All Torah Minutes
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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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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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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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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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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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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
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The Musaf (additional) prayer can technically be prayed throughout the day. However, the correct time is right after...
Thursday, March 25, 2010/Nisan 10, 5770
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Any place where Hamess (Hametz - leaven) was known to have been taken, must be checked. Not only that, but any...
Monday, March 8, 2010/Adar 22, 5770
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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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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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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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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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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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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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There are those who write notes and messages on their hand. If someone does this before Shabbath, he should remember...
Thursday, December 31, 2009/Tebeth 14, 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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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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"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
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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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Since we are commanded to keep Sukkoth for seven days and dwell in booths, there is a question in the Gemarra whether...
Tuesday, September 29, 2009/Tashri 11, 5770
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When the first day of Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbath, there are those who do Tashlikh (the symbolic casting of one's...
Tuesday, September 15, 2009/Elul 26, 5769
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If someone stole an item worth, let us say $100, and the value of that item drops to say $50, does he have to return...
Tuesday, September 8, 2009/Elul 19, 5769
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It says in the Parasha of Ki Thabo, "And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you listen to...
Friday, September 4, 2009/Elul 15, 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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It says in Parashath Ki These: If you build a new house, you must make a fence for your roof.
This can be...
Friday, August 28, 2009/Elul 8, 5769
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There are those whose business commonly takes them on extended overseas trips throughout the year. The Radbaz was...
Wednesday, August 26, 2009/Elul 6, 5769
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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
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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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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
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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
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On Tish'a BeAb (the 9th of Ab) we are only permitted to do Netilath Yadayim (the ritual washing of hands) up to the...
Thursday, July 30, 2009/Ab 9, 5769
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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
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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
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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
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Our Rabbis tell us that Ya'aqob Abinu 'a"h (our father Jacob) took as a portion for himself, the Hebrew months of...
Monday, July 20, 2009/Tammuz 28, 5769
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The reciting of the Shema' twice a day is a positive commandment dependent upon time. As it says: "Ubshukhbekha...
Sunday, July 12, 2009/Tammuz 20, 5769
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How close does one have to be to the candle when making the blessing of Borei Meorei HaEsh for Habdalah...
Thursday, July 9, 2009/Tammuz 17, 5769
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We are continuing with the Kawwanoth (intents) that we should have when reciting the 'Amidah. The very first Berakha...
Sunday, June 28, 2009/Tammuz 6, 5769
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A question was asked in Torah Lishmah concerning someone who loses both parents in one year (R"L). Should the...
Wednesday, June 24, 2009/Tammuz 2, 5769
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If one's father (or mother) enters the room, one must stand for them. Likewise, if one's teacher enters the...
Monday, June 22, 2009/Siwan 30, 5769
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The Gaon Hida, 'a"h, writes that according to the Ari z"l, the Qaddish also helps the soul rise in...
Sunday, June 21, 2009/Siwan 29, 5769
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And they shall make fringes (Sissith [Tzitzith]) on the corners of their garments ('Al Kanfei Bighdeihem),...
Friday, June 19, 2009/Siwan 27, 5769
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Each of the three Shabbath meals require two loaves of bread. The loaves must be whole, in memory of the double...
Thursday, June 18, 2009/Siwan 26, 5769
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If someone needs to enter a Synagogue or a Beth Midrash (study hall), for a purpose not connected with prayer or...
Sunday, June 14, 2009/Siwan 22, 5769
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If a Jewish person cooks food deliberately on Shabbath, knowing that it is forbidden (this excludes cooking in the...
Thursday, June 11, 2009/Siwan 19, 5769
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If someone finds an article that has no identifying sign on it, and it is the type of article where its owner would...
Monday, June 8, 2009/Siwan 16, 5769
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Koh Thebarkhu Eth Benei Yisrael (Thus shall you bless the Children of Israel). For what reason did the Jewish people...
Friday, June 5, 2009/Siwan 13, 5769
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As we know, honoring one's father and mother is the fifth commandment of the Ten Commandments and one that we...
Tuesday, June 2, 2009/Siwan 10, 5769
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Ordinarily, one drinks water to quench one's thirst. In such a case, we must recite the blessing of Shehakkol...
Monday, June 1, 2009/Siwan 9, 5769
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Sukkoth is called Hagh Hasukkoth (Festival of the Booths) because of the commandment to dwell in booths. Pesah...
Wednesday, May 27, 2009/Siwan 4, 5769
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When making Qiddush on the night of Shabu'oth (in the Land of Israel, or both nights outside the Land of Israel),...
