All Torah Minutes
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One may not attach candles into candlesticks on Yom Tob (holy days). Therefore, those who use candles which they...
Friday, September 3, 2010/Elul 24, 5770
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Water is one of the most essential and important commodities in the world. All humanity, as well as animals and...
Friday, September 3, 2010/Elul 24, 5770
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כי ישוב יהוה לשוש עליך לטוב כאשר שש על אבתיך "When G-d will return to...
Thursday, September 2, 2010/Elul 23, 5770
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We are not certain what the Torah means by the Teru'ah sound. Some are of the opinion that it is a longer wailing...
Wednesday, September 1, 2010/Elul 22, 5770
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Before the Shofar is blown, the Berakha (blessing) of Lishmowa Qol Shofar (to hear the sound of the Shofar) is...
Tuesday, August 31, 2010/Elul 21, 5770
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The blowings of the Shofar during the Musaf prayer on Rosh Hashanah, should be done by someone other than the...
Monday, August 30, 2010/Elul 20, 5770
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During the 'Amidah on Rosh Hashanah, the Yom Tob (Holy Day) of Rosh Hashanah must be specifically mentioned. If it...
Sunday, August 29, 2010/Elul 19, 5770
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Both nights of Rosh Hashanah require the Berakha (blessing) of Sheheheyanu. In most communities, when the lady of...
Friday, August 27, 2010/Elul 17, 5770
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Let us look around us and examine the creation of the Al-mighty. Every creation has limits. Every single entity...
Thursday, August 26, 2010/Elul 16, 5770
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ברוך אתה בבאך וברוך אתה בצאתך "Blessed are you when you enter (Be boekha), and blessed are...
Thursday, August 26, 2010/Elul 16, 5770
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Many of the Selihoth (Penitential prayers) have beautiful haunting melodies. (Hear some at
The recitation of Pesuqei Dezimra falls into the category of commandments dependent upon time, from which women...
Tuesday, August 24, 2010/Elul 14, 5770
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The nephew of Hakham Yoseph Hayyim (the Ben Ish Hai) tells of how one 'Ereb Shabbath he went to see his venerable...
Monday, August 23, 2010/Elul 13, 5770
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This time of year when our thoughts are meant to turn to repentance, the words of King Solomon can be a valuable...
Sunday, August 22, 2010/Elul 12, 5770
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We mentioned previously that for Ashkenazim, in accordance with the Mishna Berurah, there is no issue of coloring...
Friday, August 20, 2010/Elul 10, 5770
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גדלים תעשה לך על ארבע כנפות כסותך אשר תכסה בה "You shall place fringes on the...
Thursday, August 19, 2010/Elul 9, 5770
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If the person reciting the Berakha (blessing) of Hammosi (Hamotzi) over the bread includes others in his blessing,...
Wednesday, August 18, 2010/Elul 8, 5770
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Have you ever wondered why G-d created mountains? I can imagine a number of possible answers. Mountains are...
Wednesday, August 18, 2010/Elul 8, 5770
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The purpose of the Selihoth is to bring oneself to feel contrite about the sins that one has committed,...
Tuesday, August 17, 2010/Elul 7, 5770
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Why are the 40 days from Rosh Hodesh Elul till Yom Kippur considered to be a particularly auspicious time for...
Monday, August 16, 2010/Elul 6, 5770
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תאות אדם חסדו וטוב רש מאיש כזב, "(When) a man's desire is his kindness; it is better to...
Sunday, August 15, 2010/Elul 5, 5770
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Some people place bells or other chimes (non electric) on the front door so that when the door is opened it shakes...
Friday, August 13, 2010/Elul 3, 5770
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והגד לך ושמעת ודרשת היטב "And it was told to you and you heard it and you shall investigate it...
Thursday, August 12, 2010/Elul 2, 5770
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A man from out of town was hosted by one of his relatives. He accompanied his relative the entire day. The...
Thursday, August 12, 2010/Elul 2, 5770
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Even though one can make Teshubah (repentance) any time of the year, the forty days from Rosh Hodesh Elul till Yom...
Wednesday, August 11, 2010/Elul 1, 5770
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Maran z"l states in the Shulhan 'Arukh that it is preferable to leave the Tefillin Shel Rosh (of the head)...
Tuesday, August 10, 2010/Ab 30, 5770
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There are pious individuals who fast every 'Ereb Rosh Hodesh (the day before the new month). There are various...
Monday, August 9, 2010/Ab 29, 5770
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אשת חיל מי ימצא ורחק מפנינים מכרה "A woman of valor who will find? And her value...
Sunday, August 8, 2010/Ab 28, 5770
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The strict requirement for lighting candles on Friday evening before Shabbath in honor of Shabbath, is to light...
Friday, August 6, 2010/Ab 26, 5770
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השמר לך פן תעלה עלתיך בכל מקום אשר תראה "Take heed lest you offer your burnt...
Thursday, August 5, 2010/Ab 25, 5770
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Fire and water are two powerful entities. They both have a positive side to them and a negative side. We are all...
