When the Beis HaMikdash stood, Sukkos was celebrated with the Simchas Beis HaShoe’va, “Festival of Water Drawing,” which took place each day of Chol HaMoed in the Beis HaMikdash. In memory of these joyous festivities, it is customary in many communities today to make a Simchas Beis HaShoe’va, in which we gather together to rejoice…
R’ Itzele Peterberger and the Alter of Slobodka, two illustrious students of Rav Yisrael Salanter, once discussed the custom to read Koheles during Chag HaSukkos. The morbid and fatalistic tone of Koheles, with verses such as, “Futility of futilities! All is futile!” and “I hated life, for I found evil in everything that occurs under…
The Yom Kippur service begins with vidui (confession), which is recited before the final meal of erev Yom Kippur, and should ideally be recited again before nightfall.[1] Vidui is an essential element of teshuva, and therefore a central theme of Yom Kippur, repeated a total of ten times over the course of the day…
There is a curious dichotomy in the relationship between Bnei Yisrael and our Creator. On the one hand, Hashem is our Father, as it is written, “You are children of Hashem your G‑d.” As such, our relationship is one of filial endearment. We are privileged to draw close to Hashem in prayer and request anything…
The Gemara states as follows: אסתר מן התורה מנין? שנאמר "ואנכי הסתר אסתיר פני." What is the source for "Esther" from the Torah? From the verse, "I will hide (astir) My presence on that day."[1] From here we see that the concealment of Hashem's presence is the central theme of the holiday of Purim. Pesach,…
The Rambam provides the following background as an introduction to his laws of Chanukah: בבית שני כשמלכו יון גזרו גזירות על ישראל ובטלו דתם ולא הניחו אותם לעסוק בתורה ובמצוות. ופשטו ידם בממונם ובבנותיהם ונכנסו להיכל ופרצו בו פרצות וטמאו הטהרות. וצר להם לישראל מאד מפניהם ולחצום לחץ גדול עד שריחם עליהם אלקי אבותינו והושיעם…
