When I worked at a Catholic college, the nuns were forever blessing me, even when I hadn’t sneezed. The nuns’ blessings were like a warm, fuzzy blanket on a cold winter night. During my seven years at ...

The concept of “blessings” gets tossed around widely and casually these days. After all, what is social media without a slew of (sincere or ironic) #blessed captions? But in Judaism, blessings are an ...

(JTA) — Jewish liturgy offers blessings for seemingly every occasion, from ritual moments (such as lighting Shabbat candles) to sublime experiences (seeing a rainbow) to mundane acts (going to the ...

I believe in the power of brachas. My father’s favorite way to end a conversation is “many blessings” – and I’ve adopted it for myself, trying to say it a few times a week to different people and say ...

So often, when we think of Jewish Burial, we think of Taharah, the washing and dressing of the body. I would like us to consider that the other part of traditional practice, sitting shomer, siting as ...

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a time meant for celebration and self-reflection. The holiday, which begins this year at sundown on Friday and ends at nightfall on Sunday, is a joyous occasion ...

Once a generation, every 28 years, Jews recite the Blessing of the Sun, the same prayer that is said upon seeing majestic mountains, seas, rivers and deserts: “Blessed are you, our God, King of the ...

Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Rosh Hashanah is a time to spend with loved ones, including inviting those who don't observe the holiday to join friends ...

For almost 2,000 years, many halachot laid dormant, waiting, only to be rediscovered, discussed and debated with the miraculous return of the Jewish people to their ancestral homeland and the dramatic ...

a hell on earth, as was Gehenna where the priestly text was found. Peace is the priestly holy blessing’s bottom line, and its date is well past due, all seekers of its spell compelled to wait, by ...