| Title |
Abstract |
Tithing of Income
|
The Rosh writes (Orchas Chaim 5:80), “Do not fail to
bring maaser to the collection center for the poor, for “a gift in
secret pacifies anger...” (Mishlei 21:14)
Regarding the obligation to tithe income from profits there
are several opinions. Some say it is from the ... more
|
Tithing of Income (Part 2)
|
When tithing income, 10% should be tithed precisely,
for in this 10% there is a profound mystical meaning. Any tithe in
addition to this 10% should be made separately, after designating the
initial 10%.
... more
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Tithing of Income (Part 3)
|
All income that a person receives, even as a gift or an
inheritance, should be tithed after deducting all expenses, such as taxes,
traveling expenses, salaries paid to workers, damage caused to merchandise
by theft, fire, etc., ... more
|
Tithing of Income (Part 4)
|
The sum which is tithed from income need not, in
practice, be set apart from the actual monies earned. It can be taken
from any other funds so ... more
|
Laws of Ma’aser Ksofim and Tzedakah
|
It is permitted for a person to use ma’aser money to pay
the wedding expenses of his child (especially if he is a talmid chochom), but
only if he intended to do so from the moment he incurred the expense. It is
also permitted to invest ma’aser ... more
|
Laws Pertaining to Giving Tzedakah
|
When giving tzedakah, a person should be careful to be
pleasant. A person who is unpleasant when giving tzedakah loses all the merit
of the mitzvah, even if he gives a large sum. He also violates, “Your heart
should not be grieved when you give to them.” ... more
|
Midas Chassidus
|
Chazal (Babba Kama 30a) tell us that a person who wants
to conduct himself with midas chassidus should concern himself above all
with avoiding causing damage or harm. The medieval commentators (the
Rishonim) explained that ... more
|
Seek Peace and Pursue It
|
It is prohibited to create or perpetuate conflict, and this
is not only because it is unworthy of a Ben Torah or because it is a midas
chassidus or even a Rabbinical prohibition. It is prohibited by the Torah
with the same severity as eating ... more
|
Answering "Amen"
|
A person should teach his children to answer “amen”
because as soon as a child answers "amen" he has a portion in
the world to come. According to Rashi, "amen" (ןמא
... more
|
Laws Pertaining to the Water Used for Washing Hands Before Meals (1)
|
Water that has changed its appearance, as, for example,
when ink falls into it, is unfit for washing hands before meals. If it has
changed its appearance because it has stood still for a long period of time,
there are poskim who are lenient and allow its ... more
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Laws Pertaining to the Water Used for Washing Hands Before Meals (2)
|
If something is added to water to give it a fragrance, it
remains fit for use for washing before meals, for we don't consider the water
to have been used because fragrance was added. The fragrance was added solely
for the purpose of improving the ... more
|
Prayer and Learning Torah: Each in Its Own Time (Part I)
|
When standing before G-d in prayer or when reciting a
blessing it is forbidden to engage in any other activity. It is even forbidden
to learn silently or to look through a sefer. This prohibition is implied in
the in the verse, “If you walk with me ... more
|
Laws Pertaining to Giving and Collecting Tzedakah
|
Every Jewish community is obligated to appoint people to
collect from each member of the community the tzedaka which it is fitting
that he should give. The people who are appointed should be known in the
community and considered honest and ... more
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Prayer and Learning Torah: Each in Its Own Time (Part II)
|
A person who has already davened and has remained in the
synagogue in order to answer kadishim, etc., is permitted to learn
while the community is saying the Shemoneh Esrai or reciting the Shma.
