All Torah Minutes
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Ruth was the beautiful daughter of the King of Moab and a widow of one of the most honorable man of that...
Wednesday, May 23, 2012/Siwan 2, 5772
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Ribbi Aqiba, the shepherd who could not read the alphabet, yet rose to be a Torah giant, lost 24,000 students in a...
Wednesday, May 9, 2012/Iyyar 17, 5772
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Many women are fascinated and react with awe and admiration to the woman behind the heroic sage, Ribbi Aqiba. (To...
Thursday, May 3, 2012/Iyyar 11, 5772
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In the Haftarah of this week's Parasha, Parashath Tazriya', we read about the honored General of Aram, Na'aman,...
Wednesday, April 25, 2012/Iyyar 3, 5772
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Hakham Yehudah Ftaya ('Atereth Rahel), 'a"h, tells a story about three people who found themselves together one...
Friday, April 20, 2012/Nisan 28, 5772
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At different times during the Seder, the Massoth (Matzot) are covered and uncovered. During the actual recitation...
Wednesday, April 4, 2012/Nisan 12, 5772
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The stringencies associated with Hamess (leaven) on Pesah are quite unusual and strict. Hakham Sasson Mordekhai...
Wednesday, April 4, 2012/Nisan 12, 5772
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The Torah forbade Hamess (Hametz) on the 14th of Nissan (the morning of the eve of Pesah), from the end of the...
Wednesday, March 28, 2012/Nisan 5, 5772
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אדם כי יקריב מכם קרבן לה' "When a man from amongst you (Mikkem) brings an offering to G-d"...
Thursday, March 22, 2012/Adar 28, 5772
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The Jewish women in Egypt used polished copper mirrors when beautifying themselves. We all know that for...
Wednesday, March 14, 2012/Adar 20, 5772
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Even though it is read every year, is there anyone who doesn't find himself or herself amazed and astonished at...
Wednesday, March 7, 2012/Adar 13, 5772
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ועשית בגדי קדש לאהרן אחיך לכבוד ולתפארת "You shall make holy vestments for Aaron...
Thursday, March 1, 2012/Adar 7, 5772
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Many of us live in a society where food is found in abundance. The supermarkets are overflowing with a wide...
Thursday, February 23, 2012/Shebat 30, 5772
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ועבדתם את יהוה אלהיכם וברך את לחמך ואת מימיך "And you shall serve the L-rd...
Thursday, February 16, 2012/Shebat 23, 5772
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How would you react after being exposed to an overwhelmingly touching spiritual experience? How would you express...
Thursday, February 16, 2012/Shebat 23, 5772
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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
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When Moshe Rabbenu, 'a"h, went up to Heaven to receive the Torah, the Malakhei Hashareth (ministering angels)...
Thursday, February 9, 2012/Shebat 16, 5772
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Would we ever approve of embarrassing another human being? Of course not. Would we ever consider expressing such...
Thursday, February 9, 2012/Shebat 16, 5772
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The unusual bravery of the heroine Yael, who killed Sisera, the general of the Canaanite army, is a...
Friday, February 3, 2012/Shebat 10, 5772
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If we had to select one place, where love, peace and harmony are most commonly found and practised, we would...
Friday, January 27, 2012/Shebat 3, 5772
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Understanding and knowing G-d takes a lot of effort. Most people only know G-d on a superficial level and content...
Thursday, January 26, 2012/Shebat 2, 5772
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The Shulhan Arukh states that the blessing of 'Me'ein Sheba'' in the Friday night prayer, is not recited in the...
Friday, January 20, 2012/Tebeth 25, 5772
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Why do we find four different expressions of Geullah (redemption) in the Parasha of Wa-era (והוצאתי,...
Thursday, January 19, 2012/Tebeth 24, 5772
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How do we react to people who we consider to be unattractive? What do we think when we see a person whose outer...
Thursday, January 19, 2012/Tebeth 24, 5772
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The Torah commands (Debarim 24:5) that when a man marries a new wife, he must not go out to the army, but must be...
Tuesday, January 17, 2012/Tebeth 22, 5772
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After the prayer on Shabbath morning (or Yom Tob), may the men fold their Sissith (Tallith Gadol) or not?...
Friday, January 13, 2012/Tebeth 18, 5772
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וכאשר יענו אתו כן ירבה וכן יפרץ "The more they torment them, the more they will...
Thursday, January 12, 2012/Tebeth 17, 5772
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During the Minha prayer of Shabbath a Qaddish is read after 'Uba LeSion' before the Sefer Torah is taken out....
Friday, January 6, 2012/Tebeth 11, 5772
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In the eyes of the Torah and our Rabbis of blessed memory, women are highly respected and recognized for their...
Friday, January 6, 2012/Tebeth 11, 5772
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"Zebulun will dwell on the shores of the seas" (Bereshith 49:13). Why does it say 'seas' (Yamim) in the plural?...
