All Torah Minutes
-
Even though we mentioned previously that coloring food on Shabbath is permitted (see
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
ויצא פרח ויצץ ציץ ויגמל שקדים (Bamidbar 17:23). It brought forth a blossom, sprouted a...
Thursday, June 10, 2010/Siwan 28, 5770
-
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
-
When the Hazzan says the Barkhu, the congregation say the response of "Barukh H' Meborakh..." which is then repeated...
Sunday, May 30, 2010/Siwan 17, 5770
-
Hakham Yoseph Hayyim, 'a"h, states in Ben Ish Hai that before reading the Shema' one should have in mind that he is...
Wednesday, May 26, 2010/Siwan 13, 5770
-
Can we change our habits and improve our natural inclinations? While there may be a range of opinions, Hakham Yoseph...
Wednesday, May 26, 2010/Siwan 13, 5770
-
When reading the Shema', the Shulhan 'Arukh rules that the primary concentration is in the first Pasuq (verse) which...
Tuesday, May 25, 2010/Siwan 12, 5770
-
For those of us who live outside the Land of Israel, the question arises whether one should do a Limmud (learning...
Tuesday, May 18, 2010/Siwan 5, 5770
-
Since carrying out from one domain to another on Yom Tob was permitted for the purposes of food, it was likewise...
Wednesday, May 12, 2010/Iyyar 28, 5770
-
Any labor that is forbidden on Shabbath is likewise forbidden on Yom Tob (with a few exceptions). The reason for this...
Monday, May 3, 2010/Iyyar 19, 5770
-
כי תבאו אל הארץ אשר אני נתן לכם וקצרתם את קצירה (When you enter the Land that I...
Thursday, April 29, 2010/Iyyar 15, 5770
-
It says in Ben Ish Hai about the custom in his city of Baghdad when taking out the Sefer Torah from the Hekhal...
Monday, April 26, 2010/Iyyar 12, 5770
-
Ribbi Aqabia says: "...Know where you are going to..." (at the end of your days). Hakham Yoseph Hayyim, 'a"h, in his...
Thursday, April 22, 2010/Iyyar 8, 5770
-
Someone who has a dream, and in the dream makes a vow or an oath, does not need to be concerned about the vow or oath...
Monday, April 19, 2010/Iyyar 5, 5770
-
Ribbi Tarfon says: ..."The reward is great." (Pirqe Aboth 2,15)
Hakham Yoseph Hayyim 'a"h expounds on this...
Thursday, April 15, 2010/Iyyar 1, 5770
-
The middle Massa (Matzah) is divided into two pieces and the larger piece is set aside for the Afiqomen at the end of...
Monday, March 29, 2010/Nisan 14, 5770
-
The Torah is the remedy for all transgressions. We have proof of this from the Zohar which says that:
Sunday, February 7, 2010/Shebat 23, 5770
-
The Kothel Hamma'arabi (Western Wall) is the only remnant that has remained for us, of the destruction of the Beth...
Tuesday, February 2, 2010/Shebat 18, 5770
-
Before going to sleep we read Shema' Yisrael. According to the Shulhan 'Aruch, it is sufficient to read the first...
Monday, January 25, 2010/Shebat 10, 5770
-
Does someone who builds a new home need to say the Berakha (blessing) of Sheheheyanu or not?
Strictly...
Monday, January 18, 2010/Shebat 3, 5770
-
When looking for a job, it is normal to want to know what your renumeration will be before accepting it. You want to...
Sunday, January 17, 2010/Shebat 2, 5770
-
The Shulhan 'Arukh states that on Friday night, 'Arbith (the evening prayer) is prayed earlier than it is during the...
Friday, January 15, 2010/Tebeth 29, 5770
-
Each of the Jewish people is commanded to do Rama"h (248) Miswoth 'Aseh (positive commandments). Of course, it is not...
Sunday, January 10, 2010/Tebeth 24, 5770
-
The Shulhan 'Aruch, quoting the Gemarra, states that after leaving the Synagogue one should go to the Beth Midrash to...
Sunday, January 3, 2010/Tebeth 17, 5770
-
If there are (10 or more) individuals who finished their silent 'Amidah very fast, they may not start the repetition...
Tuesday, December 29, 2009/Tebeth 12, 5770
-
The Shulhan 'Arukh mentions a custom of taking turns to read the Birchoth Hashahar (morning blessings) and each of...
Monday, December 28, 2009/Tebeth 11, 5770
-
It says in the Ashrei "WeAttah Nothen Lahem Eth Okhlam Be'Itto" (You give them their food at the right time). It is...
Sunday, December 20, 2009/Tebeth 3, 5770
-
"Lo Attem Shelahtem Othi Henna, Ki HaElo-kim" (It was not you who sent me here, but G-d).
If people...
Friday, December 18, 2009/Tebeth 1, 5770
-
Even though only the first candle that we light each night of Hanukkah is the obligation for the day, nevertheless,...
