Membership Sale: Join between April 1-30 and pay no dues in May! Terms apply. Learn More.
Calendar Membership
Donate
Membership Calendar
Donate

Category: Jewish Holidays

CommUNITY through Challah-Making

Posted on by Amy Lummer

At the time of this blog post, more than 250 women gathered (Sunday, November 19th) in unity and connection for a shared experience that embraces the spirit of togetherness. The occasion? A communal challah-making event that not only celebrates the mitzvah of making challah but also the bonds within the community and a shared connection to Judaism. This communal challah-making event is not just about flour, water, and yeast; it is a celebration of community, sisterhood, and a shared commitment to preserving and enriching Jewish traditions.

The act of making challah can be symbolic in itself. The braiding of dough mirrors the interwoven connections between individuals, families, and the greater community. We will chat joyfully and laugh together and fill the room with warmth and acceptance, emphasizing the importance of shared experiences in fostering a sense of belonging when the world around us can feel threatening.

Challah making, with its deep roots in Jewish tradition, becomes a way through which we are able to celebrate our shared culture and connect with our Jewish heritage… reminding us of the generations who came before us who also participated in the ritual of making challah, passing down a legacy of community.

Tonight’s event was a sell-out, bringing more than 200 women together to experience the joy that comes from celebrating our connections to each other and to Judaism as a whole.

Let’s Give it a Shake: Sukkot is Here!

Posted on by Amy Lummer

Let’s Get Ready to Shake: Sukkot Is Here!

As we bid farewell to the summer sun and usher in the cozy vibes of fall, it’s time to get festive and prepare for a delightful celebration – Sukkot! This “Festival of Booths/Tabernacles” began at sundown on Friday, September 29th (Tishrei 15) and will wrap up at sundown on Friday, October 6th (Tishrei 21).

Why Sukkot, You Ask?

Sukkot is one of Judaism’s star-studded events, one of the 3 pilgrimage holidays, with Passover and Shavuot. This holiday is a celebration of the harvest season and honors the journey of the Israelites through the desert. And guess what? There’s a whole lot of fun and fascinating facts about Sukkot to dive into!

  1. Building a Sukkah: The Ultimate DIY Project

Picture this: you’re out in your backyard, armed with wooden or metal frames, and you’re about to embark on a construction adventure. What are you building? A sukkah, of course! These are temporary huts that remind of the dwellings used by the Israelites during their desert sojourn. Sukkahs have three walls and a roof made from natural materials, designed in a way that lets you gaze at the twinkling stars at night. (Stick around, we’ll fill you in on some Sukkah building options!)

  1. Shake It Like You Mean It: The Four Species

Don’t be surprised if you see folks waving around branches and fruit during Sukkot – that’s just them getting into the spirit of things! The lulav (branches) and etrog (citron fruit) are mentioned in the Torah, and we shake them for Sukkot. So, every day during Sukkot (except Shabbat), people tie these branches and fruit together and wave them in a special ceremony. Some creative souls even make their own local Four Species! What do you think a Northern Virginia four species would look like? I vote for a pawpaw.

  1. Sukkah Living: An Adventure in Itself

It’s a tradition to eat in the sukkah, and it’s all kinds of fun. If you’re nearby, feel free to pop by the J’s Sukkah in the West Lot during Sukkot – it’s already up and waiting for you!

  1. Ushpizin: The Uninvited Guests We Love

Ever heard of symbolic guests? Well, on Sukkot, we have them! They’re called Ushpizin, and they’re the A-list celebrities of the Jewish tradition. Traditionally, you’d be rolling out the welcome mat for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, and David, but you’re free to follow your own tradition or even make up your own guest list – it’s your Sukkah, after all!

In a Nutshell

Sukkot is a time of reflection, gratitude, and connecting with Jewish heritage. It’s about celebrating the bountiful harvest season and embracing the traditions that have been passed down through generations. So, whether you’re constructing your own sukkah, shaking those Four Species like a pro, or simply enjoying a meal in the sukkah with friends and family, remember to relish every moment of this joyous festival.

Wishing you all a Chag Sukkot Sameach – a truly Happy Sukkot! 🌿🌟

Want your own Sukkah?

