer her, when Ruth replied to her

" Do not tell me to leave you, to return home from following you, I will go. And where you go, I go. And where you stay, I stay. Your people are my people. And your G-d, is my G-d. Where you die,I die and be buried. May G-d do so to me, and more also, only death will part us "

These are they words that touched those who have studied and appreaciated the truth and beauty of the Torah.

Ruth wasn't concerned about poverty and hunger, and together with Naomi she travelled to the land of her late husband, putting hope, faith and trust in HaShem. When Naomi and Ruth arrived in Beth Lechem, in Judah, where Elimelech came from, it was at the harvest. The famine had passed, and the fruit was growing again. Elimelech's possession's had been taken over by some family members, and it would take some time to regain them and sell them. As Naomi and Ruth had nothing to eat and it would had been natural to go out and get some food, after all it was her home and the people surely would help them. But the people were not not moved by the words of Naomi

" Call me no longer Naomi, which means sweet, but Mara " the bitter one", for HaShem has dealt very bitter with me "

Ruth went out in search of food and insisted Naomi to stay. She went into the fields, just like other poor people did, to pick up some barley what was left behind, or fallen to one side during cutting, they would not have forgotten about the poor. Ruth wasn't alone, for HaShem was with her. The owner of the field was none other than Boaz, the tenth of Judges of Israel.

Boaz a very wealthy and kind man, greeted Ruth in a friendly way. He also recognized that she wasn't a beggar and he ordered his workers to treat her with respect. Ruth  got a great share of leket, pe'ah and  shikchah to take home. Overjoyed she went back and showed Naomi the harvest. She also told Naomi about the friendliness of the owner of the fields, where she was in search of food. To her surprise, she learned that Boaz was a very close relative to her late husband, and the second in line as redeemer of Elimelech's properties. The redeemer was duty- bound to marry the widow of his kinsman.

Naomi adviced Ruth to visit Boaz and as she entrusted her fate abd the trust of her mother in-law in him. Boaz was very touched by the Ruth, with her modest and gentle manner and her fine character. He pointed out however, that not he, but another kinsman was first in line as redeemer of Elimelech's property, but he promised to do what he could and was ready to fulfill this obligation, when the other man would refuse. And this was exactly what happend, the man first in line, did not claim his rights, so that made Boaz not only redeemer of the estate but could also marry  Ruth, this modest and great young woman, who gave up her royal life to convert to Judaism to live as a Jewess.

Boaz, who is a descended of prince Nachshon of the tribe of Judah, and the one who was the first to jump into the Red Sea, was the most important person of the Jewish of that time.

Boaz and Ruth married with children and Ruth was blessed and lived long enough to see her great- grandson Dovid to become king of Israel.

Tisha B'Av is the saddest and tragic day of the whole year, is the fast of the Ninth of Av, it is a day of fasting and morning the destruction of the first Temple in 586 B.C.E and also the destruction of the second Temple  in 70 C.E, the first Temple was ransacked by the Babylonians and burnt to the ground, the second Temple by the Romans, the destruction however was  not only a religious disaster, but it was also the end of the first and second Jewish Commonwealth and with this the exile of most of the Jewish people from their very own land. Tisha B' Av  became indentified with yet another tragic event in the lives of Jewish people in Spain, in 1492 they issued a decree, the expulsion of all Jews and the only alternative was death or conversion to Christianity.

At first, the destruction of the Temple is the basic reason of the mourning of Tisha B'Av, as the Temple is still not restored. In the year 691 C.E Islamic leaders built a major Islamic shrine  on the Holy Temple Mount and this only highlights the Temple's loss to the faith of Israel.

Secondly, there is another occasion each year to remember and never to forget, to mourn and grieve over all those occasions in history of Israel, which resulted in sorrow, suffering and in death, in torture, cruelty and oppression, which did reach their climax in the Holocaust of 1940- '45, where a third of all Jewish people, men, women and children, were systematically and in a extremely gruesome way put to death after the most horrific suffering.

