Jewish History

December 7th at sundown begins the festival of Dedication, more popularly known as Hanukkah--the Festival of Lights. This special Jewish festival that non-Jews often mistakenly think of as the "Jewish Christmas," has its origins in the revolt of the Maccabees against...

On the third day of the seventh biblical month, the Jewish people observe a day of fasting. The observance is known as the Fast of Gedaliah. Who was Gedaliah, and why is his name associated with a day of fasting down to this day? In the aftermath of the destruction of...

On the 5th day of Iyar, in the Jewish year 5708, corresponding to the Gregorian date May 14, 1948, the modern State of Israel was born with the Declaration of Independence by David Ben-Gurion. The Text of the Israeli Declaration of Independence (Text of the...