The Shabbos at (or just before) the beginning of the month of Nisan is called Shabbos HaChodesh ('Sabbath of the Renewal'). On this date while we were still in Egypt, G-d gave the very first mitzvah to Israel, when He commanded Moses and Aaron to calculate their months using the New Moon, and to begin the count of months with Nisan in the springtime:
"And the L-RD spoke unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying: This renewal [of the moon] shall be for you the beginning of monthly-renewals: it shall be the first monthly-renewal of the year to you." (Exodus 12:1-2)
The biblical calendar is predominantly a lunar one, centered on the monthly phases of the moon rather than on the earth's orbit around the sun. Instead of a year of 365.25 days, the biblical model is a year of twelve (or thirteen) lunar months.
But since the agricultural seasons are connected with the solar cycle, there needs to be some adjustment of the calendar to correspond with the solar period. Therefore, to keep the seasons aligned with the calendar, an extra month was required to be added every few years, at the discretion of Israel's High Court (Sanhedrin). The Court would also decree the exact day when a new lunar cycle was to be nationally recognized, depending on precise astronomical calculations while leaving room for flexibility if the nation's circumstances needed it. Since the dissolving of the Court in 359 CE, we follow the instructions they left in their final session, and we keep the calendar steady with alternating 29-day and 30-day months, adding in an extra month seven times in a 19-year period.
Despite the focus on the phases of the moon, the Bible does not typically refer to a month as a 'moon'. Instead, it calls it a chodesh. Chodesh does not mean 'moon'; it means 'renewal'. So our year is made up of a series of 'renewal-periods'.
While the sun shines as a constant light, it is not infinite. It has a limited 'lifespan', and will one day run out of fuel. The moon, on the other hand, constantly waxes and wanes, growing brighter and dimmer and brighter again. Time and again, the moon's light seems to disappear; but it will always return. The moon is a perfect symbol of renewal and rebirth. The faintly-seen sliver of the new moon is colloquially called 'nolad', the 'newborn'.
So the command that is given to us is not just that "you shall reckon your months by the renewal of the moon", but also, "it shall be a time of renewal for you". As we see the moon renewed, we ought to be reminded to renew ourselves, and experience afresh the gift of rebirth which G-d granted us while we still lay under the yoke of slavery in Egypt. As the newborn moon rose high in the dark night skies, Israel in the darkness of its exile was born again.
Recently, we've been seeing questions like this. Some of you have had trouble accessing certain older video lessons. Some have wondered whether we are still producing new ones. Yes, we are still recording our video teachings twice a week. You may not see them online immediately, however.
We are currently in the process of transferring all our media (video and audio recordings) to a new hosting server. While that is going on, not all videos may be available or shown in our archives. We are adding new videos and re-activating old ones as quickly as our resources permit. Most of the old lessons from 2023-2025 are still successfully hosted on the old server at this time, so your learning won't be interrupted if you are watching them. We will try to prioritize any that get taken down, b'ezras Hashem, until all videos are available on the new server. You may notice some new features when we are done, and we hope to share more with you about those as time goes on.
Thank you for your patience with us as we undergo this renovation.
Affiliate links allow people to expand their libraries, while simultaneously (at no additional cost) helping us with our costs, since Amazon sends us a small donation when you use our links.
This little booklet (5-1/2" x 7") presents the Bircas HaMazon (the Blessings after the Meal) in an easy-to-read format, along with the Sheva Berachos (Seven Wedding Blessings), all stunningly illustrated in full color. Every page is film-laminated to make it easy to clean, so you can let your children use it without worries.
Purchase it here.
This little booklet (5-1/2" x 7") presents the Bircas HaMazon (the Blessings after the Meal) in an easy-to-read format, along with the Sheva Berachos (Seven Wedding Blessings), all stunningly illustrated in full color. Every page is film-laminated to make it easy to clean, so you can let your children use it without worries.
Purchase it here.
• Easy-to-follow English instructions appear on both the English and Hebrew pages.