Tisha B' Av is a day of total fasting as on Yom Kippur, are there certain things forbidden before sundown the eights of Av till nightfall the fallowing day, there are restrictions against studying Torah.

Tisha B'Av marks the height of a period of three weeks, this is to be observed in semi- mourning, and begins with the minor fast of the 17th of Tammuz, this marks the the first breach in the Walls of Jerusalem, made by the attacking of the babylonians.

During the three weeks of mourning, weddings are not permitted or any other celebrations where there is music involved. The semi- mourning intensifies on the first day of Av, the period reffering to as the Nine days. At this time it is custom not to eat meat or drink wine during this period, except on Shabbat. Buying new clothing has to wait until after Tisha B'Av.

On the fallowing evening service, the Meggillat Eichah, this is the Book of Lamentations,is read in a more mournful way, this is in the evening as well as in the morning. Kinos chanted after the Eichah are recited sitting on the ground or on a low stool and Tallit or Tefillin are not been worn, also on the day itselves the paroches is removed for less decorative cover and in some communities they even drape the Ark in black.

Powerful and emotional!

Tisha -on-Tisha-BAv.htm to us 2000 years later? 

Rabbi Manis Friedman.

The Laws of mourning Tisha B'Av.

The message of 15th of Av is to experience the Mystery of Marriage, the wonder of Love, two very diverse people in Unity in Body, Heart & Soul to create Harmony in the World.

The mystical  secret of love and marriage on Tu B'Av.

Sweet & Good Torah.

      Shanah Tovah ~  שנה טובה

In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of rest, a memorial proclaimed with the blast of the Horn,a holy convocation and you shall not do any servile work 

            ~ Vayikra 23: 24-25 ~ 

 It is fascinating that Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, as it is not been called this in the Torah, the truth is that this day comes in the seventh month of calendar year and was given a different name. The Jewish New Year starts in the spring in the month of Nisan, we can read  this in Shemot 12:2, which is the new agricultural year.

However the Sages  gave much more significance to the first Shabbos of the fall holidays, eventually became a spiritual New Year and is known as Yom Teruah, which means ' The day of the Shofar ' , this day became Rosh Hashanah, the head of the year. Rosh Hashanah is to represent the 'Day of Repentance ' it also marks the start of the Ten-Day periode of spiritual self- examination and repentance which be fulfilled with Yom Kippur, the ' Day of Atonement ' is about intensive davening this day, during the Ten-days the gates of prayer and repentance are more open than any other day during the whole of the year.

As Rosh Hashanah is Yom Teruah, In prayer we call it Yom Harikaron ' The Day of Remembrance ' but also Yom Hadin, which means ' The Day of Judgement ' this is the big day for us as HaShem determines the fate of all of us a year ahead.

Rosh Hashanah together with Yom Kippur, ten days later, is part of Yamin Nora'im, also known as the Ten days of Awe.

On the night of Rosh Hashanah we wish men' Shanah Tovah tikatev vetichatem' and the women with 'Shanah Tovah Tikatevee v'tichatemee ' we are wishing to be inschribed and sealed for a good  year.

We light the candles each evening at sundown.

On Rosh Hashanah we are having festive meals, and a good time with our loved ones, we have a tradition to dip appels in honey, and with this we hoop to evoke a sweet new year.

Lighting candles at 29 Elul, 18 minutes before sunset.

Rosh Hashanah 1 & 2 Tishrei.

The Laws of Rosh Hashanah

29 of the most delicious recipes, to make your Rosh Hashanah amazing.

The month of Elul is a time given to us to prepare ourselves for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We have 40 days of repentance that will give the highest level of keten ( Sefirot) during the Neilah prayer at the end of Yom Kippur. The world was created during the last week of this month, and as a result we have the revelation of the 13 attributes of mercy. We do connect to this during Selichot and Rosh Hashanah prayers and Yom Kippur prayers. It was the month of Elul that Moshe Rabbeinu went up mount Sinai, asking HaShem to have mercy and forgiveness for the Israelites for their sin of the Golden Calf.

