By Rabbi Mordechai Levin
Hanukkah is the festival which celebrates the regaining of Jewish religious and political independence in the land of Israel. Our ancestors liberated Jerusalem from Greek occupation in 164 B.C.E. When they entered the temple they found enough olive oil to fuel the menorah – the seven-branched … More
By Rabbi Mordechai Levin
For many, the blowing of the shofar – a ram’s horn prepared for use as a musical instrument – is one of the most moving moments of the High Holy Days services. It is one of the earliest musical instruments known to man that is still in … More
By Rabbi Mordechai Levin
Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of a 10-day period of prayer, self-examination and repentance, which culminates on Yom Kippur. These 10 days are referred to as Yamim Noraim, the Days of Awe, or Aseret Yemei Teshuvah, the Ten Days of Repentance.
The High Holidays – as … More
By Rabbi Mordechai Levin
In several days we will celebrate Pesach, the holiday which commemorates our ancestors’ exodus from slavery in Egypt 3,200 years ago. We will gather at our homes for the Seder, and we will read the Haggadah, the book used to tell the story.
In the Haggadah … More
By Rabbi Mordechai Levin
One of Pesach’s most important symbols is the matzah, which we eat during the festival’s eight days. The commandment to eat matzah appears 10 times in the Torah. Jewish tradition requires eating matzah on the first two nights of Pesach. On the other days of Pesach … More
By Rabbi Mordechai Levin
The Torah is the foundational text of Judaism. The Torah scroll is our most revered physical possession. When it is lifted after it has been read during the religious service, the congregation chants “vezot haTorah asher sam Mosheh lifnei benei Israel al pi Adonai, beyad … More
By Rabbi Mordechai Levin
The evening of June 1, 2019 will mark the beginning of Shavuot, the festival that celebrates the giving of the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai 32 centuries ago. The holiday is called Z’man Matan Toratenu, the season of the giving of the Torah.… More
By Deborah Laverty
Published by The Times of Northwest Indiana – December 10, 2020
The pandemic has changed — but in no way diminished — the significance of Hanukkah as area Jews celebrate the festival of lights.
The lighting of the hanukkiah, or menorah, which has nine candles, by Jewish … More
Rabbi Levin 
is the rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel in Munster, IN. He received his rabbinic ordination from the Latin American Rabbinical Seminary, and is a member of the Rabbinical Assembly. In 2010, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City for his years of dedicated service to the Conservative movement and the Jewish community...Full bio