In last week's Matzav Haruach, Rabbi Ben-Zion Elgazi's column is devoted to fasting on Yom Kippur. I liked his approach to breastfeeding so I am translating it here. You can find the original Hebrew text in this article I contributed to the blog of the Israeli Association of Certified Lactation … [Read more...]
Erev Yom Kippur Links: Why Fast?
October 7, 2011 by
The Canadian newspaper Globe and Mail reported on the two girls sent back to Israel to avoid being married off. The article refers to Bruria Keren as "the woman leader of the sect in Israel" and amusingly notes that Beit Shemesh is near where the battle of David and Goliath took … [Read more...]
We’re All in the Same Boat: Yom Kippur in the Navy
September 21, 2010 by
This is a guest post by DR, the father who shared his son's experience during the Marmara incident: Exclusive Account of Gaza Flotilla Violence. We're All in the Same Boat: Yom Kippur in the Navy A large proportion of commanders in the IDF are religiously observant, and the numbers are growing. … [Read more...]
Blogging Forgiveness for Yom Kippur
September 17, 2010 by
Blogging is all about communication and relationships: relationships with readers, commenters and other bloggers. Those relationships are important to me, and I haven't always nurtured them the way I should. So I'd like to ask forgiveness . . . For giving incorrect or misleading information, or … [Read more...]
Fasting on Yom Kippur During Pregnancy
September 15, 2010 by
Yom Kippur begins this Friday evening, September 17, and continues until Saturday evening. According to the Shulchan Aruch, the Code of Jewish Law, pregnant and nursing women are required to fast both on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement ) and Tisha B'Av (9 Av, a day of mourning for the destruction of … [Read more...]
The Endless Battle over Ending Daylight Time
September 12, 2010 by
Did you have fun setting and clearing the table half a dozen times? Washing enough dishes to last until next year (and don't tell me you used paper!)? I certainly hope you enjoyed the three-day marathon of cooking, praying and eating that was Rosh Hashanah followed by Shabbat, because we get to do … [Read more...]
My Mother Never Told Me
September 28, 2009 by
It would be expected that I would think about my mother, as my daughter and I sat down for Kol Nidrei. From my seat I could see the daughters of the woman who died last Rosh Hashanah, the wife and daughters of another shul member who died a few months ago, and behind me were the wife, daughters and … [Read more...]
The State of the Nation in Shul on Yom Kippur
October 12, 2008 by
People expect to pray peacefully on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. But the shul is overfull and there are distractions. Especially children. The acceptable level of noise and activity varies according to the community and physical facilities. But one person's kavanah (concentration during prayer) … [Read more...]
A Radical Ruling: Breastfeeding and Fasting on Yom Kippur
September 19, 2007 by
Also see: Resources on Fasting During Pregnancy Our rabbi made an amazing statement this past Shabbat: Pregnant women and nursing mothers whose babies are solely dependent on their mothers' milk (including babies who take a small amount of solids, generally until 8 or 9 months) must not fast on … [Read more...]
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