The Sages teach us that during the month of Elul, HaShem is with us and this is the best time to pray and plead with HaShem to forgive our past sins and ask Him to accept our prayers

The days of Elul  are like the time of Mincha of Shabbat and this is the time of goodwill and that our prayers are most accepted.

This is also a good time for Tzedakah, food for one another and gifts to the poor.

After Rosh Chodesh,there is the Shofar blowing right  after the Shacharit, using the same sequence that is done during Rosh Hashanah. The whole purpose of the Shofar blowing during Elul is to open our hearts to make Teshuvah repentance and to cleanse our souls for Rosh Hashanah.

🔹️ We have to do good and avoid all negativity.

🔹️ No evil speech.

🔹️ Elul is a good time to check Tefillin and Mezuzot.

🔹️ Elul is a good time for engagements & weddings.

🔹️ To study every available minute.

🔹️ Study at night, Tikkun Chatzot.

Selichot  

And again I come to You, after a year asking You for forgiveness, do You accept?

Let me fix what I have broken...Just open the door for me.

Elul is the sixth month, counting from the month of Nisan, and has the aspect of Yessod, this is the sixth Sefira that delivers the light to the world, Malchat which is the lowest safira on the Sefirot.

The connection to Yessod is made with prayers and Tzedakah which has a huge impact and benefits this month. Furthermore reading Tikunei Zohar durin the 40 days is highly recommanded, it does help cleanse our souls.

On Rosh Hashanah it is inscribed, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed.

The services which introduces Yom Kippur is called Kol Nidrei which means ' All Vows ', this is the openings prayer of Yom Kippur, reciting in Shul by taking the Torah scrolls out of the Ark and after reciting the Kol Nidrei the scrolls will be returned into the Ark.

The Torah demands that we are keeping word, and not so much fulfilling a vow. On Yom Kippur the essence of the Neshama is fully revealed and real attitude toward our behavior will be expressed in the coming year.

At the Yom Kippur evening service and fallowing Kol Nidrei of half- Kaddish, will be the Sh'ma, the Amidah, the A Chet ~ this is the confession of sins ~ this can only be said on the night of Yom Kippur, 9th of Tishrei

After the services it is customary to recite the entire book of Tehillim.

The History of Yom Kippur

In the year 2448, some months after the Jewish people were rescued and led out of Mitzrayim, they sinned by making a golden calf which they worshipped. When Moshe came down Har Sinai and saw the golden calf, he smashed the two luchos to pieces and went back up the mountain to ask HaShem for forgiveness for this people. The day Moshe came down Har Sinai on the 10th of Tishrei was The Day of Atonement ~ Yom Kippur.

In that same year of 2448, the Jewish people built the Mishkan, a portable dwelling place for HaShem. The Mishkan a place for prayer and sacrificial offerings, many different kinds of offerings, a service which was only entrusted to the Kohanim. 

The Kohen Gadol would perform a special service on Yom Kippur, which included offering incense in the Holy of the Holiest part of the Mishkan, the room where also the the Aron Haberis was placed. The lottery of the two goats, one was going to be sacrificed and the other goat sent into the wildernis.

The spiritual meaning of the two goats. The goat send away symbolised teharah, cleansing of the moral stain. The sacrificed goat represented kapparah, atonement and purification.

While on any other day the Kohanim would wear a golden garment, on Yom Kippur the kohen Gadol would visit the mikveh and wear a white garment to perform this special service.

Throught the centries, in the time of the first Beis HaMikdash built by Solomon and the second Beis HaMikdash built by Ezra. Jews from all over the land would come to Jerusalem to experience the Kohanim service to obtain forgiveness for all the Jewish people.

The second Beis HaMikdash was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE, but even after the destruction of the Temple Yom Kippur continued, but not by bringing the korbanos into Jerusalem, but by every single Jew performing the Yom Kippur service in their own Shuls or place that they choose.

On the first of Elul, the blowing of the Shofar to be heard every morning. After the Shacharis and Mincha we read Tehillim 27 and just a few days before Rosh Hashanah we beging saying the Selichos early in the morning. As we built towards Aseret Yemei Teshuvah, the Ten Day of Repentance leading up to Yom Kippur.