He need not concern himself with the possibility that unlearned members ... more
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Laws of Tzedakah
|
A person should be very careful not to allow tzedakah funds
to get mixed up with his own money. If a person finds money in his house and
is in doubt whether it is tzedakah or not, the poskim disagree on the din, but
clearly, but ... more
|
Laws of Tzitzis
|
Since there are many varieties of tzitzis on the
market, and questions have been raised about the kashrus of some of them,
a person should buy tzitzis that have a reliable hechsher, or
... more
|
The Oil That’s Left Over
|
According to the Tanchuma (Parshas Nasso 29) It is
forbidden to make any use of the oil that is left over from the Chanukah
candles because it was designated for a mitzvah. Therefore, it should be
discarded by burning it up separately. A person shouldn’t say ... more
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Hilchos Tzitzis (Part 2)
|
When one thread of the tzitzis is torn off in a way that
the tzitzis remain kosher, some are machmir not to change the tzitzis
even though they are now lacking one of the 32 strands. Since they are still
... more
|
Kedushas Tefillin
|
The kedushah of the Tefillin is very great, for so
long as the Tefillin are on a person’s head and hand he is humble, he has yiras
Shamaim, and he is not drawn after frivolity, empty chatter or evil
thoughts. He turns his heart to truth and justice. (Rambam Hil. Tefillin. 4:25)
... more
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The Prohibition of Cooking and Eating Fish and Meat Together
|
Chazal had a tradition that it was forbidden to eat meat
and fish that were cooked or roasted together. This prohibition applies to all
fish and all meats, including fowl. If fluid from a fish falls into fluid from
meat or fluid from meat falls into fluid ... more
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Buying and Selling
|
It is forbidden for a person to ask the price of an article
when he has no intention of buying it. To do so is simply to trouble and
disappoint the merchant. The Meiri points out that it may also cause the
merchant a loss. ... more
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Borrowing and Lending
|
A person should only lend money to a person in front of
witnesses even if he is a talmid chochom and yiras Shamayim. He
may feel confident that the talmid chochom would not deny receiving the
loan, but he cannot be sure that, busy as ... more
|
Laws Pertaining to Lending and the Repayment of Loans
|
It is forbidden for the lender to sue the borrower for the
money he owes if he knows that the borrower doesn’t have the ability to
repay the loan: “You shall not be to him as a creditor” (Shemos 22:24) It
is even forbidden for ... more
|
Hesech Hadaas at Meals
|
The blessing which a person makes on bread at the
beginning of a meal covers everything that he eats at the meal so long as
he does not turn his mind away from the meal. Once he turns his mind ... more
|
Judging Fairly
|
From the verse “Hear the causes of your brethren…”
(Devarim 1:16), Chazal learned that the claims of litigants should not be
heard by the court unless both are present. A litigant that presents his case
when the other is not present is likely to lie—there is no ... more
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Laws Pertaining to Teachers of Torah (part 1)
|
Chazal tell us that the world exists because of the merit
of the children learning Torah with their Rebbe. From this we learn that the
spiritual reward for teaching children Torah is very great. The Shechina
dwells wherever children learn Torah with their Rebbe. Rebbe ... more
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Laws Pertaining to Teachers of Torah (part 2)
|
Those who teach righteousness to the multitudes will shine
like the stars (Daniel 12:3). According to the Gemora (Baba Basra 8b) the
verse applies to rebbes in chadarim and Talmudei Torah. Rashi explains
that those who teach righteousness are those who educate their students to ... more
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Laws of Pesach
|
Matzah that Folds While Baking
When a section of the matzah folds over during baking so
that one part clings to the other, it is forbidden to eat it. In addition to
the folded part, the matzah around the folded part the width of a normal sized
... more
|
The Mitzvah of Placing a Railing Around a Roof
|
It is a positive commandment from the Torah to place a
railing around a rooftop, as it is written, “If you build a new house, you
shall make a fence for your roof, so that you will not place blood in your
house if a ... more
|
Kiddush Hashem
|
The Torah was given to sanctify the name of G-d. Chazal
placed great emphasis on the obligation to sanctify the name of G-d and on
the severity of the punishment for the sin of profaning the name of ... more
|
The Prohibition of Stealing when Stealing is Required to Save a Life
|
The Maharsha wrote (Chidushei Agados, Kesubos 67a) that
many in his generation gathered their wealth in ways that involved breach of
faith and profaning the Name of G-d, as by stealing from gentiles. Then they
would take that money and make charitable donations so that ... more
|
Reading the Parsha and the Targum
|
Chazal tell us (and this is the halachah in the Shulchan Aruch) that a person
should complete the parsha of the week (reading it twice) and the Targum (once)
every week…and that those who do this will have length of days and years. By ... more
|
Thankfulness
|
It is fitting that a person should be thankful and generous to someone who has done something good
for him. Ingratitude is hateful in the eyes of G-d. Gratitude is a great
virtue, but it is often forgotten.
