Best of Judaism

A Lakeside Jewish Wedding (Readfield, ME)

Unlike Christian weddings, Jewish weddings can be held almost anywhere, so long as they take place under a chuppah. It is customary to use sentimental objects to create the chuppah's canopy; most traditionally, chuppahs are adorned with family prayer shawls. The fabric of this chuppah was made from the bride's mother's wedding dress, and the birch poles were taken from fallen trees near the bride's family's home. Photograph Credit: of Leah Ofsevit

Torah: Covenant and Constitution (Chapel Hill, NC)

Presenting the Torah scroll in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Torah: Covenant and Constitution

Wrapping the Torah after the reading is part of the ceremony surrounding the reading of the Torah

Family Welcomes Shabbat by Singing, Lighting Candles, and Blessing Challah

Welcoming Shabbat with singing, the lighting of candles, and the blessing of the braided hallah

Rabbi Blows the Shofar During Rosh Hashanah Observance

Blowing the shofar is central to the observance of Rosh Hashanah (Photo Credit: Gail Quinte)

Blessing the Passover Meal

Raising a piece of matzoh for all to see and saying the blessing during the Passover meal Photo Credit: Diana Eck

Torah: Covenant and Constitution

A rabbi reading from the Torah

Torah: Covenant and Constitution

The Torah scroll, with pointer for reading

Israel: Jewish Nationhood (Boston, MA)

Through the Torah, Jews today discover their connection with the ancient people of Israel (Photo: Courtesy of Congregation Beth El, Sudbury, Massachusetts)

Kabbalah and Hasidism (Jerusalem)

A Hasidic Jew at the festival of Sukkot in Jerusalem

Members of the P'nai Or Jewish Renewal Community Create Community Through Play

Participants in a P'nai Or Jewish Renewal Community create community through celebration and play, as well as study and prayer (Photo Credit: Aleph: Alliance for Jewish Renewal)

Countercultural Judaism

Matisyahu is an American reggae/hip hop artist public about his Hasidic Jewish identity (Photo: Creative Commons image courtesy of Kris Krug)

Bais Chabad Torah Center (West Bloomfield, MI)

Wedding New Jewish Americans From the Former Soviet Union (Photo: Bill McNeece/The Pluralism Project)

Wedding at Bais Chabad Torah Center (West Bloomfield, MI)

Wedding New Jewish Americans From the Former Soviet Union (Photo Credit: Bill McNeece/The Pluralism Project)

Bais Chabad Torah Center (West Bloomfield, MI)

New Jewish Americans From the Former Soviet Union Learning How to Begin the Sabbath (Photo: Bill McNeece/The Pluralism Project)

Bais Chabad Torah Center (West Bloomfield, MI)

New Jewish Americans From the Former Soviet Union Learning How to Begin the Sabbath (Photo: Bill McNeece/The Pluralism Project)

Congregation Ahavath Chesed (New London, CT)

Congregation Ahavath Chesed 2004

Hanukkah on Shabbat Celebration

Lasting eight nights, the holiday of Hanukkah will fall on shabbat at some point during that time. Here, the Hanukkah candles are lit next to the ceremonial shabbat glass of wine and loaf of challah bread.

The Kiddush Cup (Chicago, IL)

Photo Credit: Lucy Schulson

Interfaith Holocaust Memorial Service (Hattiesburg, MS)

On the occasion of the first Interfaith Holocaust Memorial Service in Hattiesburg, organized by Congregation B'nai Israel and the Interfaith Alliance, Rabbi Cukierkorn explains the significance of the seven branched menorah. The menorah is a symbol of the unity of the Jewish people that has endured even after the destruction of the holy temple in Jerusalem. (Photo: Cindy Brown/The Pluralism Project)

Interfaith Holocaust Memorial Service (Hattiesburg, MS)

On the occasion of the first Interfaith Holocaust Memorial Service in Hattiesburg, organized by Congregation B'nai Israel and the Interfaith Alliance, Rabbi Cukierkorn explains the significance of the seven branched menorah. The menorah is a symbol of the unity of the Jewish people that has endured even after the destruction of the holy temple in Jerusalem. (Photo: Cindy Brown/The Pluralism Project)

Mikvah Ceremony (Hattiesburg, MS)

Rabbi Celso Cukierkorn and Craig Barrett pause for a prayer during the mikvah ceremony (immersion in a body of water) which is part of the Jewish conversion ceremony. Barett comes from a cattle property in the "Outback" of Queensland, Australia and from a Protestant Anglican background. Through extensive readings and studies in theology he came to believe that it is our own experiences and values that determine our future, not those that dogma dictate that we must accept without question. He came to know that it was Judaism that offered him what he was searching for. With his conversion at age 27 he says, "I have found my spiritual home." (Photo: Cindy Brown/The Pluralism Project)

Mikvah Ceremony (Hattiesburg, MS)

Rabbi Celso Cukierkorn and Craig Barrett pause for a prayer during the mikvah ceremony (immersion in a body of water) which is part of the Jewish conversion ceremony. Barett comes from a cattle property in the "Outback" of Queensland, Australia and from a Protestant Anglican background. Through extensive readings and studies in theology he came to believe that it is our own experiences and values that determine our future, not those that dogma dictate that we must accept without question. He came to know that it was Judaism that offered him what he was searching for. With his conversion at age 27 he says, "I have found my spiritual home." (Photo: Cindy Brown/The Pluralism Project)

National Council of Jewish Women (Washington, D.C.)

2005 Photo Credit: Vincent J. Ricardel

Rabbi (Hattiesburg, MS)

Rabbi Celso Cukierkorn, Hattiesburg, MS, gives the priestly benediction, using the the fringes of his talis (prayer shawl) to bless a convert to judaism. Rabbi Celso Cukierkorn is the director of ConvertingtoJudaism.com, an organization committed to assisting people who are distant from a Jewish community or from access to a rabbi who would work towards conversion. He has guided, taught, and converted people all around the world. (Photo: Cindy Brown/The Pluralism Project)

Rabbi (Hattiesburg, MS)

Rabbi Celso Cukierkorn, Hattiesburg, MS, gives the priestly benediction, using the the fringes of his talis (prayer shawl) to bless a convert to judaism. Rabbi Celso Cukierkorn is the director of Converting to Judaism.com, an organization committed to assisting people who are distant from a Jewish community or from access to a rabbi who would work towards conversion. He has guided, taught, and converted people all around the world. (Photo: Cindy Brown/The Pluralism Project)

The Shofar's Final Note (Chautauqua, NY)

Members of Congregation Havurah, from Williamsville, NY, enjoying the long final note (called gadolah) on the shofar (ram’s horn), during Rosh Hashanah services. The shofar blower is attempting to hold the note as long as possible. The photo was taken at the Chautauqua Institution, where Congregation Havurah held its Rosh Hashanah retreat in September, 2005. (Photo by: Enid Bloch, 2005)

Temple Beth Shalom (Boston, MA)

Temple Beth Shalom (Boston, MA)