Three Abducted Israeli Teens
(Source: Times of Israel)
Last week, the Jewish world was rocked by (yet again) news that three Israeli citizens had been abducted by Palestinian terrorists. I don’t profess any particular insight as to what to do about this (recurring) situation. Nor do I believe these latest abductions will be the last.
Today, I simply pray for their safe return and highlight the need for Jewish unity at times like this.
Filed under Karaite Rabbanite Relations, Ransom
The scene of cross-denominational dialogue
Around Passover, Sara and Elijah, two students from a Talmud study group at UC Berkeley’s (Go Bears!) Hillel, spent the weekend at the Karaite synagogue in Daly City. Not only did they join us for Shabbat prayers, they actually prostrated in the traditional Karaite fashion.
I recently posed six questions to them about their experience at the synagogue.
Filed under Karaite Rabbanite Relations, Karaite Synagogues
Someone recently told me that he found the Karaite Jewish approach to halakha rather nonintellectual, because Karaites only follow what the Torah says and do not search for the deeper meaning.
Oy! Karaites do not follow what the Torah “says;” we seek to follow what the Torah “means.” These two things are not always the same. Today, let’s look at some of my favorite non-literal Karaite interpretations.
How Do You Count to 50?
The Karaite Jews of America is in the midst of its Up For The Count campaign, and the KJA has received tremendous interest from non-Karaites who want to learn to count the omer in accordance with the traditional Karaite timing and formulation.
This was rather surprising to me initially; but it should not be.
Filed under Karaite Jews of America, Shavuot
Up for the Count is off to a great start.
It’s that time of year that some people love and others have never heard of. That’s right; we’re counting the omer, a period of 50 days from the Sunday that occurs during Passover until the Sunday of Shavuot.
The Karaites and Rabbanites differ as to when to start counting the omer. You can read about that here. A young Israeli Karaite even made headlines when he refused to compete live on A Star is Born (the Israeli franchise of “American Idol”), because it coincided with the biblical/Karaite Shavuot.
But today, we’re just going to look at how Karaites count to 50.
Filed under Counting of the Omer, Karaite Jews of America
Last week, I gave a talk to the Jewish Community Library of San Francisco on the Passover customs of Karaite Jews. The talk was recorded, and I’ve edited the portions that deal specifically with the Passover Seder and Hag HaMatzot. Check it out after the jump.
The presentation includes a snippet of an interview with an Egyptian Karaite who has an incredibly unique Passover memory. And if you missed this week’s Washington Post article on Karaite Jewish Passover foods, here you go.
Up for the Count’s Trendy Logo.
What is the world coming to!? The Karaite Jews of America has launched an initiative using . . . hashtags.
This morning, the KJA announced that it wants to help Karaites (of all varieties) count the omer in accordance with the biblical timing. The KJA’s program is called “Up For The Count” and the organization is asking everyone who participates to use the hashtag #upforthecount.
The program has a cool logo, is ambitious, and most importantly is a practical resource.
Filed under Counting of the Omer, Karaite Jews of America, Shavuot