DIY:

  1. PJ Library: How to Build a Sukkah: https://pjlibrary.org/beyond-books/pjblog/september-2017/build-a-sukkah-with-your-family
  2. PVC Pipe Sukkah: https://www.instructables.com/Sukkah-PVC-Freestanding
  3. Galvanized Pipe Sukkah: https://www.simplifiedbuilding.com/projects/how-to-build-your-own-diy-sukkah
  4. Wood Sukkah: http://www.mykosherhome.com/index.php?csstype=articlepublished&articleid=311&article=true
  5. PVC Pipe and Curtains: https://nykolami.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2011/11/Sukkah%20Building.pdf
  6. Simple Sukkah: https://www.umjc.org/commentary/2017/10/3/how-to-build-a-kosher-sukkah
  7. Lattice Sukkah: https://imabima.blogspot.com/2010/09/how-to-build-sukkah.html
  8. Bamboo Sukkah: https://good-to-be-a-jew.blogspot.com/2006/08/build-bamboo-sukah-sukkah.html

Purchase (the J makes no quality claims on any of these):

  1. The Sukkah Project: https://www.sukkot.com
  2. The Sukkah Spot: https://thesukkahspot.com
  3. Sukkah Depot: https://www.sukkahdepot.com
  4. Mitzvahland: https://www.mitzvahland.com/pages/sukkahstore
  5. Sieger Sukkah: https://www.siegersukkah.com

My Shnekel: High Holidays – High Emotions

Posted on by Dean Bagdadi

Last year, Rotem and I moved here, to Fairfax, for this Shlichut chapter. Today, exactly a year later, we are spending the same Rosh Hashanah back in Israel, surrounded by family and friends. And for some reason, even though we are home, we are still missing home. Even though it’s only been a year, we settled in and got used to it. In the passing year, we missed our family and friends back in Israel, and now that we’re here, a little part of us misses the home there, across the pond. Strange feeling, attachment, and what you eventually find yourself attached to. But it does tell you a lot about the place, how welcoming everyone was, and how lovely the community is, that after only one year we’re already missing it.

But let’s not focus on that. I want to share with you a little bit about the High holidays in Israel, and how they compare to the US. Think about a place where being Jewish makes you the majority. The resting day of the week is Shabbat, and everyone gets a day off during High holidays. School is off, shops are closed, so there’s very few options for those who don’t celebrate the holidays. On Yom Kippur itself, roads, even highways, are empty. Israel TV isn’t transmitting on that day, no radio either. Kids drive around on bikes, rolling down highways. That is definitely something a person must experience at least once.

How does that make sense, in a country where the majority of its population is secular? According to the central bureau of statistics, 2022, 75% of Israel’s citizens identify as Jewish. Out of that, 45% of them identify as secular, the largest group. 25% identify as traditional, 16% as very religious and 14% as Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox). Maybe the tides have shifted, but that has been the case for quite a while now. How does it make sense, that a religious country (a Jewish state for the Jewish people) that has a favorable religion, with a majority of the secular population, still have that level of participation in religious ceremonies? It’s probably odd to someone not from Israel to imagine. Or, if you’d never visited Israel as well.

To me, the missing link here, is the growing notion that Jewish isn’t just a religious belief. In Israel, and to an extent in the US as well, Judaism is also an ethnicity, a culture. And the one in Israel has evolved to a national narrative. You don’t celebrate Rosh Hashanah just because you believe it’s the beginning of the Jewish year. You do so also because that’s an Israeli thing to do. It’s because you’re expected to participate as a member of the society.  And with the current political climate that pushes toward polarization and divides the democratic and the Jewish, it’s also rupturing the social fabric that has been constructed, since it’s relying on both.

Or maybe, it is that crucial debate we kept postponing for so long. Maybe we’ve finally hit the point where we must make a resolution that will eventually dictate the guidelines to balance those two conflicting natures. I keep saying that the Jewish Agency is paying me to remain Optimistic. But in this case, after spending a few weeks here in Israel, I’m more optimistic than ever.