Above all, a person should feel grateful and
thankful to ... more
|
Travel on Erev Shabbos
|
If a person will have to prepare for Shabbos
after reaching his destination, the poskim disagree whether he may leave for
another city if he will arrive after one third of the day has passed. But the
Bach holds that a person can depart for another city even after chatzosif he estimates that ... more
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The Mitzvah of Putting a Guard Rail on a Roof (II)
|
The guard rail on a roof should be at least ten tephachim high.
Where there are children who might climb over it, the halachah requires that
it should be high enough to assure that they don’t. Similarly, where
children ... more
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Carrying on Shabbos
|
In a location which is considered public domain or a carmelis, it
is forbidden—halachah l’Moshe Misinai- to carry an object more
than four amos on Shabbos if there is no eruv.
The amah should be measured according to the smaller of ... more
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Don’t try to See Him in his moment of disgrace
|
Rabbeinu Ovadia Mibartenura and Rabbeinu Yona explained the meaning of
this passage. Do not try see when a person when he is degraded by sin, for
he is ashamed of himself and does want to be seen. Similarly, when Adam and
... more
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On Being a Guarantor for a Loan
|
Should a person be a guarantor? There are two sides to the question.
Shlomo Hamelech warns several times against being a guarantor (Mishlei
11:15; 17:18; 20: 16-17 and other verses) and the Gemara also says that it
is good ... more
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The Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places
|
Smoking in a place where it disturbs others, even if it seems that the
smoke could not possibly cause harm or disease, is forbidden by the Torah.
A person who smokes constantly may not even smoke in his own house if the
... more
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The Prohibition of Gentile Wine and Jewish Wine That Has Been Touched by a Gentile
|
The Torah forbids the wine of gentiles that has been offered as a libation
to idolatry. It is not only forbidden to consume it, it is even forbidden to
derive any financial benefit from it. This prohibition applies even to wine
... more
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The Obligation of Parents for their Children’s Education
|
“And I will punish all that oppress them.” Even those
responsible for collecting charity will be punished for forcing
contributions from the poor, except for the payment of school fees so that
their children can learn Torah and Mishnah. ... more
|
The Prohibition of Stealing from a Minor and a Gentile
|
The Torah forbids stealing. This prohibition applies also to stealing from
a minor or a gentile if his ownership of the object was confirmed by the
person from whom it was acquired. Accordingly, the Biblical prohibition
would not apply ... more
|
Taking Challah
|
It is a positive commandment to take Trumah from dough that is made from
the five grains and to give it to a Cohen. This tithe is called Chalah.
According to most Poskim, the Mitzvah of taking Chalah in our time is
... more
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The Prohibition of Eating Food Cooked by a Gentile
|
There is a rabbinical prohibition to eat food that is cooked by a gentile.
This prohibition applies to all forms of cooking. It does not apply to food
which is salted or pickled.
