2008 Woodie Awards
Vote Absentee
With over 3,000 editions on record, the Pesach Haggadah stands as the most printed Jewish text of all time. Practically all the great Rishonim and Acharonim published their own commentary to the Haggadah. And if they didn't, then Artscroll has likely put something together based on other assorted writings within the last twenty years.
A common refrain heard while sitting in the cafeteria or studying in the library is how people wish that their stay in YU could be accelerated. Most YC students search the rulebooks to discover loopholes that would allow them to stay less than the full four years.
Have you ever sat in one of the required bible classes and wondered what the masoretic text has to do with the 21st century? Or maybe you have pondered the seeming lack of artistry and creativity in the modern Jewish community compared to the Jewish artists of last century.
The Sephardic world of Jewry is what gave to Judaism its first, and possibly greatest, art movement. Yes, it has been many centuries since the golden age of Spain, but there is still a great amount of Sephardic art out there. The problem is Sephardic art is often thought not to exist simply because it is seen less often, yet Sephardim too have a distinct artistry with its own beautiful customs and rituals.