Tuesday, December 8, 2009/Kislew 21, 5770
-
It says in the Shulhan 'Arukh that one may make a mark with one's finger nail in a book on Shabbath, the way that...
Thursday, December 3, 2009/Kislew 16, 5770
-
Maran Yosef Caro states in the Shulhan 'Aruch that a garment with more than four corners requires fringes (Sissioth),...
Tuesday, December 1, 2009/Kislew 14, 5770
-
One must be particular not get one's clothes dirty when eating. It is preferable to eat with a spoon (or fork) rather...
Monday, November 30, 2009/Kislew 13, 5770
-
"Wayyiddar Ya'aqob Neder Lemor" (and Jacob made a vow saying). Ya'aqob Abinu, 'a"h, was in distress and made a vow...
Friday, November 27, 2009/Kislew 10, 5770
-
Leah Immenu was an extremely righteous woman. In fact, we are told that her eyes were tender due to her excessive...
Thursday, November 26, 2009/Kislew 9, 5770
-
Yishaq Abinu (Isaac) 'a"h, asks 'Esau to bring him delicacies, and says: "Ba'abur Tebarekhekha Nafshi" (so that my...
Friday, November 20, 2009/Kislew 3, 5770
-
If the person who was called up for Maftir on Shabbath is reading the Haftarah and suddenly stops in the middle and...
Thursday, November 19, 2009/Kislew 2, 5770
-
A person must not answer Amen to his own Beracha (blessing). However if he says two or more blessings then he answers...
Monday, November 16, 2009/Heshwan 29, 5770
-
We mentioned previously that Rabbenu the Ari z"l was very particular to always have a Hazarah (repetition) after the...
Wednesday, November 11, 2009/Heshwan 24, 5770
-
Hakhamenu z"l (our Rabbis of blessed memory) said that a man must be very particular about the Minha prayer in all...
Monday, November 9, 2009/Heshwan 22, 5770
-
It says in Ben Ish Hai that there are those who celebrate their birthdays every year. Hacham Yosef Hayim, 'a"h, adds...
Sunday, November 8, 2009/Heshwan 21, 5770
-
It says in the Shulhan 'Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) that one who removes his shoes (touching them) and one who touches...
Monday, November 2, 2009/Heshwan 15, 5770
-
Nowadays, the level of Jewish knowledge is much higher than it was a generation or two ago. Nevertheless, there are...
Sunday, November 1, 2009/Heshwan 14, 5770
-
Angels are called "'Omdim" (standing still) because they do not have a Yeser Hara' (evil inclination) which pulls...
Friday, October 30, 2009/Heshwan 12, 5770
-
If someone dips his cookie into a cooked liquid, such as into a cup of tea or coffee, he must first do Netilath...
Wednesday, October 28, 2009/Heshwan 10, 5770
-
We have to be particular not to wear two garments together, meaning one inside the other and put the two on together...
Tuesday, October 27, 2009/Heshwan 9, 5770
-
It is forbidden to pray in front of a mirror, even if one closes one's eyes, because it appears as if one is bowing...
Monday, October 26, 2009/Heshwan 8, 5770
-
It says in the Talmud Yerushalmi that Ribbi Haggai said that Shabbath and Yom Tob were given for the purpose of...
Thursday, October 22, 2009/Heshwan 4, 5770
-
A Jew is forbidden from giving a non-Jew money during the week in order to buy him something on Shabbath. Similarly,...
Thursday, October 15, 2009/Tashri 27, 5770
-
We mentioned on a previous occasion that we have to be particular to answer "Barukh Hu, Ubarukh Shemo" when G-d's...
Tuesday, October 13, 2009/Tashri 25, 5770
-
The Parasha of Wezoth Habberakha starts with the words: And this is the blessing that Moses, the man of G-d, blessed...
Thursday, October 8, 2009/Tashri 20, 5770
-
It says in Ben Ish Hai, based on the writings of the Zohar, that on the night of Hosha'na Rabba, at midnight, the...
Wednesday, October 7, 2009/Tashri 19, 5770
-
We must start the holy day (Yom Tob) of Yom kippur some time before sunset. On the eve of Shabbath we do this when we...
Sunday, September 27, 2009/Tashri 9, 5770
-
It says in the Torah (Ha-azinu, 32: 1) that Moshe Rabbenu called on the Heavens and the earth as witnesses when he...
Thursday, September 24, 2009/Tashri 6, 5770
-
It is forbidden to fast the day before Yom Kippur. On the contrary we are required to eat the amount of food that we...
Wednesday, September 23, 2009/Tashri 5, 5770
-
One should not sleep during the day on Rosh Hashanah. This includes making the effort to wake up in the morning...
Friday, September 18, 2009/Elul 29, 5769
-
Let us imagine the following scenario, a group of soldiers betrayed their king and joined the army of the enemy....