Thursday, January 5, 2012/Tebeth 10, 5772
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On the four public fast days (apart from the 9th of Ab), the Torah portion of Wayhal Moshe (Shemoth 32:11-14 and...
Monday, January 2, 2012/Tebeth 7, 5772
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People often say that the most difficult prayer during the week is Minha. It has to be prayed at specific times...
Sunday, January 1, 2012/Tebeth 6, 5772
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"The Best Day of the Week"
Shabbath is the day of the week most people look forward to. It is a time...
Friday, December 30, 2011/Tebeth 4, 5772
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ויאמר אבינו שבו שברו לנו מעט אכל "And our father said, 'Go back - buy for us a...
Thursday, December 29, 2011/Tebeth 3, 5772
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Even though some oils are preferred over others, all oils are considered acceptable for lighting the Hanukkah...
Sunday, December 25, 2011/Kislew 29, 5772
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ויוסף בן שלשים שנה בעמדו לפני פרעה מלך מצרים ויצא יוסף מלפני...
Thursday, December 22, 2011/Kislew 26, 5772
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What should a married man, who is travelling on Hanukkah, do regarding the lighting? If the lights are being...
Sunday, December 18, 2011/Kislew 22, 5772
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According to the Sephardi custom, on Shabbath morning, before taking out the Sefer Torah, the verses of 'Attah...
Friday, December 16, 2011/Kislew 20, 5772
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Why is it that when men recite the Birkhoth Hashahar (morning blessings), they say, "Blessed are You, G-d of the...
Friday, December 16, 2011/Kislew 20, 5772
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וישראל אהב את יוסף מכל בניו כי בן זקנים הוא לו "Israel loved Joseph more than...
Thursday, December 15, 2011/Kislew 19, 5772
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When one attaches a Mezuzah onto multiple doors, only one Berakha (blessing) is recited and it covers all the...
Wednesday, December 14, 2011/Kislew 18, 5772
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If one were to attach a Mezuzah to a doorway, and then attach the doorway with the Mezuzah to a building, it is...
Tuesday, December 13, 2011/Kislew 17, 5772
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If there is a Mezuzah affixed on a door post on the inside of a bedroom where a husband and wife sleep, the...
Monday, December 12, 2011/Kislew 16, 5772
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Even though we said that one can praise a person when not in his presence (see
"And Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath"... (Bereshith 35,19)
The tomb of the Matriarch...
Friday, December 9, 2011/Kislew 13, 5772
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ויאמר אם יבוא עשו אל־המחנה האחת והכהו והיה המחנה הנשאר לפליטה:...
Thursday, December 8, 2011/Kislew 12, 5772
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For our sins, many people, including those who should know better, talk during the Qaddish. They should be told...
Tuesday, December 6, 2011/Kislew 10, 5772
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When answering the Qaddish, there are different customs. Some Ashkenazim answer from Yehe Shemeh Rabbah till...
Monday, December 5, 2011/Kislew 9, 5772
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The Shabbath candles allude to the abundance that women, through their Tefilloth (prayers), can infuse into the...
Friday, December 2, 2011/Kislew 6, 5772
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ונתן לי לחם לאכל ובגד ללבש "He will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear" (Bereshith...
Thursday, December 1, 2011/Kislew 5, 5772
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Continuing with the question of touching the Tefillin Shel Rosh after Yoser, we mentioned previously that...
Friday, November 25, 2011/Heshwan 28, 5772
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Our Rabbis of blessed memory state in the Gemara of Shabbath, that the Shabbath candles are along the same lines...
Friday, November 25, 2011/Heshwan 28, 5772
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בא אחיך במרמה ויקח ברכתך "Your brother came with cunning and took your blessing" (Bereshith...
Thursday, November 24, 2011/Heshwan 27, 5772
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In Bereishith Rabbah it asks why Abraham (Abinu 'a"h) was not created first and Adam created later. The answer is...
Thursday, November 17, 2011/Heshwan 20, 5772
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One should be particular to cut one's fingernails and toenails every Friday ('Ereb Shabbath). If the nails do not...
Friday, November 11, 2011/Heshwan 14, 5772
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ואנכי עפר ואפר "I am but dust and ashes" (Bereshith 18:27). It says in the Gemara of Hullin that as a...
Thursday, November 10, 2011/Heshwan 13, 5772
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Washing and Dressing - the Right Order
When one washes one's hands, the right hand should be washed...
Tuesday, November 8, 2011/Heshwan 11, 5772
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Everyone has experienced the feeling of having to act under pressure. Perhaps others around us are pressurizing us...
Sunday, November 6, 2011/Heshwan 9, 5772
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ויהי רעב בארץ וירד אברם מצרימה "And there was famine in the land and Abraham descended to...
Thursday, November 3, 2011/Heshwan 6, 5772
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Ordinarily, the blessing said on wine covers all other drinks also. There is a difference of opinion, however,...