Torah and Jewish Values: Threads in the ECLC

Posted on by Dina Backer

The High Holidays are much anticipated and loved – and, crazy and chaotic all at the same time. No matter if they are ‘early’ or ‘late’, weekends or weekdays, they are always a change of pace – and a little disruptive right at the start of the school year. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur carry big themes and ideas, including a deep look at ourselves and how we can do better where we missed the mark in the past year. Sukkot follows right behind. Finally, Simchat Torah rounds out the four weeks.   

I love that Simchat Torah is last because Torah is not a one-day theme: Torah is with us all year long. Sure, the celebration may be contained to reading the end and then the beginning of the Torah all at once, but as we march through our lives, words of Torah can be with us day in and day out. 

Even if we don’t think consciously of it, the ‘rules’ we live by can be traced back to words of Torah. Torah tells us we are created “B’tzelem Eloheem,” (in Gd’s image). The Torah tells us how to live that way. Being kind, helping others, supporting those less fortunate are just a start to the list. Other actions fill the categories that are headed by Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) and Tzedakah (righteous giving) and Gemilut Chasadim (acts of kindness). We can look to Torah to offer suggestions on almost any challenge we face. 

In our Alexandria Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC), our rooms are ‘Jewish flavored,’ reminding us of our heritage and, in the words of the V’ahavta, we try to “teach them (Jewish values)  to our children.” We talk with our kids about Derech Eretz (good manners) and help our young friends think about the words they use with each other. Tikkun Olam is a thread through our year as we think about how our actions effect our classrooms, our community, and the world at large. We want to send our kids out into the world (or at least to Kindergarten) knowing how to think and ask questions—and how to treat each other with kindness and respect. It’s a tall challenge. It’s a good thing we have the Torah to guide us. And, because the Torah is so important—its nice that every once in a while, we celebrate its importance in our lives.

Chag Sameach!

My Shnekel (My POV): Our Home Across the Pond

Posted on by Dean Bagdadi

Who would have thought that it’s already been a year, and that September is already around the corner?! With Chagim, end of summer, and visiting home, September is going to be a very, very interesting time. 

September is a busy month as it is. My wife, Rotem, and I are already struggling with deciding where to go when we return to Israel, what to do, and who to visit… yet, there is still something magical about it. And then, there’s the preparations for Rosh Hashanah, family gathering from all over, and the new year celebrations. Now, add doing this as part of a short visit to Israel! Oy vey! Don’t you worry though, because we got married and moved to another country in two months… we’ve got this and we’re excited! Excited to visit home, to see all the family and friends who’ve been waiting for us, and of course, the food! Vegetables with flavor! Finally!

It’s also odd, the feeling of going back to where you grew up, only now as a visitor. That you’re there for a few weeks, trying to do everything, to accomplish as much as possible, and then, to again leave it behind for a while. Like taking a deep breath before diving back in. Too big of a breath and your lungs collapse, too little is not enough.

But at the same time, it’s so chaotic. It’s hard not to wonder how the passing year will shadow a year renowned as one of the most chaotic and divisive ones. Will there be protests? Has something changed drastically? How different will it look? In addition, September is filled with crucial political events, all of them happening while we’re there. I’ve been keeping up very closely with the happening, reporting, and covering as much as I could, but I wasn’t there, not in the flesh.

I’ve talked a lot about the polarity we’ve been experiencing here and there. About the ever-growing gap that divides us, making it harder to see each other. And I worry. I worry that my family will not act the same. That there will be no discussions around the Shabbat table. That whenever it will come to our shared future, it would be better to avoid that conversation. I worry that our rage and discontent will make it impossible. I cannot ignore that concern, but it’s not the only thing I am thinking of. 

A lot of different thoughts roam my mind in preparation for next month and our visit home. Excitement, concern, worry, homesickness, all of them mixed. Last year, we spent the high holidays here, in Virginia, as new arrivals. A year went by, we’ve settled in, and have gotten used to it. Now, it feels like it might be similar there, as tourists in our own hometown. And it’s not just about politics. A year gone by, people changed, events happened, and we weren’t there. But we’re still excited and grateful. We’re grateful for the opportunity to go back, even for a short visit. We’ve missed our families dearly. Even more so, we’ve missed our home dearly, our home across the pond.

Shanna Tova and Happy High Holidays!