Thursday, September 17, 2009/Elul 28, 5769
-
Razal tell us that the words "Zakhor" and "Shamor" (remember and keep [the Sabbath]) were said in one utterance.
Thursday, September 10, 2009/Elul 21, 5769
-
It says in the Mishnah Berurah that the custom is to add a piece of silk to the top portion of the Sissith (Tallith...
Monday, September 7, 2009/Elul 18, 5769
-
A recent Torah Minute, Reassembling an item on Shabbath generated a lot of questions. A...
Thursday, September 3, 2009/Elul 14, 5769
-
When a group of people eat bread together, and only one person actually recites the blessing, when saying the...
Wednesday, September 2, 2009/Elul 13, 5769
-
If you had to choose the one part of your body which is most crucial for the process of repentance, what would it...
Wednesday, September 2, 2009/Elul 13, 5769
-
Everyone is aware that we are obligated to honor our parents. Perhaps less well known is the obligation to honor...
Tuesday, September 1, 2009/Elul 12, 5769
-
If a Sefer Torah was rolled to the place of that day's reading in preparation to be taken out and, by mistake,...
Monday, August 31, 2009/Elul 11, 5769
-
If you only suck the juice out of a fruit without eating it, do you recite a blessing (Berakha) of Borei Peri Ha'es...
Sunday, August 30, 2009/Elul 10, 5769
-
We are a few days into the month of Elul, the month of mercy and forgiveness. Rosh Hodesh Elul marks 40 days before...
Wednesday, August 26, 2009/Elul 6, 5769
-
With which hand (against which shoulder) should a person carry a Sefer Torah? If we say that it must it only be...
Tuesday, August 25, 2009/Elul 5, 5769
-
We are obligated to recite one hundred Berakhoth (blessings) a day. On Shabbath and Yom Tob as we know, there are...
Monday, August 24, 2009/Elul 4, 5769
-
An item that is made in sections, as is common with shelving and the like, that comes apart, is forbidden to be put...
Thursday, August 20, 2009/Ab 30, 5769
-
A question that is asked fairly regularly concerns what one should do with one's Mezuzoth (Mezuzah’s) when...
Wednesday, August 19, 2009/Ab 29, 5769
-
If someone borrows a pair of Tefillin he is permitted to recite the Berakha (blessing) over it, since we can fulfill...
Monday, August 17, 2009/Ab 27, 5769
-
It says in Parashath Re-eh, "Wehayeetha Akh Sameyah" (and you shall be totally happy). We see from this how dear...
Friday, August 14, 2009/Ab 24, 5769
-
On Shabbath, because of the Melakha of Borer (the forbidden activity of separating), we are forbidden to separate bad...
Thursday, August 13, 2009/Ab 23, 5769
-
During these difficult times, when people are facing financial hardships, as well as many other challenges, it is...
Thursday, August 13, 2009/Ab 23, 5769
-
A Mezuzah must be placed in the upper third of the doorpost, irrespective of the height of the door. If a person...
Wednesday, August 12, 2009/Ab 22, 5769
-
The Parasha of 'Eqeb begins by telling us that "'Eqeb" (when/as soon as) we hear G-d's ordinances (Mishpatim) and we...
Friday, August 7, 2009/Ab 17, 5769
-
If a person wishes to open a store in a certain area where there already is an existing store in the same line of...
Wednesday, August 5, 2009/Ab 15, 5769
-
Under normal circumstances we would assume that another person would be happy if we borrowed an item of theirs...
Sunday, August 2, 2009/Ab 12, 5769
-
The final meal before the fast of Tish'ah BeAb (Se'uddah Mafseqeth) cannot be eaten sitting on regular chairs or even...
Wednesday, July 29, 2009/Ab 8, 5769
-
The Jewish people questioned why G-d did not pay attention to their fasts. "Why have we fasted and You did not see?...
Tuesday, July 28, 2009/Ab 7, 5769
-
Sewing and the like is forbidden during the week of Tish'ah BeAb, and the custom is to forbid it from Rosh Hodesh. A...
Sunday, July 26, 2009/Ab 5, 5769
-
Attaching clothes with a pin or safety pin on Shabbath is related to the Melakha (Shabbath labor) of sewing. It is...
Thursday, July 23, 2009/Ab 2, 5769
-
It says in the Gemarra of Ta'anith that if we have a court case or legal dealings with a non Jew, it should be...
Wednesday, July 22, 2009/Ab 1, 5769
-
The reading of the Shema' has many Kawwanoth (intents). However, if one did not have at least the basic meaning of...
Sunday, July 19, 2009/Tammuz 27, 5769
-
We mentioned previously that we are not permitted to use a Synagogue as a short cut, by entering from one entrance...
Thursday, July 16, 2009/Tammuz 24, 5769
-
We are not permitted to use a Synagogue as a short cut. So if a Synagogue is in the middle of a block and has one...
Wednesday, July 15, 2009/Tammuz 23, 5769
|