Monday, October 31, 2011/Heshwan 3, 5772
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One who finished his meal and did Mayim Aharonim may no longer eat or drink. If he wishes to eat or drink further,...
Sunday, October 30, 2011/Heshwan 2, 5772
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ותשחת הארץ לפני הא' "And the earth was corrupt before G-d" (Bereshith 6:11). Why does it say...
Thursday, October 27, 2011/Tashri 29, 5772
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There is a discussion in the Gemara (Menahoth 32b) as to whether one is permitted to sit on a bed/couch which has...
Wednesday, October 26, 2011/Tashri 28, 5772
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Even though one is required to remain firmly rooted in one's place when praying the 'Amidah and cannot wander...
Sunday, October 23, 2011/Tashri 25, 5772
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When the Kohanim (priests) go up to the Dukhan (platform) in order to bless the people with the Birkath Kohanim...
Sunday, October 16, 2011/Tashri 18, 5772
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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
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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
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כי קרוב אליך הדבר מאד בפיך ובלבבך לעשתו "For the word is very near to you,...
Thursday, September 22, 2011/Elul 23, 5771
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The Rama states that it is forbidden to wash one's hands with soap on Shabbath (soap used to be made from animal...
Friday, September 16, 2011/Elul 17, 5771
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יצו ה' אתך את הברכה באסמיך ובכל משלח ידך "G-d will command blessing for you in all...
Thursday, September 15, 2011/Elul 16, 5771
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The Torah states, "And on the sixth day they shall prepare what they will bring" (Shemoth 16:5). Our Rabbis of...
Friday, September 9, 2011/Elul 10, 5771
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כי תדר נדר לה' ... מוצא שפתיך תשמר "When you make a vow to G-d ... you shall observe...
Thursday, September 8, 2011/Elul 9, 5771
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Sometimes one has to go against one's nature in order to properly fulfill the Will of Haqqadosh Barukh Hu (the...
Friday, September 2, 2011/Elul 3, 5771
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לא תטה משפט לא תכיר פנים "You shall not pervert judgement" (Debarim 16:19). One of the...
Thursday, September 1, 2011/Elul 2, 5771
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בנים אתם לי' א' "You are children to the L-rd your G-d" (Debarim 14:1). The custom of the Amorites (one...
Thursday, August 25, 2011/Ab 25, 5771
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זָכֹ֣ר תִּזְכֹּ֗ר אֵ֤ת אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂה֙ י' א' לְפַרְעֹ֖ה...
Thursday, August 18, 2011/Ab 18, 5771
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There are three essential reasons for Mayim Aharonim. The first two are mentioned in the Gemara.
1....
Tuesday, August 16, 2011/Ab 16, 5771
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The Shulhan 'Arukh, based on the Gemara of Hullin (105a), states that Mayim Aharonim (washing one's fingers after...
Monday, August 15, 2011/Ab 15, 5771
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רק השמר לך ושמר נפשך מאד פן תשכח את הדברים אשר ראו עיניך ... יום...
Thursday, August 11, 2011/Ab 11, 5771
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Washing oneself on Tish'ah Be-Ab is forbidden, whether in hot or cold water. Even dipping one's finger in water is...
Monday, August 8, 2011/Ab 8, 5771
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We mentioned previously that the custom in many Ashkenazi homes is to have boys who will be Bar Miswah (thirteen)...
Sunday, August 7, 2011/Ab 7, 5771
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According to the Rama, one should not wear Shabbath clothes on Shabbath Hazon, but should continue wearing the...
Friday, August 5, 2011/Ab 5, 5771
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ראה נתתי לפניכם את הארץ באו ורשו את הארץ... לתת להם ולזרעם...
Thursday, August 4, 2011/Ab 4, 5771
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If a Milah takes place during the nine days between Rosh Hodesh Ab and Tish'ah BeAb, the custom is that the Mohel...
Monday, August 1, 2011/Ab 1, 5771
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On each of the three Shabbaths between the 17th of Tammuz and 9th of Ab we read one of the three Haftaroth...
Friday, July 29, 2011/Tammuz 27, 5771
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אלה מסעי בני ישראל אשר יצאו מארץ מצרים לצבאתם ביד משה ואהרן:...
Thursday, July 28, 2011/Tammuz 26, 5771
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לא יחל דברו ככל היצא מפיו יעשה "He shall not desecrate his word, in accordance with...
Thursday, July 21, 2011/Tammuz 19, 5771
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If one forgets to say 'Anenu on a fast day, one does not repeat the 'Amidah. Even if one remembered before...
Tuesday, July 19, 2011/Tammuz 17, 5771
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During the period of distress (the 22 days from the 17th of Tammuz till the 9th of Ab) one should avoid saying the...
Monday, July 18, 2011/Tammuz 16, 5771
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Everyone is obligated to fast on the four fasts, (Tish'ah BeAb [the 9th of Ab], the 17th of Tammuz, the 3rd of...
Sunday, July 17, 2011/Tammuz 15, 5771
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