All Torah Minutes
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The Berakha (blessing) that one recites before the Bediqath Hamess (Hametz - search for the leaven) can cover his...
Sunday, March 7, 2010/Adar 21, 5770
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In order to recite a blessing over a fragrance, the scent must be for the purpose of smelling and not for the purpose...
Wednesday, March 3, 2010/Adar 17, 5770
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If someone who does not speak Hebrew hears the Meghilla read in Hebrew, from a Kosher scroll written in Hebrew, he...
Tuesday, February 23, 2010/Adar 9, 5770
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The Shulhan 'Arukh states that the Berakha (blessing) of Sheheheyanu is said at night, over the reading of the...
Tuesday, February 16, 2010/Adar 2, 5770
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Everyone is obligated to hear the Meghilla twice on Purim, once at night and once during the day. Contrary to what...
Sunday, February 14, 2010/Shebat 30, 5770
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Ta'anith Esther (the Fast of Esther) is held on the 13th of Adar, the day before Purim. The Shulhan 'Aruch states...
Wednesday, February 10, 2010/Shebat 26, 5770
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Maran states in the Shulhan 'Arukh that one should only give food to a person if he knows that he will recite a...
Tuesday, February 9, 2010/Shebat 25, 5770
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Since a Mezuzah must be placed at the bottom of the upper third of a door post, a Mezuzah which was placed below the...
Monday, February 8, 2010/Shebat 24, 5770
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Why did G-d command the Children of Israel to backtrack instead of continuing ahead through Pelishtim to the Land of...
Friday, January 29, 2010/Shebat 14, 5770
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When Tu Bishbat falls on Shabbath, when should the fruits be eaten? There are those who have the custom, every Leil...
Wednesday, January 27, 2010/Shebat 12, 5770
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Someone who is having a meal with bread and gets into a protracted discussion with his friend, must do Netilath...
Tuesday, January 26, 2010/Shebat 11, 5770
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When taking out the Sefer Torah, the custom of the Ari z"l was to kiss it and to follow it from the Hechal (where it...
Wednesday, January 20, 2010/Shebat 5, 5770
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The Shulhan 'Aruch tells us that one should not answer "Amen" to the Beracha (blessing) of a child who is being...
Tuesday, January 19, 2010/Shebat 4, 5770
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Nowadays, there are certain vegetables such as lettuce, that are grown in water and not in the earth, and are...
Tuesday, January 12, 2010/Tebeth 26, 5770
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"And you shall call Shabbath a delight ('Onegh)". Part of the delight on Shabbath is eating meals with meat and wine....
Thursday, January 7, 2010/Tebeth 21, 5770
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Are women permitted to say the Berachoth (blessings) connected with the Pesuqei DeZimra, of Baruch Sheamar and...
Wednesday, January 6, 2010/Tebeth 20, 5770
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We mentioned previously that it says in Ben Ish Hai, that one must never omit the Hazarah (repetition of the 'Amidah)...
Tuesday, January 5, 2010/Tebeth 19, 5770
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Every man is obligated to study, each day, the Written Law (Torah, Nebiim and Kethubim) as well as Mishna, Gemara and...
Monday, January 4, 2010/Tebeth 18, 5770
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The Pasuq (verse) of Shema' Yisrael (Hear O Israel) has six words. They should be read in pairs, two at a time in...
Wednesday, December 30, 2009/Tebeth 13, 5770
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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
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Anger is a most serious character trait. The Arizal was more strict about the need to avoid anger than any other...
Sunday, December 27, 2009/Tebeth 10, 5770
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It is a commandment upon every man to redeem his son if he is a first born of the mother, unless either parent is...
Wednesday, December 23, 2009/Tebeth 6, 5770
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When drinking a morning tea or coffee with a cookie, doughnut or danish (Path Habba-ah Bekhisanin - which is...
Tuesday, December 22, 2009/Tebeth 5, 5770
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One may not make one's bed during the day on Shabbath in order for it to be ready on Mosei Shabbath (Saturday night)....
Wednesday, December 16, 2009/Kislew 29, 5770
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It is important to balance the happiness of Hanukkah with the seriousness and the important message that is connected...
Monday, December 14, 2009/Kislew 27, 5770
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"Elleh Toldoth Ya'aqob, Yosef" (these are the generations of Jacob, Joseph). When the Torah says these are the...
Friday, December 11, 2009/Kislew 24, 5770
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We are all familair and intrigued by the story of Joseph (Yosef ha'Saddiq) and the coat of many colors that was given...
Thursday, December 10, 2009/Kislew 23, 5770
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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
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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
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If a person who is eating bread says the Beracha of "Shehakol" or "Borei Minei Mezonoth" or "Borei Peri Ha-adamah",...
Wednesday, December 2, 2009/Kislew 15, 5770
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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
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The Shulhan 'Aruch states that it is forbidden to fast on Shabbath until the (end of the) sixth hour, which is midday...
Thursday, November 26, 2009/Kislew 9, 5770
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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
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When washing one's hands (Netilath Yadayim) for bread and the like, one should, strictly speaking, say the Beracha...
