Celebrate

The masters of Kabbalah explained all of the elements of the Sabbath rituals as a consistent thematic drama of the reunion of the Shekhinah the Sabbath bride, with her mate--and in so doing exerted considerable influence on the shape of those rituals.

The Rabbis used requirements and prohibitions to shape a Shabbat experience in which creative activity is set aside to make time for matters of the spirit. Second of two parts.

Rabbinic literature and medieval Kabbalah describe the day as a foretaste of life in the perfected "world to come" that traditional Judaism anticipates.

The Sabbaths are our great cathedrals, the Jewish equivalent of sacred architecture.

The Bible has no problem giving both cosmic and social reasons for Shabbat. Creation and liberation are tightly connected.

Religious education is vital for this country--but not on Uncle Sam's tab.

Additional Torah Reading on Simchat Torah. Shemini Atzeret and Simhat Torah in the Community. Rejoicing with the Torah. Jewish Holidays.

Celebrating for eight days

The different types of Jewish festivals

The most famous Hanukkah song.

Acculturation versus assimilation, a question for Jews then as now.

Hanukkah represents the struggle to follow one's values and religion in a pluralistic world that often demands uniformity.