1. Religion & Spirituality

Updated Articles and Resources

From Ariela Pelaia, Former About.com Guide

Updated Articles and Resources
  • The Story of Passover Video Created: Sunday, December 16, 2012 Updated: Sunday, December 16, 2012
    In this About.com video, learn about the history of Passover and the modern day practices that are implemented in this Jewish holiday.
  • How Do You Celebrate Hanukkah? Created: Sunday, November 07, 2010 Updated: Thursday, October 25, 2012
    How does your family celebrate Hanukkah? Share your Hanukkah traditions here.
  • How Do You Celebrate Hanukkah? Created: Sunday, November 07, 2010 Updated: Thursday, October 25, 2012
    How does your family celebrate Hanukkah? Share your Hanukkah traditions here.
  • Bar and Bat Mitzvah Gifts - The Best and the Worst Created: Sunday, May 30, 2010 Updated: Thursday, October 25, 2012
    Share some of the best (and worst) Bar or Bat Mitzvah gifts you've seen.
  • Bar and Bat Mitzvah Gifts - The Best and the Worst Created: Sunday, May 30, 2010 Updated: Thursday, October 25, 2012
    Share some of the best (and worst) Bar or Bat Mitzvah gifts you've seen.
  • What Is the Behemoth? Created: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 Updated: Thursday, October 18, 2012
    The Behemoth is a mythical beast that is mentioned in Job 40:15-24. It is said to be a gigantic ox-like beast with bones as hard as bronze and limbs as firm as rods of iron.
  • Can Jews Celebrate Christmas? Created: Thursday, October 18, 2012 Updated: Thursday, October 18, 2012
    In this edition of 'Ask the Rabbi' a reader asks Rabbi Marc Disick whether it's OK for her interfaith family to celebrate Christmas with Christian relatives.
  • What Is Hanukkah? Created: Monday, December 07, 2009 Updated: Thursday, October 11, 2012
    Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday celebrated for eight days and nights. It usually falls in late November or December on the secular calendar.
  • What Is Sukkot? Created: Thursday, October 01, 2009 Updated: Friday, October 05, 2012
    Sukkot, also known as the Festival of Booths, is a Jewish harvest holiday that falls five days after Yom Kippur.
  • When is Hanukkah 2010? Created: Wednesday, November 17, 2010 Updated: Sunday, September 30, 2012
    When is Hanukkah 2010?
  • Why Is An Etrog Held in the Left Hand When Performing the Sukkot Blessings? Created: Monday, September 20, 2010 Updated: Sunday, September 30, 2012
    Have you ever wondered why the etrog is always held in the left hand when performing the Sukkot blessings?
  • Bar and Bat Mitzvah Gifts Created: Monday, April 26, 2010 Updated: Sunday, September 30, 2012
    I was invited to a bar/bat mitzvah. Should I bring a gift? If so, what kind of gift is appropriate?
  • How to Make Sephardic Charoset for Passover (Pesach) Created: Saturday, February 27, 2010 Updated: Sunday, September 30, 2012
    Learn how to make a Sephardic version of charoset, made with dried fruits and wine.
  • Ask the Rabbi: Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser Created: Thursday, October 15, 2009 Updated: Sunday, September 30, 2012
    Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser is a Reform Rabbi who answers questions from About.com readers.
  • How to: Wave the Lulav and Etrog on Sukkot Created: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 Updated: Sunday, September 30, 2012
    One of Sukkot's special mitzvot is to recite blessings over the Four Kinds. Learn how to wave a lulav and etrog in order to fulfill this mitzvah.
  • Ask the Rabbi: Rabbi Marc Disick Created: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 Updated: Sunday, September 30, 2012
    Rabbi Marc Disick is a Reform Rabbi who is available to answer questions from About.com readers.
  • Albert Einstein Quotes Created: Sunday, September 30, 2012 Updated: Sunday, September 30, 2012
    Albert Einstein was a Jewish theoretical physicist who developed the Theory of Relativity.
  • Definition of Verklempt (Yiddish Word) Created: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 Updated: Sunday, September 30, 2012
    Verklempt is a Yiddish word that means "overcome with emotion."
  • Definition of Bubkes (Yiddish Word) Created: Monday, June 06, 2011 Updated: Sunday, September 30, 2012
    Bubkes is a Yiddish word that is used to refer to something with little or no perceived value.
  • Definition of Naches (Yiddish Word) Created: Wednesday, June 01, 2011 Updated: Sunday, September 30, 2012
    Naches is a Yiddish word that means "pride" or "joy."
  • Definition of Kvetch (Yiddish Word) Created: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 Updated: Sunday, September 30, 2012
    Kvetch is a Yiddish word that means "to complain."
  • Definition of Chutzpah (Yiddish Word) Created: Tuesday, May 17, 2011 Updated: Sunday, September 30, 2012
    Chutzpah is a Yiddish word that is used by Jews and non-Jews alike to describe someone who is particularly audacious or has a lot of "guts."
  • The Five Books of Moses Created: Tuesday, May 10, 2011 Updated: Sunday, September 30, 2012
    The Five Books of Moses are the biblical books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
  • Definition of Shiksa (Yiddish Word) Created: Monday, May 02, 2011 Updated: Sunday, September 30, 2012
    Shiksa is a Yiddish word that refers to a non-Jewish woman who is either romantically interested in a Jewish man or who is a Jewish man's object of affection.
  • Definition of Mazel Tov (Yiddish Word) Created: Wednesday, April 06, 2011 Updated: Sunday, September 30, 2012
    "Mazel Tov" is a Hebrew phrase that literally means "good destiny" but is more commonly understood to mean "good luck" or "congratulations."
  • What Is the Ziz? Created: Sunday, October 17, 2010 Updated: Sunday, September 30, 2012
    The Ziz is a mythological bird that is sometimes called "The Queen of Birds."
  • What Is Kol Nidre? Created: Saturday, September 04, 2010 Updated: Sunday, September 30, 2012
    Kol Nidrei is both the opening prayer and the name for the evening service that begins Yom Kippur.
  • What Is Pidyon HaBen? Created: Saturday, November 07, 2009 Updated: Sunday, September 30, 2012
    Pidyon HaBen refers to the ancient custom of dedicating a firstborn son to the service of God.
  • What Is a Mohel? Created: Saturday, October 24, 2009 Updated: Sunday, September 30, 2012
    A mohel is a Jewish man who performs the ritual of brit milah on a baby boy after he is born.
  • Ask the Rabbi: Rabbi Ari Enkin Created: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 Updated: Sunday, September 30, 2012
    Rabbi Ari Enkin is an Orthodox Rabbi who is available to answer questions from About.com readers.
  • High Holiday Superstitions Created: Thursday, September 13, 2012 Updated: Sunday, September 30, 2012
    In ancient times and during the Middle Ages some Jews held superstitious beliefs about the High Holidays of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.
  • What is Kol Nidre? Created: Thursday, August 23, 2012 Updated: Sunday, September 30, 2012
    Kol Nidre is the name of the evening service on Yom Kippur. It is also the name of a recitation sung to a beautiful melody. For many Jews hearing Kol Nidre is an important part of the Yom Kippur ex...

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