by Moshe Dann (January 2015)

Jews are quite literally obsessed with time. Every month the new moon is sanctified and calculated by minutes and seconds, as well as by sight. Every week observant Jews rush -- sometimes panic -- to finish all the preparations for the Sabbath before it begins. On Pesach, unleavened bread (matzot) can only be used if baked within 18 minutes from the time the dough is made. Why are time-limited boundaries so important? Does an extra minute make so much difference?  more>>>