Microwave cooking was, of course, unknown in the ... more
|
Hilchos Hafroshos Chalah Part 2
|
If a person has two portions of dough, neither one of which is large
enough to require taking Chalah, and he would be willing to have the
two portions combined into one, he can incur the obligation of taking Chalah
... more
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Laws of Rosh Hashanah
|
Erev Rosh Hashanah: The Zohar emphasizes the importance of
providing the poor with holiday meals—a tzedakah which is especially
important on Erev Rosh Hashanah, for it is written in Nechemiah (8:10): He
said to them, “Go eat rich foods ... more
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Hatred
|
When a one Jew - man or woman - hates another, he violates the prohibition
“Do not hate your brother in your heart” (Vayikra 19:17) and the
positive commandment “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Vayikra 19:18)
every moment. When ... more
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Hatred II
|
Do not hate your brother in your heart.
If someone whom you hate asks advice from you, you should give him good,
correct advise.
Do not reveal the secrets of a person whom you hate, because when you make
up with him, ... more
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Blessings over Fragrance
|
A person should make a blessing before he enjoys a fragrance. Chazal based
this on the verse (Tehillim 150:6) “All the neshamah will praise
G-d.” What is it that the neshamah, but not the body, enjoys?
Fragrance. Even though ... more
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Blessings over Fragrance II
|
On a fragrance from a tree we say the blessing borei atzei b'samim.
On herbs: borei isvei b'samim.
A person cannot fulfill his obligation to recite a blessing on a fragrance
... more
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Birkas HaGomel
|
There are four people who are obligated to express
gratitude to G-d: a person who has been at sea, a person who has traveled
across the desert, a person who recovers from an illness, and a person who has
been released from prison. (Brachos 54a) There are ... more
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Birkas HaGomel II
|
A person who has completed a
journey or recovered from an illness etc. is required to recite birkas
hagomel. If he does not want people to know the reason for his reciting
the blessing, and cannot go to a congregation where people do not know ... more
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Birkas HaGomel III
|
There are several reasons why, lechatchila, a person should
stand while reciting Bircas HaGomel:
The blessing comes in place of the Todah sacrifice,
and when a person offers the sacrifice, he stands.
The recitation of this blessing is comparable to saying
... more
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Shaliach Tzibur
|
The shaliach tzibur, as the words imply, is the
agent of the congregation, sent by the congregation to beseech mercy before
G-d. Those who send him and those who are sent should appreciate the meaning
and importance of being a shaliach tzibur. Because he is the agent ... more
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Removing a Splinter on Shabbos
|
It is permitted to remove a thorn or a splinter (as of wood
or glass) on Shabbos even if there is no reason to believe that it endangers
life. This may even be done with a needle because it is not clear that
removing the splinter will ... more
|
Showing Disrespect for Talmidei Chochomim
|
Besides the Torah prohibition of hating or showing
disrespect for a fellow Jew, it is a very great averah to show disrespect for
talmidei chochomim or to hate them, and a person who shows disrespect for a
talmid chochom has no portion in the world ... more
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Showing Disrespect for Talmidei Chochomim 2
|
When commenting, in writing, on the opinion of a talmid
Chochom, a person should be careful to express his objections in a way
that demonstrates respect and humility. Just as it is forbidden to speak
disrespectfully of a talmid chochom, it is forbidden to write in a ... more
|
Speaking Torah in Unclean Places
|
It is permitted to say words of Torah and kiddushah before
a garbage can from which there issues no bad smell if it is ten tefachim high
(which sets it apart as a separate domain) and if the garbage is not visible,
as when it is contained ... more
|
Saying Tehillim
|
Chazal and Commentaries from later generations speak at
length of the great importance of saying Tehillim with concentration and
from the heart. They tell us that it can save a person from all kinds of
troubles, including diseases of the body ... more
|
Respect for the Torah and for Torah Books
|
A person who shows respect for the Torah will be honored
by others. If a person desecrates the Torah, his body will be desecrated by
others (Avos 84:47). Rashi explains that this pertains to sifrei Torah: a
person who shows respect ... more
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Respect for the Torah and for Torah Books II
|
A person who has respect for Torah books will be sure to
return them to their place on the bookshelf when he has finished using them.
