Shabbat - 01/26/08 (19 Shevat 5768)

For your local Shabbat Candle-lighting times, please go here. This week's reading is -- Yitro (Exodus 18:1-20:23). Topics in Yitro: Jethro’s arrival, Jethro rejoices, Jethro’s advice, The list of requirements for leadership, Jethro leaves, Arrival at Sinai, G-d’s proposal, Preparing for the Torah, The day of the Revelation, The Ten Statements For more information about this week's Parsha, please visit these sites. Orthodox Union Chabad Aish HaTorah United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism Union for Reform Judaism Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Happy Tu B'Shevat

Tu B'Shevat, the Jewish Ecology Day, occurs on 15 Shevat. This year, it falls on January 22, 2008. Tu B’Shevat is an agricultural holiday that celebrates the earth and its produce. It is the new year for the purpose of calculating the age of trees for tithing (Leviticus 19:23-25). It is celebrated through prayer, celebration, and eating the seven types of plant produce that are cited in Deuteronomy 8:8 (wheat, barley, grape, fig, pomegranate, olives, and date-honey). Other customs include eating a new fruit on this day, planting trees on this day, and collecting money for trees for Israel. Learn more at these sites: Orthodox Union Chabad Aish HaTorah United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism Union for Reform Judaism Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Shabbat - 01/19/08 (12 Shevat 5768)

For your local Shabbat Candle-lighting times, please go here. This week's reading is -- Beshalach (Exodus 13:17-17:15). Topics in Beshalach: The route to Eretz Yisrael, Pharaoh’s change of heart, Israel panics, G-d’s assurance, The sea splits, The water crashes down upon Egypt, The salvation, The Song by the Sea, The women sing, Marah: Israel tests G-d, Manna: Food from heaven, Quail, Equal portions, Preparation for the Sabbath, Test and contention: water from a rock, Amalek, The eternal struggle against Amalek For more information about this week's Parsha, please visit these sites. Orthodox Union Chabad Aish HaTorah United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism Union for Reform Judaism Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Shabbat - 01/12/08 (5 Shevat 5768)

For your local Shabbat Candle-lighting times, please go here. This week's reading is -- Bo (Exodus 10:1-13:16). Topics in Bo: The eighth plague: Locusts and Pharaoh’s servants complain, The ninth plague: Darkness and Pharaoh’s offerings and final intransigence, Warning of the Plague of the Firstborn, The new status of the Jews, Rosh Chodesh, The Pesach offering, G-d Himself will carry out the plague, The Pesach festival, The Pesach offering, The tenth plague: Death of the Firstborn, Pharaoh’s surrender, The Exodus, The duration of the Egyptian exile, Additional laws of the Pesach offering, Sanctification of the firstborn, Remember the Exodus, The firstborn, Tefillin and the Exodus For more information about this week's Parsha, please visit these sites. Orthodox Union Chabad Aish HaTorah United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism Union for Reform Judaism Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Shabbat - 01/05/08 (27 Tevet 5768)

For your local Shabbat Candle-lighting times, please go here. This week's reading is -- Va'eira (Exodus 6:2-9:35). Topics in Va'eira: G-d’s reassures Moses, The four expressions of redemption, Moses demurs, The mission and its bearers, Second demurral, The redemption begins, The Ten Plagues, The first plague: Blood, The second plague: Frogs, The third plague: Lice, The fourth plague: Swarm of wild beasts, The fifth plague: Epidemic, The sixth plague: Boils, The seventh plague: Hail and Not to pray in an idolatrous city For more information about this week's Parsha, please visit these sites. Orthodox Union Chabad Aish HaTorah United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism Union for Reform Judaism Jewish Reconstructionist Federation