Author Archives: Carol Kantor
Teshuvah – the Month of Elul
Repentance. How to do this: Tshuvah Explained by Rabbi Sarah Wolf
Rosh Hashanah Defined
JEWISH NEW YEAR: Rosh Hashanah occurs on the first and second days of Tishri. In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, “head of the year” or “first of the year.” Rosh Hashanah is commonly known as the Jewish New Year. This … Continue reading
Havdalah
Havdalah is a ceremony to mark the end of Shabbat! The name havdalah comes from the Hebrew word l’havdeel, which means to distinguish or separate. Havdalah is a ceremony that separates the Sabbath day and the secular work week. It is … Continue reading
Don’t put the hat on the bed
While it is not certain that this is from Jewish origins, it seems the superstition comes from a time when people believed that evil spirits lived in the hair. This could have been believed from the static electricity that would … Continue reading
Protecting the Babies
Garlic and red ribbons were placed on the baby’s crib to protect it from the evil eye, or demons. Lilith, one such demon, is specifically suspected of stealing small children for herself, since, as legend has it, she is forever … Continue reading
Keeping the “evil eye” away
Superstitions relating to keeping the “evil eye” away… To change the name of a sick person in order to fool the angel of death If a baby is named after a person who died young, also give a name after … Continue reading
Shoes
When someone dies they used to take their shoes out into the woods and throw them in all directions. I remember my mother telling me the shoes of a dead person should not be worn again. Today, we would not … Continue reading
Hamsa
Hamsa (Khamssa) is a hand-shaped amulet, with the palm facing out, the fingers spread open, in essence blocking the evil eye. It is commonly used by Jews and Muslims to ward off evil spirits.. Today, the hamsa is perceived as a … Continue reading
Salt
Some people dip their Challah in salt on Shabbat. But on Rosh Hashana sugar is substituted for the salt. from Lisa Pollack – thanks: The explanation I have always heard is that the challah, as a type of bread, represents … Continue reading
The Old Woman and the Devil
Here is one tradition that I remember from my childhood: Once a week, usually on Friday afternoons, when I was about 7 or 8, my grandmother wanted me to learn to sew simple things, e.g. buttons etc, which I disliked … Continue reading
