What holiday is most widely observed by American Jews?
Passover. Studies show that a larger percentage of American Jews observe the seder than any other Jewish ritual. The second most widely observed Jewish tradition is Yom Kippur, followed by the kindling of Chanukah lights. One reason the seder is so widely observed is that it not only celebrates Jews’ emancipation from slavery, but also commemorates the beginning of Jewish nationhood. 9. Does the biblical phrase, “an eye for an eye,” mean that one who blinds another should be blinded? The Talmud states that “an eye for an eye” means that one must pay monetary compensation equivalent to the value of an eye. If the verse were carried out literally, the rabbis feared, removing the perpetrator’s eye might kill him as well. That, of course, would be forbidden. 10. Why does the Talmud compare gossiping to murder? As with murder, the damage done when you besmirch someone’s good name is irrevocable. This insight is powerfully conveyed through a Chasidic tale about a man who slandered the rabbi
