Archive for March 2018
What Does Yom Ha’atzmaut Mean to You? Voices from the Streets of Jerusalem
In this 4 minute long video, Rafi Di from HonestReporting asks locals on the streets of Jerusalem what Yom Ha’atzmaut means to them. With footage of different types of celebrations, this video presents
66 Israeli Heroes Share a Powerful Message
In this 5:42 minute long video, 66 Israeli heroes and new immigrants share powerful messages about the State of Israel, inspired by the words and values of the Declaration of Independence. This video
What is Yom Ha’atzmaut and How is it Celebrated?
This 3 and a half minute long video provides a thorough introduction to Yom Ha’Atzmaut, focusing on the various religious and secular customs that have developed to celebrate this special day in different communities
Yom Ha’atzmaut: How the Jewish State is Celebrated in Israel & Abroad
This article from My Jewish Learning provides a thorough introduction to Yom Ha’Atzmaut, focusing on the various religious and secular customs that have developed to celebrate this special day in different communities in Israel and
Orthodox Evening Prayer Service for Yom Ha’atzmaut
This PDF booklet contains an Orthodox evening service for Yom Ha’atzmaut in Hebrew and English. Although the basis for the Yom Ha’atzmaut liturgy was written by Israel’s Chief Rabbinate in 1949, there is not
Aliyah to the Torah vs. Aliyah to Israel
In this post from Chabad.org, Rabbi Yossi Lew explains why the term “aliyah” is used to describe both being called up to the Torah and moving to Israel. In both cases, aliyah –
A Prayer Before One’s Aliyah to the Torah
This post presents an original prayer which was written by Rabbi Jill Hammer to be recited by an individual or community at the time that the Torah is lifted or before one’s own
A Woman Describes Her First Aliyah to the Torah
In this personal article, Lauren Hamburger relays her first experience of being called up to the Torah for an aliyah, a practice that is traditionally reserved for men. The author describes how it
The “Mi Sheberach” Prayer for One Who Has an Aliyah
This post provides the Hebrew and English texts for the prayer recited for one who is called up to the Torah on Shabbat. An excerpt from a longer article from Chabad.org, this text reflects the tradition
Reconstructionist Blessings Before & After Torah Reading & the Concept of Chosenness
This short video demonstrates how to recite the blessings before and after the Torah reading according to the Reconstructionist tradition, which omits references to the Jews as the ‘Chosen People’ because of the