To leave them piled up on the table is a sign of disrespect. It shows that
... more
|
Respect for the Torah and for Torah Books III
|
In our times, the edict that seforim cause the hands to
become tameh, is no longer a matter of concern because we no longer observe
the laws of tumah. Nevertheless, a person should not place seforim next to
food, lest the ... more
|
Respect for the Torah and for Torah Books IV
|
It is forbidden to sit on a chair or a bench on which seforim
have been placed unless something, no matter how thin, was placed beneath
them.
It is forbidden to place seforim on the floor
(upright or lying down) unless they ... more
|
Lighting Candles from Oil
|
Since it is permitted to benefit from Shabbos candles, it
is permitted to use oil that has kedushas Shvi’is to light Shabbos candles.
Opinions are divided on the matter of lighting the Ner
Tomid and the Ner Neshamah in the synagogue. Some say that it is forbidden
... more
|
Lechem Mishnah (I)
|
It is a mitzvah to start each of the Shabbos meals - the third meal as well
- with two whole loaves of bread. The two loaves (lechem mishnah) commemorate
the double portion of manna that was collected on erev Shabbos while the Jews ... more
|
Lechem Mishnah (II)
|
It is preferable to use a loaf of bread that is at least the size of an olive.
But, since, according to most of the poskim, the mitzvah of lechem mishnah
is rabbinical, it seems to me that it is possible to use a smaller ... more
|
Lechem Mishnah (III)
|
If a person has both a complete loaf of bread and a sliced
loaf of bread that he could use for the third meal on Shabbos, he should use
the whole loaf and save the sliced loaf for his melava malkah because
the third ... more
|
Lechem Mishnah (IV)
|
A frozen loaf can be used for lechem mishnah because
it can be defrosted and eaten within a short time. If it is not damp it can be
placed alongside a large pot standing on the fire. If it is damp from melting
ice, ... more
|
The Blessing over New Fruits (part I)
|
The blessing שהחיינו is recited over fruit that has come into season.
The custom is to recite the blessing when eating it for the first time. But
if a person recites the blessing when seeing the fruit for the first time, he
has fulfilled his obligation.
Lechatchila one should not separate ... more
|
The Blessing over New Fruits (part II)
|
Once a person has recited theשהחיינו blessing on new
grapes, he does not repeat it when drinking grape juice squeezed from the
grapes of the same season, even if he has waited forty days so that the taste
of the grape juice has improved ... more
|
The Blessing over New Fruits (part II)
|
The שהחיינו blessing is not recited on a fruit that is eaten cooked unless
it is cooked. This applies also to fruits that might be eaten raw if there were
no alternative.
The שהחיינו blessing should be recited on fruit soup ... more
|
The Blessing over New Fruits (part IV)
|
Some kinds of fruits were developed by grafting a branch of one breed onto
a tree of another breed. Such grafting is forbidden. Because the fruits which
grew from the grafted branch were produced in violation of the Torah Law, even
if they were grafted by a gentile, the poskim ... more
|
When a Mezuzah Falls on Shabbos
|
There is an opinion that it is forbidden to move a
mezuzah on Shabbos because it is מוקצה מחמת חסרון כיס (unmovable because of
its high value). Nevertheless, if a mezuzah falls from its case on Shabbos
... more
|
Strengthening One’s Faith in a Time of Troubles
|
The Sefer Hachaimi, written by the Maharal's brother, writes
that there are people חרדים לדבר ד' and despising the ארץ העמים for whom the
joy they feel in anticipation of the coming of the Redeemer is not as great as
it might ... more
|
The Obligation of Parents for their Children’s Education
8/17/2003
|
“And I will punish all that oppress them.” Even those responsible
for collecting charity will be punished for forcing contributions from the
poor, except for the payment of school fees so that their children can learn
Torah and Mishnah. (Midrash Rabbah, Parshas ... more
|
Hilchos Tefillin
8/24/2002
|
Because of the great sanctity of Tefillin, great care should be taken to
prevent them from falling on the floor. If they do fall, the custom is to
fast. If they are still in their pouch, it is sufficient to make a donation to ... more
|
Hilchos Yom Tov
9/7/2002
|
On Yom Tov, it is forbidden to request a gentile to do
anything that a Jew is forbidden to do, even on the second day of Yom Tov in
the Diaspora. If a gentile violates the prohibitions of work on Yom Tov ... more
|
Shemen Serayfa
|
Shemen Serayfa: Oil from Trumah that has become tameh
and awaits burning.