• Shaded boxes indicate prayer changes for special occasions.
• Transliterated essentials, like Kaddish and Borchu, appear as needed - no page flipping necessary.
• Instructions for sitting, standing, and other customs.
• Headings identify major prayer sections.
• Diagrams for putting on tallis and tefillin, and waving the lulav.
This siddur is one which our community uses on a regular basis.
Purchase it here.
Do we know how the Torah expects us, grownup children, to treat our parents? What about step-parents or in-laws? What are our financial obligations? How do we balance our own needs, and the needs of our family, with those of our parents? What happens when our parents divorce? Or if a parent has a difficult or abusive personality? Do we have to love our parents?
Do we know how the Torah expects us, grownup children, to treat our parents? What about step-parents or in-laws? What are our financial obligations? How do we balance our own needs, and the needs of our family, with those of our parents? What happens when our parents divorce? Or if a parent has a difficult or abusive personality? Do we have to love our parents?
• More than 170 stories of sons and daughters - of all ages - rising to the challenge of kibud av v'eim (honoring father and mother)
• Strategies and common sense advice on dealing with the sensitive issues of "the sunset years"
• Comprehensive and clear halachos of kibud av v'eim
My Father, My Mother and Me is a must-read book for everyone. Because everyone is someone's child.
Rabbi Yisrael Meir ha-Kohen, known to all as the Chofetz Chaim (One Who Desires Life), was famed for his teachings on safeguarding proper speech and promoting awareness of the powers of the tongue.
Stories abound about the Chofetz Chaim’s legendary humility, sensitivity, and genuine love for every individual.
This book, based on his works, lays out the concepts and laws of proper speech in a style arranged for daily study.
Purchase it here.
Rabbi Yisrael Meir ha-Kohen, known to all as the Chofetz Chaim (One Who Desires Life), was famed for his teachings on safeguarding proper speech and promoting awareness of the powers of the tongue.
Stories abound about the Chofetz Chaim’s legendary humility, sensitivity, and genuine love for every individual.
This book, based on his works, lays out the concepts and laws of proper speech in a style arranged for daily study.
Purchase it here.
You can't go wrong with good stories — and you can never get enough of them! That is an old but familiar story to anyone who has ever wanted an enjoyable read or needed something to enliven the Shabbos table or add spice to a conversation or speech.
Here is a collection of stories that have stood the test of time — and the much more difficult feat of keeping the interest of listeners, especially young ones.
Purchase it here.
You can't go wrong with good stories — and you can never get enough of them! That is an old but familiar story to anyone who has ever wanted an enjoyable read or needed something to enliven the Shabbos table or add spice to a conversation or speech.
Here is a collection of stories that have stood the test of time — and the much more difficult feat of keeping the interest of listeners, especially young ones.
Purchase it here.
A wonderful collection of stories from our Sages and the great Torah and Chassidic leaders, arranged according to the Sidra.
The Talmud teaches that, in significant ways, a student benefits more from serving and observing his teachers than from studying under them ... because there are priceless lessons to be learned from the way a great person acts, from the way he absorbs the teachings of the Torah and lets them transform him into an ambassador of G-d among men.
This book is a treasure house of such stories: stories from the Talmud, stories from the Midrash, stories about great men throughout the centuries. These hundreds of stories are filled with the warmth and wisdom of the Torah translated into the lives of its people.
Purchase it here.
A wonderful collection of stories from our Sages and the great Torah and Chassidic leaders, arranged according to the Sidra.
The Talmud teaches that, in significant ways, a student benefits more from serving and observing his teachers than from studying under them ... because there are priceless lessons to be learned from the way a great person acts, from the way he absorbs the teachings of the Torah and lets them transform him into an ambassador of G-d among men.
This book is a treasure house of such stories: stories from the Talmud, stories from the Midrash, stories about great men throughout the centuries. These hundreds of stories are filled with the warmth and wisdom of the Torah translated into the lives of its people.
Purchase it here.
