Holidays

Purim: Inside Out

Purim: Inside Out

Mar 4, 2020 | Holidays, Torah

Rabbi Steve Greenberg - Purim is about concealment. More specifically, it is about movement from the covert to the overt. There is a sustained tension between what characters are and what they seem to be that moves the plot forward.  It is the careful unraveling of disguises that makes for salvation. The major characters are [more]
Rebooting Hanukkah

Rebooting Hanukkah

Dec 7, 2018 | Holidays

The meaning of the holiday changes -- and that might even be the meaning of the holiday Published in the Times of Israel December 7, 2018 What is Hanukkah? This is how the Talmud begins its short foray into the origins of Hanukkah. Remarkably, there is very little material in the Talmud on Hanukkah. While [more]
What is Chanukah?

What is Chanukah?

Dec 4, 2018 | Holidays

What is Chanukah?    This is how the Talmud begins its short foray into the origins of Chanukah. Remarkably, there is very little material in the Talmud on Chanukah.  While Purim has a tractate all its own, Chanukah merits a few scattered lines and a number of minor mentions.  Chanukah was apparently not very much [more]