A Kohen can use shemen serayfa to light Chanukah
candles. There is no issue of its being deficient in measure because the only
measure that applies to the Chanukah candle is that it burn a ... more
|
The Interval Between Meat and Milk for Children and for the Sick (Part 1)
|
Even though the Torah forbids feeding a child something that is forbidden
(and this prohibition also applies to food that is forbidden by the rabbis)
even if he is too young to realize it, the Acharonim have written that
a young child need not wait six hours between meat and ... more
|
The Interval Between Meat and Milk for Children and for the Sick (Part 2)
|
Boys between the ages of nine and twelve, girls between the ages of nine
and eleven, should wait for to five hours, though some are more stringent
and require the child to wait until after five hours. But if that means, for
example, that the child won’t be able to ... more
|
Tashmishei Kedushah
|
Tashmishei kedushah are objects which serve a holy object (such as
a Sefer Torah), They contain a holy object or cover it and are in immediate
contact with it. The law of tashmishei kedushah applies even to objects
which are used more to protect than to show respect for a ... more
|
Forbidden and Permitted Trapping on Shabbos (Part I)
|
If a bird flies into the house and a window, a second door
or skylight is open through which it could escape, there is no issue of
trapping it and the door may be locked. Otherwise, it is forbidden. If the
room is small, ... more
|
Forbidden and Permitted Trapping on Shabbos (Part II)
|
An insect on a person’s body that has stung him can be
seized and removed. Because of the pain of the sting, the rabbis did not
forbid this. Some are more lenient—and people who conduct themselves according
to this leniency should not be rebuked—and ... more
|
Stealing
|
An object stolen from a minor must be returned.
A minor who steals must return what he has stolen if it
still exists. If it does not, some say he is obligated to compensate the owner
even after he comes of age; some say he is exempt.
It ... more
|
Finding a Mate (I)
|
In our generation, there is a great concern for gemilas
chasodim, but it seems that there is one aspect of gemilas chasodim which is
not as appreciated as others (relatively few are involved in it): the chesed
of helping a Jew find his mate ... more
|
The Oil That's Leftover
|
According to the Tanchuma (Parshas Nasso 29), it is
forbidden to make any use of the oil that is left over from the Chanukah
candles because it was designated for a mitzvah. Therefore, it should be
discarded by burning it separately. A person shouldn’t ... more
|
Amen (Part 1)
|
When the Jewish people praise G-d in their synagogues and
batei midrash saying, yehai shmei hagadol mevurach, G-d
says, "Happy is the King who is praised so in His home". Why should a
Father send his children into exile, and woe to the children ... more
|
Amen (Part 2)
|
According to the midrash (Yalkut Shimoni 429) the wicked in
gehenom who recite amen even once are released: In the future, G-d will
be sitting in the Garden of Eden teaching Torah and all the tzaddikim will be
sitting before Him. When He is done, ... more
|
Setting Fixed Times for Learning Torah 1
|
According to the Rambam, every Jewish man is obligated to
set time aside during the day and during the night to learn Torah, as it is
written (Yehoshua 1:8), “…you should contemplate it day and night…”, whether
he be rich or poor, at peace ... more
|
Setting Fixed Times for Learning Torah 2
|
A person should be even more careful to keep the fixed time for learning
at night than during the day.
