As part of a new Israeli initiative, the Chumash (Five Books of Moses) has been published using the Jewish index. The chapter division of the Hebrew Bible being used today is not a Jewish, but a Christian, one.

It became the accepted division worldwide as the Bible was translated into Latin and many other languages, even though the chapter endings seem arbitrary and even illogical.

For example, Samuel I ends in the midst of the saga of King Saul’s death, whereas the Jewish sages considered the book of Samuel to be one, undivided book.

Some scholars believe that the chapter divisions were the work of the students of Cardinal Hugo of Saint Cher, 1240 C.E. who was trying to write a concordance. It is more generally believed that Stephen Langton, archbishop of Canterbury (1228 C.E.), is responsible for them.

Shiva Le’Bitzaron, the Project for Restoring the Jewish Index & Division of the Bible – is trying to get Jews to return to the original Jewish index. “The psukim (verses) are ours (Jewish –ed.),” explained project head Betzal’el Ariel. “The question is where to start a new chapter. When you divide a text into chapters, you bring your own ideas and ideology to this division.”

“Our sages,” he explained, “made their own division which we call seder (lit. order –ed.), which means to organize: organize our learning, our thoughts, and our belief. We want to restart using this original Jewish division.”

The separation of verses in the Bible is universally according the Jewish mesorah. This is the tradition handed down through the ages to which the tropes [symbols designating the tune for reading that indicate where phrases and verses end, ed.] adhere.

The verse numbering, however, was later arranged to suit the Christian chapter divisions, starting to count anew at the beginning of each chapter. This numbering is attributed to the 16th century printer Stephanus, who did it for convenience.

It is the chapter division and the verse numbering that will go back to their original Jewish roots in this project, an aspiration that can be fulfilled now that the Jewish nation has come home.

April 25, 2011: Mimouna is a celebration originating among “Maghrebim” [North African Jews] held the day after the Passover Festival ends. Historically it marks the start of spring and the permissibility of eating leavened products after their prohibiition during the holiday.

It is also popularly treated as a celebration of the Rambam, Rabbi Moses ben Maimon, the great medieval Torah luminary, for whom many say the festival is named.

Traditionally, the celebration begins after nightfall on the last day of Passover. Moroccan, Tunisian and Algerian Jews throw open their homes to visitors, after setting out a lavish spread of post Passover holiday cakes and sweetmeats. It is customary for the feasting table to be laid with attention to the number “5,” such as 5 pieces of gold jewelry or 5 beans arranged on a leaf of pastry.

Mimouna demonstrates the Jewish people’s faith in the coming of the Redemption, one of the Rambam’s 13 Principles of Jewish belief. As Nissan is the month of redemption from Egypt and is said by the Talmud to be the month in which the future redemption will occur, If the Messiah has not arrived by the festival’s end, the celebration emphasises unswerving faith that he will arrive one day, that we are living in a period of emerging redemption. This is in accordance with the Rambam’s 12th principle: “I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah. And though he may be delayed, I will await his coming every day.”

Mimouna also demonstrates the unity of Israel due to the custom of many not to eat in the homes of their neighbors on Passover because of personal stringencies pertaining to kashrut on the holiday. Hence, Jews visit one another’s homes to celebrate and partake of food at the end of Passover to show that the nation’s hearts are united. Mimouna expresses our hope that the abundance of Passover will continue through the year.

After settling in Israel, Jewish immigrants from North Africa celebrated Mimouna with their families in their communities. In 1966, it was adopted as a national holiday and has since been adopted by other ethnic groups. Mimouna is often celebrated with outdoor parties, picnics, and BBQs.

This year, Israel’s President Shimon Peres, Sephardic Chief Rabbi “Rishon Lezion” Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Jerusalem’s mayor Nir Barkat, Knesset members, and soldiers from the Givati ​​Brigade were present at the annual Mimouna festival in Jerusalem’s Talpiot neighborhood. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sarah are enjoying an open house in Or Akiva, where the traditional Mimouna delicacies will be served.

The Maccabeats are students from Yeshiva University in NYC. The Maccabeats were formed in 2006 by Immanuel Shalev, Michael Greenberg and Julian Horowitz. Shalev is currently the group’s associate director, while Horowitz is the musical director.

Members: Director:Julian Horowitz, Associate Director: Immanuel Shalev, Chanina Abramowitz, David Block, Michael Greenberg, Noey Jacobson, Josh Jay, Nachum Joel, Ari Lewis, Mordy Prus, Jeff Ritholtz, Buri Rosenberg, Meir Shapiro, and Yonatan Shefa, Video Director: Uri Westrich

The group released its first album, Voices from the Heights, in March 2010. In November 2010, they released Candlelight, a Chanukah-themed single directed by Uri Westrich, a medical student and Yeshiva grad. The song, based on Mike Tompkin’s parody of Taio Cruz’s Dynamite, has received international attention and has received over 2 million hits on YouTube.

The Maccabeats opened for Matisyahu at the Yeshiva University Chanukah Concert in early December, 2010.