A Biblical word study on the Hebrew term "Torah." This book attempts to present the five books of Moses in a positive light as God's instruction book for all, especially for believers in Yeshua the Messiah.
This book will change your life. Gracious in its tone, stunning in its revelations, it is a fundamentally transformative work that should be read by everyone who seeks to truly understand their Bible.
Purchase it here.
A Biblical word study on the Hebrew term "Torah." This book attempts to present the five books of Moses in a positive light as God's instruction book for all, especially for believers in Yeshua the Messiah.
This book will change your life. Gracious in its tone, stunning in its revelations, it is a fundamentally transformative work that should be read by everyone who seeks to truly understand their Bible.
Purchase it here.
The pages of church history are marked by countless horrors committed against the Jewish people.
From the first persecutions of the Jews in the fourth century to the horrors of the Holocaust, from Israel-bashing in today's press to anti-Semitism spouted from the pulpit, this painful book tells the tragic story that every Christian must read.
In a freshly updated and expanded edition of this pivotal work, Dr. Michael Brown exposes the faulty theological roots that opened the door to anti-Semitism in Church history, explaining why well-meaning believers so often fall into the trap of hate... and showing how individuals can bring an end to the cycle of violence.
Purchase it here.
The pages of church history are marked by countless horrors committed against the Jewish people.
From the first persecutions of the Jews in the fourth century to the horrors of the Holocaust, from Israel-bashing in today's press to anti-Semitism spouted from the pulpit, this painful book tells the tragic story that every Christian must read.
In a freshly updated and expanded edition of this pivotal work, Dr. Michael Brown exposes the faulty theological roots that opened the door to anti-Semitism in Church history, explaining why well-meaning believers so often fall into the trap of hate... and showing how individuals can bring an end to the cycle of violence.
Purchase it here.
"A eureka moment in slow motion -- like the born again being born again!"... is how the author describes his realization that the Bible's spiritual DNA is Jewish. Reading the words of Jesus from the perspective of His Jewish audience is like putting on infra-red glasses: hitherto invisible spiritual hot spots miraculously emerge, and our Jewish Messiah stands before us with ever-increasing clarity.
This book's strength is that the author approaches this subject with honesty and understanding for the reservations--even suspicions--the sincere enquirer may have when daring to take the plunge and give this whole "Jewish thing" a go. Russ Constant believes that this approach to unlocking the Scriptures - and the words of Jesus in particular -- is not just another niche fad, but rather is the essential key for a life-long journey of discovery which will not disappoint.
In this book, he takes several narratives from the Gospels and explains them in terms of their Jewish cultural and historical context, synthesising insights from major figures in the Messianic Movement in order to expose the rich seam of significance contained within. The use of extra-biblical sources, such as the Talmud, gives the book an added dimension. Both the humble Gentile and the curious Jew, even as novice inquirers, can benefit from this book. The chapters are all "stand alone," so they can be dipped into at any point.
Purchase it here.
"A eureka moment in slow motion -- like the born again being born again!"... is how the author describes his realization that the Bible's spiritual DNA is Jewish. Reading the words of Jesus from the perspective of His Jewish audience is like putting on infra-red glasses: hitherto invisible spiritual hot spots miraculously emerge, and our Jewish Messiah stands before us with ever-increasing clarity.
This book's strength is that the author approaches this subject with honesty and understanding for the reservations--even suspicions--the sincere enquirer may have when daring to take the plunge and give this whole "Jewish thing" a go. Russ Constant believes that this approach to unlocking the Scriptures - and the words of Jesus in particular -- is not just another niche fad, but rather is the essential key for a life-long journey of discovery which will not disappoint.
In this book, he takes several narratives from the Gospels and explains them in terms of their Jewish cultural and historical context, synthesising insights from major figures in the Messianic Movement in order to expose the rich seam of significance contained within. The use of extra-biblical sources, such as the Talmud, gives the book an added dimension. Both the humble Gentile and the curious Jew, even as novice inquirers, can benefit from this book. The chapters are all "stand alone," so they can be dipped into at any point.
Purchase it here.