Seraphic Secret

Robert J. Avrech: Emmy Award winning screenwriter. Religious Zionist. Republican. Movie fanatic. Gun owner. Helplessly and hopelessly in love with my wife since age nine.

Judaism

Rabbi Meir Soloveichik on Chanukah, The Triumph of Monotheism

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Families on Hanukkah gather together and celebrate around dreidels, chocolate coins, and presents. Yet the holiday’s most profound meaning is in its core symbol and ritual: the lighting of the menorah. Rabbi Meir Soloveichik takes us through Hanukkah’s two pivotal historical stages, the age of the Temple and the age of Diaspora, teaching us about the triumph of monotheism and Judaism, and the lessons Hanukkah’s miracles hold for anyone who cares about Jewish survival.

Succot 2018

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A Yemenite Jew named Yehia holding a lulav and etrog—the four species— in a succah, Jerusalem, 1939.
A Yemenite Jew named Yehia holding a lulav and etrog—the four species—in a Sukkah, Jerusalem, 1939.

As Jews all over the world make last minute preparations for the holiday of Sukkot, which begins this evening, here are a few wonderfully evocative pictures of Jews celebrating this joyous holiday in Israel — and a rare photo of Jews in Samarkand.

You will dwell in booths for seven days; all natives of Israel shall dwell in booths.

—Leviticus 23:42

On the first day, you will take for yourselves a fruit of a beautiful tree, palm branches, twigs of a braided tree and brook willows, and you will rejoice before the L-RD your G-d for seven days.

—Leviticus 23:40

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Live: Jackie Danicki Delivers the Ariel Avrech Memorial Lecture

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Every lecture delivered in memory of our son Ariel Chaim ZT’L is special. But this year’s lecture by our good friend Jackie Danicki is extraordinary.

Fifteen years ago Jackie and I met online after she wrote a beautiful comment on one of my earliest blogposts about our beloved son who had passed away.

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Jackie Danicki’s Ariel Avrech Memorial Lecture A Fitting Tribute

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Jackie Danicki delivers the 15th Annual Ariel Avrech Memorial Lecture, 6-10-’18
Photo by: Steve Cohn www.stevecohnphotography.com (310) 277-2054 © 2018 Steve Cohn Photography

Every lecture delivered in memory of our son Ariel Chaim ZT’L is special. But this year’s lecture by our good friend Jackie Danicki was extraordinary.

Fifteen years ago Jackie and I met online after she wrote a beautiful comment on one of my earliest blogposts about our beloved son who had passed away.

[Read more…] about Jackie Danicki’s Ariel Avrech Memorial Lecture A Fitting Tribute