Tuesday, November 24, 2009/Kislew 7, 5770
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Is it better to walk to Synagogue on a weekday, or is it equally acceptable to drive? The following question was...
Monday, November 23, 2009/Kislew 6, 5770
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Shalom (peace) between people is a very important quality, because the existence of the whole world depends on it....
Sunday, November 22, 2009/Kislew 5, 5770
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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
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There are different opinions as to what one should do when one is not certain if he added the portion in the 'Amidah...
Wednesday, November 18, 2009/Kislew 1, 5770
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The Zohar is very strict about a person who hears a Beracha (blessing) and does not answer Amen. This means, in...
Tuesday, November 17, 2009/Heshwan 30, 5770
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We are not permitted to utter a prayer in vain. A prayer over something that has already taken place, is considered...
Tuesday, November 10, 2009/Heshwan 23, 5770
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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
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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
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Hatmanah, which is the act of insulating food by covering, is forbidden on Shabbath, when the food is in the vessel...
Thursday, November 5, 2009/Heshwan 18, 5770
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When eating a meal with a KeBesah (2 ozs.) or more of bread, one must do Netilath Yadayim (the ritual washing of...
Wednesday, November 4, 2009/Heshwan 17, 5770
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There are many different occasions when Netilath Yadayim (the ritual washing of the hands) is required, but no...
Tuesday, November 3, 2009/Heshwan 16, 5770
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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
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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
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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
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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
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If, for some reason, when reading the Torah on Shabbath morning, a Pasuq (verse) was skipped, then the congregation...
Sunday, October 25, 2009/Heshwan 7, 5770
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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
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There is an opinion that nails and hair should not be cut on Thursday. The reason, as mentioned by the Taz, is that...
Wednesday, October 21, 2009/Heshwan 3, 5770
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There are some differences between the customs of Ashkenzim and Sephardim when it comes to cutting one's nails.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009/Heshwan 2, 5770
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If people are praying by heart and there are no prayer books available and someone does not remember the 'Amidah by...
Monday, October 19, 2009/Heshwan 1, 5770
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Originally, Rosh Hodesh was to be given to the Jewish people as a Festival (in addition to the Festivals of Pesah,...
Sunday, October 18, 2009/Tashri 30, 5770
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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
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Rosh Hodesh, the first day of the month, is considered to be a special day for women. The festive meaning of this day...
Thursday, October 15, 2009/Tashri 27, 5770
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Tefillin contain the following four Parashioth (sections from the Torah):
1. Qaddesh Li 2. Wehaya Ki...
Wednesday, October 14, 2009/Tashri 26, 5770
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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
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When we finish reading the last portion of the Torah (Wezoth Habberakha) on Simhath Torah, we begin reading Bereshith...
Monday, October 12, 2009/Tashri 24, 5770
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Please note: there are those who have mentioned a rumor that Ethroghs are saturated with pesticides more than other...
Friday, October 9, 2009/Tashri 21, 5770
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The 'Arabah (willow of the brook) has no beauty or smell, does not give any shade, does not produce any fruit and...
Thursday, October 1, 2009/Tashri 13, 5770
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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
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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
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When Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbath, people sometimes feel that something is lacking in view of the fact that we do...
Thursday, September 17, 2009/Elul 28, 5769
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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
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Women are exempt from hearing the Shofar since women are not obligated in positive precepts that must be performed at...
Wednesday, September 16, 2009/Elul 27, 5769
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The Rama writes that we do not say the prayer of Abinu Malkenu on Rosh Hashanah if it is Shabbath. The Rashbas states...
Monday, September 14, 2009/Elul 25, 5769
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There are Synagogues which have two different people to blow the Shofar every year, one on the first day of Rosh...
Sunday, September 13, 2009/Elul 24, 5769
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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
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The month of Elul is a time for Teshubah (repentance) and introspection. Each night it is appropriate for us to...
Wednesday, September 9, 2009/Elul 20, 5769
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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
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The month of Elul is when we turn our thoughts to repentance in preparation for the Yamim Noraim, Rosh Hashanah and...
Sunday, September 6, 2009/Elul 17, 5769
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A recent Torah Minute, Reassembling an item on Shabbath generated a lot of questions. A...
Thursday, September 3, 2009/Elul 14, 5769
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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In the Parasha of Wayyera Sara Immenu says "... and my husband is old". When G-d repeats this to Abraham Abinu, He...
Sunday, August 23, 2009/Elul 3, 5769
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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
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If a Hakham or an important person who is taking a long time saying his 'Amidah, notices that the Hazzan and the...
Tuesday, August 18, 2009/Ab 28, 5769
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During the Minha prayer, if someone started the first verse: "Hashem Sefathai Tiftah", but had not yet started the...
Sunday, August 16, 2009/Ab 26, 5769
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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
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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
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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
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Maran writes in the Shulhan 'Arukh, "A person must not think that G-d should fulfill his requests because he had the...
Monday, August 10, 2009/Ab 20, 5769
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How can we understand the statement in the morning blessings (Birkhoth Hashahar), "Al Tebi-eni Leedei Het" (do not...
Sunday, August 9, 2009/Ab 19, 5769
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