Thursday, August 5, 2010/Ab 25, 5770
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When one is eating a meal and recites the Berakha (blessing) of Hammosi on the bread, if one speaks before eating...
Wednesday, August 4, 2010/Ab 24, 5770
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Women are obligated to say Birkath Hammazon. There is a question, however, as to whether a woman's obligation is...
Tuesday, August 3, 2010/Ab 23, 5770
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The Pele Yo'es writes that the benefit of printing is very great. Through it Torah becomes great and is spread...
Monday, August 2, 2010/Ab 22, 5770
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Sunday, August 1, 2010/Ab 21, 5770
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Maran Yoseph Karo z"l states in the Shulhan 'Arukh that just thinking about one's business on Shabbath is...
Friday, July 30, 2010/Ab 19, 5770
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It says in Parashath 'Eqeb, וזכרת את יהוה אלהיך כי הוא הנתן לך כח לעשות...
Thursday, July 29, 2010/Ab 18, 5770
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The "Torah Minutes" often generate many questions. The last few days' Torah minutes were about Kohanim and Lewiyim...
Wednesday, July 28, 2010/Ab 17, 5770
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Hakham Yoseph Hayyim relates the following story that actually occurred. Two young newlywed brides arrived at a...
Wednesday, July 28, 2010/Ab 17, 5770
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If there is no Kohen (Cohen) present in the Synagogue at the time of the reading of the Torah, in Sephardi...
Tuesday, July 27, 2010/Ab 16, 5770
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If the Sefer Torah is open and the Kohen is reading the "Shema'", he is not permitted to interrupt his reading of...
Monday, July 26, 2010/Ab 15, 5770
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If there were both a Kohen (Cohen) and a Lewi (Levi) in the Synagogue and the Kohen was called up to the Torah for...
Sunday, July 25, 2010/Ab 14, 5770
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There is a difference of opinion concerning the reading of Waykhullu on Friday night after the 'Amidah. The most...
Friday, July 23, 2010/Ab 12, 5770
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. Several times in the past, the Geullah (redemption) could have taken place. Because of our sins, however, the...
Thursday, July 22, 2010/Ab 11, 5770
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A day after.. and it seems as if it has all been forgotten. This is how the human mind works. Two days ago we sat...
Thursday, July 22, 2010/Ab 11, 5770
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Three or more people who eat a meal together (with bread) are obligated to say Zimmun (lit. "invitation", where...
Wednesday, July 21, 2010/Ab 10, 5770
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When the fast of Tish'ah BeAb is over if there is a clear and unobstructed view of the moon, Birkath Hallebanah...
Tuesday, July 20, 2010/Ab 9, 5770
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The fast of Tish'ah BeAb (9th of Ab) starts at night and ends the following day after the emergence of three...
Monday, July 19, 2010/Ab 8, 5770
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Washing one's clothes during the week of Tish'ah BeAb (Shabuwa' SheHal Bo) is not permitted, even if they will not...
Sunday, July 18, 2010/Ab 7, 5770
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Rabbenu Yis-haq Luria Ashkenazi, more commonly referred to as the Ari z"l, passed away on the fifth of Ab. Many...
Friday, July 16, 2010/Ab 5, 5770
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הבו לכם אנשים חכמים . . . ואשימם בראשיכם "Provide for yourself men who are wise . . ....
Thursday, July 15, 2010/Ab 4, 5770
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Sefer Debarim is a collection of Moshe Rabbenu's words to his beloved people. Our Rabbis of blessed memory...
Thursday, July 15, 2010/Ab 4, 5770
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Razal said (Menahoth 44a) that one who does not wear Tefillin transgresses eight positive commandments every day....
Wednesday, July 14, 2010/Ab 3, 5770
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The prohibition of eating meat during the nine days (from Rosh Hodesh for Ashkenazim and from after Rosh Hodesh...
Tuesday, July 13, 2010/Ab 2, 5770
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During the nine days between Rosh Hodesh Ab and the ninth of Ab (Tish'ah BeAb), we should not plant or...
Monday, July 12, 2010/Ab 1, 5770
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One may not buy any garment that requires the Berakha (blessing) of Sheheheyanu from Rosh Hodesh Ab, even if one...
Sunday, July 11, 2010/Tammuz 29, 5770
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Even though we mentioned previously that coloring food on Shabbath is permitted (see
לא יחל דברו ככל היצא מפיו יעשה, "He shall not desecrate (Yahel) his word, whatever comes...
Thursday, July 8, 2010/Tammuz 26, 5770
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The period between the Seventeenth of Tammuz and the Ninth of Ab is called "Yeme Ben Ha'mesareem", which literally...
Thursday, July 8, 2010/Tammuz 26, 5770
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If one is listening to the news during the 22 days (the three weeks), and the station has musical breaks between...
Wednesday, July 7, 2010/Tammuz 25, 5770
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A person must be very careful to avoid anger altogether, at all times. Our Rabbis of Blessed Memory told us,...
