In Europe in the early 20th century, when the new school year would come around, there was barely anywhere for women, especially Jewish women, to go and study. What happened when Eastern European authorities tried to prevent Jewish girls from receiving an education?
Shavuot: The Biblical Festivus
You might think Shavuot has a set date on the Jewish calendar – but think again. The holiday’s timing has long been the subject of debate, a dispute that once split the Jewish people. So who won, and why? And what does any of this have to do with Frank Costanza and “Seinfeld”?
The Riddle of the Baal Shem Tov
No one knows when or where he was born, but on the festival of Shavuot we mark the passing of the Baal Shem Tov, one of the most influential figures in the Jewish world of the past few centuries. Was “The Besht” a real person or just a Hasidic legend? How has this enigmatic figure influenced generations of followers? How did he foresee his own death? Dr. Chaim Neria, curator of our Judaica Collection, offers insight on the life of this fascinating person.
