The Jewish Chronicle

Who would we choose as our Jewish patron saints?

Join Limmud’s Shavuot learning party

What is Shavuot?

Shavuot is part of the Shalosh Regalim – “three festivals” - which are the three main religious holidays of the Jewish year - Daniel Sugarman explains more about the customs and background to this festival.

The rabbinic battle over Israel's bonfire night

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims will gather in the northern Israeli town of Mount Meron at the weekend for Lag Ba'Omer

What is Lag Ba'omer?

Simon Rocker reveals the origins of the festival, and explains how it is marked today

Why we should celebrate Yom Yerushalayim

Yom Yerushalayim, which begins the evening of May 23, will mark the 50th anniversary of Israel's capture of the Old City during the Six Day War

Psychotherapy's rabbinic precursor

The founder of the Mussar movement Rabbi Israel Salanter had a keen interest in psychology

Moses the great leader knew his failings

Despite all the criticism, Moses displayed some of the key elements of great leadership

A biblical love story; the Song of Songs

Read as an allegory of the relationship between God and Israel, the Song of Songs is the story of love between a man and a woman

What is the Counting of the Omer?

The Omer is like a countdown from national liberation at Pesach to the defining religious moment of Jewish peoplehood, the revelation at Sinai.

What is on the Seder plate?

Daniel Sugarman explains the origins of the shank bone, charoset and more.

Our Charedi Seder

The table is resplendent in white and silver. The matzot – our own version of the marmite phenomenon, inspiring either love or hate – look extra crunchy

What is Pesach?

Simon Rocker tells you everything you need to know about one of the most important festivals in the Jewish calendar

Why Orthodox synagogues should welcome gay couples

A halachic approach to the inclusion of same-sex couples in Orthodox communities

How Hebrew captured America

In an extract from his new book The Story of Hebrew, Lewis Glinert explains the importance of the language to the American colonists

A quiet Shabbat morning revolution in the suburbs

Clowns have a part to play - and not just for Purim

In an Israeli hospital, medical clowns are trying to cheer wounded Syrian children