Tuesday, July 6, 2010/Tammuz 24, 5770
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If two people ate a meal with bread together, it is preferable for each man to make his own Birkath Hammazon...
Monday, July 5, 2010/Tammuz 23, 5770
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The custom is not to hold weddings from the seventeenth (17th) of tammuz till the ninth of Ab. This applies even...
Sunday, July 4, 2010/Tammuz 22, 5770
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Painting/coloring is forbidden on Shabbath. However, the Shulhan 'Aruch states that one may put saffron into food...
Friday, July 2, 2010/Tammuz 20, 5770
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צרור את המדינים והכיתם אותם "Harass the Midianites and smite them". What is the necessity...
Thursday, July 1, 2010/Tammuz 19, 5770
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Whenever a Minyan (quorum of ten men) is required, all the ten must be together in one place with the Hazzan. If...
Wednesday, June 30, 2010/Tammuz 18, 5770
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The Seventeen of Tammuz is a fast day and the first of the twenty two days of the saddest period in the Jewish...
Wednesday, June 30, 2010/Tammuz 18, 5770
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On the four public fasts, as long as there are six or seven members of the congregation who are fasting...
Tuesday, June 29, 2010/Tammuz 17, 5770
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The fasts that all Jewish people are obligated to fast every year (other than Yom Kippur) are on: the 9th of Ab, the...
Monday, June 28, 2010/Tammuz 16, 5770
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Even though, at the time of the destruction of the first Beth Hammiqdash (Temple), the walls were breached on the...
Sunday, June 27, 2010/Tammuz 15, 5770
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When breaking the Bread for Hammosi on Shabbath, the Ashkenazi custom is to cut the bread with a knife. Sephardim do...
Friday, June 25, 2010/Tammuz 13, 5770
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כנחלים נטיו כגנת עלי נהר כאהלים נטע י' כארזים עלי מים. Stretching out like...
Thursday, June 24, 2010/Tammuz 12, 5770
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Assessing just one person's character traits and personality is a challenging task. Evaluating a whole nation is...
Thursday, June 24, 2010/Tammuz 12, 5770
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The Qedusha of Yoser (the Qadosh, Qadosh that is recited before the Shem'a during Shahrith) should be recited...
Wednesday, June 23, 2010/Tammuz 11, 5770
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When eating bread, if one is unable to do Netilath Yadayim (the ritual washing of hands) from a Keli (vessel), one...
Tuesday, June 22, 2010/Tammuz 10, 5770
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The Shirath HaYam (Az Yashir Moshe) must be said with great Kawanah (intent). It is said that whoever says it every...
Monday, June 21, 2010/Tammuz 9, 5770
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The more familiar one is with a prayer, the greater the danger that one will say it without the proper concentration....
Sunday, June 20, 2010/Tammuz 8, 5770
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On Shabbath, one is not permitted to cut one's nails either by hand or with an instrument. Part of the preparation...
Friday, June 18, 2010/Tammuz 6, 5770
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Water is one of the most essential and important commodities in the world. All humanity, as well as animals and...
Friday, June 18, 2010/Tammuz 6, 5770
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Be-er Hafaruha Sarim Karuha Nedibei Ha'am (A well that the rulers dug, the nobility of the people excavated).
Thursday, June 17, 2010/Tammuz 5, 5770
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One may not interrupt the prayer by speaking, from when one begins Barukh Sheamar till the completion of the 'Amidah....
Wednesday, June 16, 2010/Tammuz 4, 5770
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It says in Ben Ish Hai that when a group of people are eating together and one person recites the Berakha of Hammosi...
Tuesday, June 15, 2010/Tammuz 3, 5770
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If a Shaliyah Sibbur (prayer leader) lengthens his prayer so that others will hear his pleasant voice, his intention...
Monday, June 14, 2010/Tammuz 2, 5770
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Raba said: "Whoever dons Tefillin, wraps himself in Sissith, reads the Shema' and prays, is certain to inherit the...
Sunday, June 13, 2010/Tammuz 1, 5770
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If, after the lady of the house lit the Shabbath candles, she forgot to say the Beracha (blessing), she can say it...
Friday, June 11, 2010/Siwan 29, 5770
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ויצא פרח ויצץ ציץ ויגמל שקדים (Bamidbar 17:23). It brought forth a blossom, sprouted a...
Thursday, June 10, 2010/Siwan 28, 5770
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The story of Qorah and his followers reveals to us the power embedded within each one of us.
Who ignited...
Thursday, June 10, 2010/Siwan 28, 5770
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The Hazan must be very particular not to speak at all between the silent 'Amidah and the Hazarah (repetition). Of...
Wednesday, June 9, 2010/Siwan 27, 5770
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As, I think, everyone is aware by now, yesterday we lost one of our holiest sages and a great Rabbinic leader, HaRab...
Tuesday, June 8, 2010/Siwan 26, 5770
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Once one says the Berakha (blessing) of Hammosi Lehem Min Ha-ares, one must eat the piece of bread immediately...
Monday, June 7, 2010/Siwan 25, 5770
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