Created on the eve of a community’s destruction, the Lisbon Mahzor survived the horrors of persecution and expulsion, and then wandered the world as one of the few surviving treasures of a rare religious and artistic tradition. At some point along the war, its three volumes were separated. Only recently, thanks to the efforts of the National Library of Israel, have all three been reunited in Jerusalem, and now they have even been joyfully rejoined in digital form.
My White Dress: Why Do Jews Wear White on Holidays?
During the holiday season, most of us will likely arrive at synagogue or at the family meal dressed in white, praying that no red wine or beet juice gets sprayed on our dresses and shirts. In fact, some Jewish men will be showing up at synagogue wearing a striking white robe – an introduction to the “kittel”.
The Mystery of the Jewish Soldier Who Fell on Yom Kippur, 1944
Two prayer books with some oddly intriguing labels have revealed a fascinating story involving an American Jewish soldier killed during a failed WWII operation. This story begins in Manhattan, 81 years ago. It ends at the National Library of Israel…
Flogging as Atonement? An Often-Overlooked Yom Kippur Custom
How a little-known Yom Kippur ritual became a weapon in the hands of antisemites
A Kol Nidre Prayer on the German Warfront in 1870
Even on Yom Kippur, German Jews in the 19th century were ready to sacrifice themselves for their homeland
Martha, Daughter of Boethus, Who Died From Stepping Out Onto Jerusalem’s Streets
More delicate than the princess from “The Princess and the Pea”, more spoiled than a Kardashian. Among the Talmudic legends surrounding the destruction of ancient Jerusalem is the strange story of a wealthy woman who was unaccustomed to contact with the outside world. Why did the Talmudic sages choose to focus on this particular tale, and is there a modern lesson to be learned from it?
The Forgotten Legacy of a Cantor Who Lost His Voice
Years after Zalman Pollack was a star of the Jewish world, his life’s work was rediscovered…
A Half-Angel, Half-Demon Named Azazel and His Connection to Yom Kippur
What are the strange biblical origins of the term “scapegoat”? And what does it have to do with the Jewish Day of Atonement?
Eating by Example on Yom Kippur, an Epidemic Story
When cholera ran rampant, saving lives superseded all else
The Majesty and Mystery of Kol Nidre
Learn how a traditional Jewish prayer melody inspired everyone – from classical composers to filmmakers to psychedelic rock bands.
