Calendars

Q: Why do the Jewish holidays come late, or early, never at the same time?

A: The Jewish year is reckoned by the lunar calendar, not the Gregorian calendar which is observed by the Western world.

The lunar year consists of 354 days as opposed to the Gregorian calendar, which is 365 days. For this reason the Jewish holidays will always fall on the same date in the Jewish, or lunar, cycle but rarely will they coincide with the same secular date.

Pope Gregory the XIII established the Gregorian calendar that we use today.  In 1850 Pope Gregory mandated that a universal calendar be calibrated using the solar year, beginning on January 1.  At that time, several corrections needed to be made before they began using the new calendar.  First, 10 days had to be taken out of the year in order to gauge the correct date.  Understandably, the Pope’s actions caused great deal of frustration and anger by those who felt their lives had been cheated by fortnight.  Much later, when the original American colonies decided to adopt the Gregorian calendar, Benjamin Franklin wrote in his inimitable style and wit, “And what an indulgence is here for those who love to lie down in peace on the second of this month and not perhaps wake till the morning of the 14^th.”

The astronomers of Pope Gregory also saw a glaring problem in the computation of the solar year. The earth needs 365 days to complete its orbit around the sun, five hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds. In order to compensate for the extra 1/4 day, a leap year was added every four years to correct the imbalance.  

The Jewish calendar, on the other hand, is dependent upon the appearance of the moon, hence the use of the term lunar calendar.  However, in order to remain within the framework of the seasonal year a leap year was added seven times every 19 years. Our leap year, unlike the Gregorian leap year that adds one day, consists of a full month.  All told, the solar and lunar calendars rarely agree on the same date.

On Marriage

Q: Is it obligatory for a bride to wear a veil?

A:  The custom of wearing the veil dates back to the Torah where Rebekah wore a veil when she saw her future husband, Isaac, for the first time. Throughout the ages the tradition of donning a veil has become virtually cemented in Jewish ritual practice.

Another fascinating episode featured in the Torah was when the bride and a groom did not see each other.  Married in darkness they wed the wrong person!  Jacob married Leah instead of Rachel.  It is for this reason that the veil is always lifted before the wedding takes place.

Q: My mother recently remarried.  Her new husband was married before too bit never bothered to obtain a Get (Jewish divorce).  I want him to stand with me under the Huppah at my wedding.   Is this acceptable?

A:  There are very few rules governing who could stand at the Huppah. Obviously, your stepfather made a mistake when he did not receive the Get. He is not legally divorced from his first marriage or for that matter; he is not married the second time in the eyes of Jewish Law. Nonetheless, even though he erred in not getting the Get this would not impede from standing with you at your marriage.

Q: A friend of mine is an artist and wants to design the ketuba -- Jewish marriage document -- which we would love. Would it be valid?

A:  There is no objection to your friend designing and writing the Ketubah. In fact, until very recent times, all Ketubahs were hand written and beautifully ornamented. There are many striking examples of illuminated Ketbot which are priceless heirlooms and valuable collectors items.

Of course, your friend should consult her Rabbi to make sure she has the correct wording and phraseology used in this document.

Many local artists and ones you can find online have created beautiful works of art which are readily available everywhere.

A Cantor

Q: What are the origins of a cantor?

A:  The Hebrew word for cantor is hazzan, which is taken from the Aramaic, meaning officer. Originally the hazzan had charge of the premises. Every Shabbat he gave the signal for the community to cease its working when the appropriate time came. He brought the Torah into public places for reading and sometimes led the prayers.

Time, as he was most familiar with the liturgy and music and prayers of the community to go for the sole function of leading services.

The correct term for a leader of prayers is shaliah tzibbur, or emissary of the congregation.  The ancient religious Codes state that person must be experienced, have a pleasant voice, and be agreeable and modest along with learned.

In Ashkenazic custom, the hazzan is a prayer leader.   He chants the first and last words of each section, thus regulating the speed of the service.  In Sephardic liturgy, the hazzan recites almost every word of the entire service alone.  This latter custom arose when prayer books were not usually available.

Shmini Atzeret

Q: Why do we recite the prayer for rain on the last day of Sukkot?

A:  The last service is actually called by different name, Shmini Atzeret, when we include a special prayer for rain. The following words are inserted into the daily until Passover, “Who causes the wind to blow and the rain to fall.”

Rain is vital to our survival. Without it we die. The Talmud states that Shmini Atzeret is the world’s Yom Kippur.  Just on the Day of Atonement, God declares “who will live and will die,” so too a declaration is made regarding the world on this day. If a positive judgment is decreed we will have rain, life. If not, the world will with.er and die.

Shmini Atzeret is an agricultural holiday. It is called the Eighth day of Assembly in English. Interestingly, it falls around the autumnal equinox. A change happens then. Rain does, with God’s blessing, begin to fall and the earth is renewed and continues

Hanukkah

Q: Is it true that Hanukkah is a minor holiday??

A:  Truth be told, Hanukkah is a minor holiday and not in the category of festival. In Judaism, a festival, Hebrew chag, is reserved for the three festivals Sukkoth, Pesach and Shavuot. Only on those three occasions to be greet each other with the words Chag Sameach, a happy Jewish holiday. During Hanukkah you simply say Hanukkah Sameach for the word chag does not apply.

On the festivals we do not put on tefillin and we abstain from work. There are no such prohibitions. Observances for this holiday are few, we light candles for eight days, we enjoy fried potato pancakes (latkes) and donuts and add a special paragraph to the daily prayers, the Amidah.

Many modern families have adopted the custom giving gelt or presents to the children. The practice of gift giving is undoubtedly compensation for the children missing out on what their Christian friends are getting.  Of course, the act of giving presents serves to enhance the holiday and add further feeling of joy the season.

The creation of the state of Israel has added a new dimension to the holiday. The heroic deeds of the Maccabees are an inspiration to the pioneers and defenders of the Jewish state. For Israelis, the kindling of the flames as it did reminder of the downloadable spirit of the Jewish people.  Its flames call attention to the light which will never be extinguished.

Kanne-hora

Q: What does Kanne-horaliterally mean?

A: Kanne-hora comes from the Hebrew phrase, kayn ayin ha-ra, which means, “Here is the evil eye.”  Of course, we mean just the opposite when we say this word. The effect of uttering the word Kanne-hora was to offset any damage done to it object or person by our praise. It is as if one were to say, “My son makes $200,000,” would invoke ill fortune. Then the person who boasted of that would follow with “kanne-hora” to avoid brining misfortune.  Kanne-hora would sometimes be accompanied by three spits over the shoulder to further dispel negative consequences.

Ner Tamid

Q: What is the meaning and origin of the Eternal Light above the Ark in the Sanctuary?

A: The Talmud calls the synagogue a “mikdash m’at,” a replacement for the Temple which once stood in Jerusalem.  There, a menorah burned continually.  A menorah, by the way, is not the same as a Hanukkiyah. While the menorah consists of seven level branches, a Hanukkiyah used exclusively for the holiday of Hanukkah, has eight, plus a shamash.

The Eternal Lamp or Ner Tamid, is first mentioned as a fixture in the desert Tabernacle.  There it was continually alight with oil replenished into its receptacles regularly to make sure it never went out.  This was and remains a reminder of God’s ever-watchful eye over the people of Israel.  It, like God’s Presence never is extinguished.