Sefira Lightstone

As any parent can attest, every stage of raising our children presents us with an endless series of choices and questions, often ones we’d never considered before.

When you think of Gibraltar, you might picture a small rocky peninsula at the southern tip of Spain, famous for its imposing Rock and strategic location. But did you know it’s also home to a centuries-old Jewish community? Let’s explore 13 facts about the Jews of Gibraltar—a vibrant, tight-knit group that merges strong traditional values with multiple cultures spanning continents.

Traditionally Yours

Discover the vibrant Jewish community at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.

Rabbi Shalom Ber Lifshitz arrived in New York on a Thursday after a long flight from Israel

Perhaps less known than Passover, the High Holidays and Sukkot, Shavuot is a Biblical Holiday celebrating a most Biblical event—the giving of the Torah (Bible) at Sinai. So how do you make this sometimes overlooked holiday into a super spiritual experience? Here are our seven tips:

Perhaps less known than Passover, the High Holidays and Sukkot, Shavuot is a Biblical Holiday celebrating a most Biblical event—the giving of the Torah (Bible) at Sinai. So how do you make this sometimes overlooked holiday into a super spiritual experience? Here are our eight tips:

For centuries, Poland was home to the largest and most vibrant Jewish community in the world. The country overflowed with Jewish life, in large cities like Warsaw, Krakow, and Lublin, and in the hundreds of shtetls that dotted the landscape. Read on for 15 facts about a world that once was—and in many ways, still is!

The sages instituted handwashing before eating bread, even if your hands are already clean. Why? Because back in Temple times, hands were considered inherently impure and could contaminate terumah, which was designated for the priests. The sages then extended this practice to all Jews. Even today, although terumah isn’t eaten in our time, We are bound to uphold this practice, getting ready for the day the Temple is rebuilt.

In the mid-1970s, I was deeply immersed in the world of Transcendental Meditation (TM), an enormously popular movement then sweeping through Hollywood. Like many young people, I was searching for meaning and purpose while also struggling with stress. My wife, Tova Hinda, and I trained with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi to become TM teachers. We dedicated 10 years to meditation, yoga, and studying Hindu scriptures, practicing four hours daily until 1981. We also held executive positions in the TM national organization.