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Jewish Rituals

Understanding the Art of Shavous

Jonathan Greenstein | Posted 04.16.2013 | Arts
Read More: Shavuot, Jewish Holidays, Judaism, Torah, Jewish Rituals, Jewish Ritual, Shavous, Torah Shield, Jewish Art, Torah Art, Jewish Arts, Arts News
Jonathan Greenstein

Over the centuries, there have been many different ways to decorate the Torah. Like all Judaica, there is no particular style of Jewish art. Jews adapted their decoration to whatever surrounding local style they were living in. Here are some examples.

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Counting The Days, Up Or Down: Cancer Patients Count The Omer

Posted 04.08.2013 | Religion
Read More: Cancer Treatment, Video, Counting the Omer, Tablet Magazine, Omer 2012, Judaism, Jewish Rituals, Cancer, Passover, Religion News

By Benjamin W. Corn Tablet Magazine The mitzvah of Sefirat HaOmer, or counting the Omer -- the 49 days from the second day of Passover until the d...

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Sitting Shiva For Traditional Shiva

Rabbi Jason Miller | Posted 03.25.2012 | Religion
Read More: Shiva, Death & Dying, Jewish, Mourning, Jewish Rituals, Bruce Feiler, NY Times, Death, Judaism, Religion News
Rabbi Jason Miller

It is certainly more convenient to post a quick sentence or two of condolence on the mourner's Facebook Wall, but that shouldn't preclude us from performing the tradition acts of comforting the mourners.

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The Neuroscience Of The Bar Mitzvah

William Grassie | Posted 02.09.2012 | Religion
Read More: Bat Mitzvah, Neuroscience, Adolescents, Religion and Science, Bar Mitzvah, Religious Initiation, Neuroscience of Religion, Jewish Rituals, Bar Mitzvah Rituals, Judaism, Religion News
William Grassie

At the Bar Mitzvah, I couldn't help but think that the tribe had done this young man a great service, literally surrounding him with family and friends expressing loving affirmation and setting high expectations for his future.

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Kaparot: The Jewish Chicken-Waving Ritual To Absolve Sins (PHOTOS)

Posted 12.05.2011 | Religion
Read More: Yom Kippur, Kaparot Ceremony, Kaparot, Yom-Kippur, Kaparot Yom Kippur, Judaism, Jewish Rituals, Kapparot, Kaparot 2011, Jewish High Holidays, Jewish Repentance, Kaparot Prayer, Video, Kaporos, Yom Kippur 2011, Kaparot Photos, Religion News

Yom Kippur, the Jewish fast-day of repentance, begins at sundown on Friday (Oct. 7), and some Jews are preparing with ... chickens? The Kaparot rit...

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On Passover, Braking For The Holiday Checkpoint

Shira Hirschman Weiss | Posted 06.07.2011 | Religion
Read More: Forgiveness, Passover, Repentance, Jewish Holidays, Judaism and Repentance, Yom Kippur, Jewish Rituals, Pesach, Judaism and Forgiveness, Rosh Hashana, Asking for Forgiveness, Judaism, Passover 2011, Religion News
Shira Hirschman Weiss

Why do we wait until we're right down to the wire? We're transforming our entire modus operandi to become better individuals. Isn't this something that should be taking place all year round?

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