The obligation to set a fixed time to learn Torah is in addition to the
basic obligation to learn Torah.
... more
|
Setting Fixed Times for Learning Torah 3
|
A women should encourage her husband to set fixed times for learning
Torah, and for doing so they are rewarded.
If a person is too busy to do the daily task in learning he set for
himself during the day, he should complete ... more
|
Working Men in a Torah Class
|
Make every effort to get to class on time so that you will learn the full
hour and have a clear understanding of the subject being taught. Sometimes it
is hard to get out on time, but the hardship is itself a source of great
... more
|
Sefer Torah (I)
|
When the Torah is removed from the aron hakodesh, it is
customary to move closer to the Torah in order to see it. Even those who
are standing in the courtyard of the synagogue go into the synagogue to see
the Torah as it ... more
|
Sefer Torah (II)
|
The question was raised before Harav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach
whether it was appropriate to kiss the Sefer Torah. According to the Shulchan
Aruch (Yore Deah 116:5) it is forbidden to place coins in the mouth because
everybody touches them. Since everyone touches the cloth that covers the Sefer
Torah, it ... more
|
Sefer Torah (III)
3/8/2003
|
When a person sees the letters so clearly that he can read
them, he receives a great light. Because the person who lifts the Torah and
shows it to the congregation is the one through whom this light enters the
congregation, his merit is ... more
|
Sefer Torah (IV)
3/15/2003
|
The person who lifts the Torah should roll it together
until three pages of text are showing, and then, lifting the Torah, show that
text to the congregation.
The honor of lifting the Torah should not be offered
a person who is incapable of holding ... more
|
Sefer Torah (V)
3/29/2003
|
When the Torah is rolled closed, the seam between two pages
of parchment should be placed so that it runs down the middle between the two
sides of the scroll. That way, if the scroll were to tear, it would tear along
a seam. ... more
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Sefer Torah (VI)
5/3/2003
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It is good and fitting that the cord or belt that is used to close the Sefer
Torah be connected with a clasp or some other device that avoids making a knot.
From the Shulchan Aruch we see that it was once customary that a member
of the congregation was honored ... more
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The Blessings That are Made on the Birth of a Son or Daughter (part I)
5/10/2003
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According to the Gemorah (Brachos 59b), the blessing “hatov
vehamativ” is made when a boy is born. Nevertheless, many communities do
not recite the blessing because of the uncertainty that the child will survive.
Today, medical examination can generally establish the viability of the newborn,
even when it is born ... more
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The Blessings That are Made on the Birth of a Son or Daughter (part II)
5/17/2003
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When twin boys are born, the blessing is recited once, but with both children
in mind.
When a son is born, the parents are permitted to recite the “shehechiyanu”
blessing, but it should be recited before saying “hatov vehameitiv” because
the “shehechiyanu” blessing includes “hatov vehameitiv”. Those
who have the ... more
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Laws for Lefties (Part I)
5/24/2003
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“I’m not as strong as you are; I admit it," said Mrs. Kenegir
back to her husband, as tears rolled down her cheeks. “I can’t demand monasterial
behavior from Benzi, as you do. I don’t feel that he only has to have Torah learning
on his mind at this age ... more
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Laws for Lefties (Part II)
6/7/2003
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Tefila:
When reciting the Shma, the custom is to cover the eyes with the right hand.
Lefties follow this custom and use their right hand.
The practice of placing the right hand over the left hand against the heart
while reciting the Shmoneh Esrai is practiced by lefties as well, because the ... more
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Laws for Lefties (Part III)
6/14/2003
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Bircas Kohanim: When kohanim say bircas Kohanim, they lift their right hand
slightly above the left hand in order to strengthen the power of mercy (Vilna
Gaon citing the Zohar). Lefties do the same.
The Kohanim turn toward the right when, before reciting the blessing, they
turn toward the congregation and after ... more
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