The Rebbe's Yitzkor speech 

On Yom Kippur we recite Yitzkor, the power of the soul above and the soul below.

The Jewish soul is part of HaShem and therefore " Jewish unity" is not limit to Jews who are alive, it includes those who passed on as well.

The Yitzkor, a menorial prayer for the ones departed and is recited in Shul four times a year, after the Torah reading on the last day of Pesach, on the second day of Shavuos, on Shemini Atzeres and on Yom Kippur.

What you need to know about the Yom Kippur Shul service

Kol Nidrei means " All Vows " and is a special prayer on erev Yom Kippur and by reciting this prayer we declare all unintentional vows to null and void.

At sunset when Yom Kippur begins, we go to Shul to reflect, daven and atonement. Kol Nidrei is the first prayer on erev Yom Kippur and when we recite this prayer any vows we make and even the once we are about to make, which has been forgotten or unintentionally broken to be null and void. We have to start Yom Kippur with a clean slate.

Kol Nidrei is in Aramaic and chanted by a Chazan and is bound by the Torah scroll, carried by some of members of the community. This together serves a Beis Din, which has the authority to annul the vows of the entire community.

The Chazan will repeat the Kol Nidrei three times and with each time he will raise the volume. The three times repeat is in Beis Din the rulling to annul a vow.

Kol Nidrei is chanted with a haunty melody, this is a very old melody and it is been passed down from  generation upon generation, a spiritual journey of Yom Kippur.

When we make a vow, but turn this vow into something what is forbbiden to us, but as we are the source of this prohibition we have the power to annul the sin. Simlar to the commandments HaShem has given us and when we sin against them HaShem would judge us, He has the power to annul them and to forgive us. We ask forgiveness when we recite Kol Nidrei.

During Kol Nidrei we ask HaShem to annul any vows that might delay the coming of the Moshiach, by annuling our vows we ask HaShem in prayers to do the same, which could bring the Final Redemption.

A week before Yom Kippur try to drink less coffee and alchohol as deprivation could lead to withdrawal symptons and will cause headaches.

In the days leading up to Yom Kippur vary meal times schedule, when eating always on the same time every day, our body will digest when meal time approaches and when vary the meal time schedule, it will eases the hunger, which we will experience around these times.

Make sure to be fully hydeated, as it is often not the lack of food that make us feel this way, but a lack of fluid. Alcohol as mentioned earlier will dehydrate you, water will be a better option.

Best not to eat too much before fasting as overeating will not compensate for not eating. It will only make us more hungary the following morning.

Eat proper meals, containing carbohydrates and protein food high in oil as they delay emptying the stomach.

Carbohydrates like patatoes and pasta's will be most effective as Carbohydrate bonds with water and will make fasting easier.

Avoid salt and spicy food, both makes thirsty. Avoid processed food as they contain lots of salt, like canned fish, smoked fish, tomato sause and pickles.

High -fibre  food such as salades are a important part of a meal and should be on the menu of a pre- fast meal. Fruits are also high- fibre and it contains a lot of water as well.

Apart from food, the clothes we wear on Yom Kippur should not make us perspire.

While fasting it is best not to talk or think about the food we going to eat after the fast. Take a nap in between prayer service, it will make you feel a whole lot better.

Have an easy fast.

The day of Atonement is the most holiest day of the Jewish year, which we observe with fasting and prayers, attend Shul on this day. Married men wear on this day a white kittel.

For almost 26 hours we fast, we daven and we ask forgiveness, to start anew both with HaShem and our fellow Jew.

We afflict our souls, we don't eat or drink, we do not wash nor brush our teeth, we don't wear letter shoes and no marital relations.

Yom Kippur is the holiest day of year, a day when we are closest to HaShem and to the essence of our neshama.

 it is a day to ' Afflict the Soul ' and to Atone our sins of the past year. In 'The Days of Awe' HaShem inscribes all of our names and on Yom Kippur, Judgement enters and the book will be sealed. On this day it is our last and final day, our last chance to change Judgement, this is by repent and making amends.

