We have spoken about the importance of staying up all night on Shabu'oth. The holy Ben Ish Hai writes that one...
Monday, May 21, 2012/Iyyar 29, 5772

Bones and peels that were peeled or became separated on Yom Tob (a holy day), fall under the category of Nolad (an...
Monday, May 14, 2012/Iyyar 22, 5772

An Onen (one whose immediate relative has died but has not yet been buried), is exempt from all the commandments...
Wednesday, April 18, 2012/Nisan 26, 5772

On Friday night, at the Shabbath meal, we are obligated from the Torah to eat bread (or Massah when it falls on...
Tuesday, April 10, 2012/Nisan 18, 5772

At different times during the Seder, the Massoth (Matzot) are covered and uncovered. During the actual recitation...
Wednesday, April 4, 2012/Nisan 12, 5772

Someone who wears braces should clean them properly and should not eat any Hamess for 24 hours before the time...
Monday, April 2, 2012/Nisan 10, 5772

A microwave oven that was used throughout the year should ideally not be used for Pesah (Passover). If it is...
Sunday, March 18, 2012/Adar 24, 5772

The Gemara of Meghillah explains that on the first of Adar it is announced that we must donate Sheqalim to the...
Tuesday, February 14, 2012/Shebat 21, 5772

We mentioned the order of fruits ( Monday, February 6, 2012/Shebat 13, 5772

On Friday evening the Hanukkah candles must obviously be lit before sunset (and before one accepts Shabbath). On...
Friday, December 23, 2011/Kislew 27, 5772

As is well known, there is a difference of opinion between Sephardim and Ashkenazim concerning whether women...
Wednesday, October 12, 2011/Tashri 14, 5772

When Yom Kippur falls on Shabbath, one must mention Shabbath in the 'Amidah prayer. If one did not mention...
Monday, October 3, 2011/Tashri 5, 5772

After Minha of Rosh Hashanah, we go to a body of water and perform Tashlikh, which is the symbolic casting of our...
Sunday, September 25, 2011/Elul 26, 5771

The Day before Rosh Hashana starts ('Ereb Rosh Hashanah) is a Ta'anith Yahid (private fast). One who accepted the...
Sunday, September 18, 2011/Elul 19, 5771

Since the prevalent custom on Shabu'oth is to eat both dairy and meat meals on the holy day, it is common to bake...
Monday, June 6, 2011/Siwan 4, 5771

There are different reasons given as to why men are obligated to remain awake all night on Shabu'oth studying the...
Sunday, June 5, 2011/Siwan 3, 5771

We mentioned on a previous occasion that there is a difference of opinion whether a woman should say the Berakha...
Tuesday, May 31, 2011/Iyyar 27, 5771

The Rama writes, in his gloss on the Shulhan 'Arukh, that Tahanun may not be recited from Rosh Hodesh (the start...
Sunday, May 29, 2011/Iyyar 25, 5771

What does one do if one cannot remember what day of the 'Omer it is before counting and has no way of checking? In...
Sunday, May 1, 2011/Nisan 27, 5771

Men are not permitted to cut their hair or shave on Hol Hammo'ed (the intermediate days of a holiday). Even one...
Friday, April 22, 2011/Nisan 18, 5771

Even though if one finds Hames in one's home on Pesah one must remove it on Hol Hammo'ed, nevertheless, if one...
Thursday, April 21, 2011/Nisan 17, 5771

The obligation to speak about the exodus from Egypt applies not only to men but to women also. Nowadays, many...
Thursday, April 14, 2011/Nisan 10, 5771

On the night of the Seder, the custom is for the Ba'al Habbayith (the head of the household) to lead the Zimmun...
Friday, April 8, 2011/Nisan 4, 5771

If one wishes to fill up a room with storage items, in such a manner that one will be unable to do the Bediqath...
Tuesday, March 29, 2011/Adar B 23, 5771

The Shabbath prior to the last Shabbath of the month of Adar is Shabbath Parah, (but it can also fall on the last...
Friday, March 25, 2011/Adar B 19, 5771

Bread and other Hames (leaven products) are probably the most commonly found food items in most households. Many...
Monday, March 21, 2011/Adar B 15, 5771

Everyone is obligated to send Mishlowah Manoth (gifts of at least two food portions) to at least one friend on the...
Tuesday, March 15, 2011/Adar B 9, 5771

Everybody is obligated to hear the reading of the Meghillah. Women are obligated because they were also part of...
Monday, March 14, 2011/Adar B 8, 5771

All fruits grown in the Land of Israel require Terumah and Ma'aser Rishon (first tithes) to be separated from...
Wednesday, January 19, 2011/Shebat 14, 5771

There are different customs regarding fasting on the day of the wedding. In general, the Ashkenazi custom is that...
Monday, January 17, 2011/Shebat 12, 5771

There are four Rosh Hashanahs (new years) and Tu Bishbath (the 15th of Shebat) is the new year for trees in...
Sunday, January 16, 2011/Shebat 11, 5771

The Holiday of Shemini 'Asereth/Simhath Torah which falls at the end of Sukkoth is a Holiday unto itself. The Rama...
Tuesday, September 28, 2010/Tashri 20, 5771

There were times when an entire community had no choice but to share one set of Lulab and Ethrogh. There was even...
Wednesday, September 22, 2010/Tashri 14, 5771

The commandment from the Torah to take the four species applies only to the first day of Sukkoth, as it says: "And...
Sunday, September 19, 2010/Tashri 11, 5771

We eat more on 'Ereb Yom Kippur to show that we are happy to have Yom Kippur upon us shortly. And since we cannot...
Tuesday, September 14, 2010/Tashri 6, 5771

According to Rabbenu Hayyim Wittal, 'a"h, the custom of his master the Ari z"l was to say confession (Widdui)...
Sunday, September 5, 2010/Elul 26, 5770