In ' The Days of Awe ' Yom Kippur Atones only sins between men/ women and HaShem, not sins commited against another person. As wrongdoer he/she must seek reconcilliation with the other person and this must been done before Yom Kippur.

Holy candle lighting will be the 9th of Tishrei, 18 minutes before sunset. 

Neilah is the concluding prayer service on Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement. It's the final service of the day and is known for its solemn melodies and the blowing of the shofar, which marks the end of the Yom Kippur fast. The name "Neilah" means "closing of the gates," referring to the symbolic closing of the gates of heaven as the day of atonement draws to a close.

🔸️Neilah is the final Yom Kippur service, marking the end of the day of fasting and prayer. 

🔸️The "closing of the gates" symbolizes the finality of the year's judgment and the sealing of fates. 

🔸️Neilah is a time for final prayers of repentance, as the gates are closing.

🔸️The service is known for its solemn melodies and the symbolic blowing of the shofar, which marks the end of the Yom Kippur fast. 

🔸️Neilah is the fifth and final Amida of Yom Kippur, the only time in the Jewish calendar when there are so many services.

🔸️The shofar blast is a key part of Neilah, marking the end of the service and the Yom Kippur fast. 

Sukkos refers to the 40 -year period of wandering the desert, fallowing the exodus of the children of Israel from Mitzrayim, we celebrate Sukkos by dwelling in our Sukkah.

Sukkos is celebrating seven -day holiday with gadering the harvest and to remember the miracles HaShem provided by protecting the children of Israel. Seven days and nights, we eat all our meals in the Sukkah, a Sukkah is a hut, which is made of at least three walls and a roof of unprocessed materials, like pine or other sort like branches. We aim to spend as much time as possible in the Sukkah, if not possible at least the first two nights of the holiday.

If building a Sukkah outside or even in your house is not possible, because there is no room, you can think of making a overhead cover above your table, like a Chuppah. We do not sleep in the Sukkah, although in some communities this is custom.

A Sukkos observance is to take every day , accept for Shabbos, the arba minim ( four kinds) which is lulav, azavot, hadassim and etrog, before buying the four kinds,check if it Kosher. Arba mimin is a Mitzvah, as is sitting, eating and reading & studying the Torah in the Sukkah. Shaking the arba minim is performed by men, but women can also perform this Mitzvah. 

The lulav should be hold in the right hand and make sure the spine is facing you, the esrog in your left hand and bring them together, with this the Mitzvah is done. It is preferable to do this on the first day of Sukkos. There is this custom to wave the arba minim in six directions.

When going to the Sukkos morning services, you should take the arba minim to Shul as we wave them again during the Hallel prayer and the Hosha'anot ceremony.

Unity is one of the most important part with Sukkos next to the Mitzvah of the four kinds, arba minim symbolizing four different types of Jews, in different levels of observance and knowlegde of the Torah.

On the last day of Sukkos, Hoshana Rabba, we smash the Aravos to the ground.

Let the world know.

Awesome Kosher recipes for Sukkot 🍋🌿

🔸️The first two days and the last two days of Sukkos work is forbidden!

With Sh'mini Atzeres we take leave of Sukkos, eventhough it is a separate holiday, we are still sitting and eating in our Sukkah, we are not reciting the blessing. On both nights women and girls light the candles. Shemini Atzeres and Simchas are a two -day holiday in diaspora, in Israel it is a one- day holiday.

In the morning there are special services, the Yizkor and a special rain service. Geshem which we recite during the morning service and after the Torah reading the Yitzkor and with this prayer we are recalling our deceased family members, for the ones who still have parents who are alive, they should leave this part of the service for a short while.

The Torah readings are from Vayikra 22-23, Bamidbar 29 and Devarim 14, these readings together are the laws of the Moed and the celebration of our bond that we have with HaShem, and with the mitzvah of dwelling in our Sukkah

With Shemini Azteres and Simchas Torah we are still in our Sukkah, but without the blessings.

Simchas Torah 

With Sh'mini Atzeres we take leave of Sukkos, eventhough it is a separate holiday, we are still sitting and eating in our Sukkah, we are not reciting the blessing. On both nights women and girls light the candles. Shemini Atzeres and Simchas are a two -day holiday in diaspora, in Israel it is a one- day holiday.

In the morning there are special services, the Yizkor and a special rain service. Geshem which we recite during the morning service and after the Torah reading the Yitzkor and with this prayer we are recalling our deceased family members, for the ones who still have parents who are alive, they should leave this part of the service for a short while.

The Torah readings are from Vayikra 22-23, Bamidbar 29 and Devarim 14, these readings together are the laws of the Moed and the celebration of our bond that we have with HaShem, and with the mitzvah of dwelling in our Sukkah

With Shemini Azteres and Simchas Torah we are still in our Sukkah, but without the blessings.

 What toexpect a Simchas Torah service.

We are permitted to cook and carry things outdoors.

Chanukah the festival of Light Lights 🌟

It was during the time if the second temple, Beis HaMikdash, that the Holy Land was ruled by very cruel Greeks. They robbed the Jews of everything they owned and after they conquered the Holy Temple they put up Idols on the Holy altar. No one managed to stand up up to the mighty foe, till the priest Mattityahu and his five sons came up with a stragety and drove the Greeks away from Israel. It was a miracle that the five boys of Mattityahu defeated the mighty Greek army.

The Greeks accepted the Torah as a book of great wisdom, but not as something Holy that connected the Jews to HaShem, at some point later in time they made reading the Torah illegal and prohibit to worship HaShem, to observe the Mitzvos,no more Shabbos, Brit Milah, kosher laws and the holliness of Jewish marriage.

To keep the Torah alive, the Maccabees risks their lives, their stragety to defeat the Greek army  was a miracle, but wat was even a greater miracle, was the oil and how they didn't have any oil left as the Greeks had made all of the oil in Beis HaMikdash impure, but luck was on their side as they found a jar of oil which had been overlooked, and with great Love for HaShem they lit the oil, but it was just enough for one day, and then another miracle happend, HaShem made the oil burn for eight days. Everyone could see the that  Shechinah dwelt with the Jews.

With such joy they cleansed Beis HaMikdash and began to serve HaShem once again. We still feel the happiness and joy when we celebrate Chanukah, with parties, dreidels, latkes, sufganiyot and gelt.

When we are filled with joy which has so much power and will overcome negativity and evil decree!! Every day we add another candle, till all eight candles of the Menorah, and we are charging ourselves up with the Light, which also will be adding the Torah and the Mitzvos.

And with this light, which will continue for the whole year, as Chanukah candles are as Holy as the oil of the Lights in Beis HaMikdash, meaning they cannot be used for any other purpose, and remember its a Mitzvah to look into the the candles, and listen to the Chanukah story and how the Maccabees brought us to victory.

The miracle of Chanukah was during very dark times, with such a evil decree against us, The Maccabees had a lot of courage, trust and Love for HaShem, it was their Mesiras Nefesh that turned darkness into Light.

We could do the same as the Maccabees has done, by self- sacrifice and with trust and love for HaShem. With this we can light up the world and bring in the Moshiach!

The Chanukia is lit eight nights, at nightfall, every night we add another candle, and at the eighth night eight candles are burning.

One the first we burn two candles, one is the helper candle, the shamash is used to lit the other candles but doesn't count towards the number of flames.

It is Chabad custom to place the Chanukia facing the Mezuzah in a doorway so that the Mitzvah of the Mezuzah and the Chanukah surrounding us.

The other place is on a windowsill.

https://www.chabad.org/797117

https://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/597182/jewish/Val-Hanissim.htm

Every day of Chanukah we recite the Hallel, with the morning prayers

Hallel is the sequence of praise and gratitude in Tehillim 113-118.

The Torah reading is fallowing the Hallel and the Chanukah readings are from the book of Barmidbar 7: 1 - 8: 4 and discuss the dedication of the Tabernacle, and the command to Aharon to kindle the lights of the Menorah everyday during Chanukah.