Sunday, May 24, 2009/Siwan 1, 5769
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It says in Ben Ish Hai that anyone who is a glutton is considered to be trapped in the thicket of the Evil...
Wednesday, May 20, 2009/Iyyar 26, 5769
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"Ish 'Al Dighlo BeOthoth Lebeth Abotham Yahanu Benei Yisrael". Each man of the Children of Israel shall...
Sunday, May 17, 2009/Iyyar 23, 5769
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'Asarah Nissim Na'asu La-abothenu Bebeth Hammiqdash (10 Miracles were wrought for our forefathers in the...
Thursday, May 14, 2009/Iyyar 20, 5769
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Our Rabbis of blessed memory tell us in the Gemara of Shabbath, that a person's speech on Shabbath may not be...
Wednesday, May 13, 2009/Iyyar 19, 5769
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Lagh La'Omer (the 33rd day of the 'Omer) is, of course, the day in which the great Tanna, Ribbi Shim'on...
Tuesday, May 12, 2009/Iyyar 18, 5769
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We mentioned previously, the custom of both Sephardim and Ashkenazim, of performing weddings on Lagh La'Omer (Lag...
Monday, May 11, 2009/Iyyar 17, 5769
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Ben 'Azzai says you should run to perform a smaller commandment, just as you would run to do a major one.
...
Friday, May 8, 2009/Iyyar 14, 5769
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It says in Parashath Qedoshim "Wehithqaddishtem Weeheeyethem Qedoshim" (And you shall sanctify yourself and...
Friday, May 1, 2009/Iyyar 7, 5769
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When eating a meal, we must sit in an honorable manner at the table and be dressed appropriately. Just like one would...
Tuesday, April 28, 2009/Iyyar 4, 5769
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We mentioned a couple of times that a person should know before saying the Berakha how many days of the 'Omer it...
Tuesday, April 21, 2009/Nisan 27, 5769
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We said previously that a person must know before saying the Berakha ([Bracha] blessing) how many days of the...
Monday, April 20, 2009/Nisan 26, 5769
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When counting the 'Omer, before starting the blessing, a person must know how many days of the 'Omer it is...
Sunday, April 19, 2009/Nisan 25, 5769
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Men are obligated to count the 'Omer every night with a Berakha ([Bracha] blessing), provided, of course, they...
Monday, April 13, 2009/Nisan 19, 5769
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Mah Nishatanah Halayla Hazzeh. The 'Oleloth Ephraim says that the word night refers to the exile (Galuth). So we...
Wednesday, April 8, 2009/Nisan 14, 5769
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Zoth Torath Ha'olah, Hee Ha'olah... (This is the law of the elevation offering - This one is the elevation...
Friday, April 3, 2009/Nisan 9, 5769
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The order of the Birkath Hahammah (Blessing on the Sun) is as follows:
The congregation should assemble at a...
Wednesday, April 1, 2009/Nisan 7, 5769
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The Afiqomen has to be eaten at the end of the meal because it is in memory of the Qorban Pesah (the Passover...
Monday, March 30, 2009/Nisan 5, 5769
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Birkath Ha-Ilanoth (the blessing on the trees) should be done in the month of Nissan, and "Zerizin Maqdimin...
Sunday, March 29, 2009/Nisan 4, 5769
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"When a man from among you (Mikkem) brings an offering to G-d".
Our lives are a balance between the...
Friday, March 27, 2009/Nisan 2, 5769
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In order to say the Birkath Hahama (Blessing on the Sun) with Shem Umalkhuth (G-d's name) the Berakha...
Tuesday, March 24, 2009/Adar 28, 5769
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The night before Pesah, of course, is when we have to do the Bediqath Hames (the search for the leaven). Before you...
Tuesday, March 17, 2009/Adar 21, 5769
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During the Arbith of Friday night, if someone who is saying the 'Amidah by mistake says the 'Amidah of the...
Thursday, March 12, 2009/Adar 16, 5769
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Let is consider a case where somebody could not be at his home on the eve of the fourteenth of Nissan in order to do...
Wednesday, March 11, 2009/Adar 15, 5769
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On Purim we are obligated to give "Matanoth LaEbyonim", gifts to at least two poor people. What if two poor...
Monday, March 9, 2009/Adar 13, 5769
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Both men and women are obligated to send two portions to a friend. Specifically two types of foods, each type of food...
Sunday, March 8, 2009/Adar 12, 5769
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"Timheh eth Zekher 'Amaleq Mittahath Hashamayim - Lo Tishkah" - You shall erase the remembrance of...
Friday, March 6, 2009/Adar 10, 5769
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When reading the Meghillah, one has to say the Berakha (blessing) before and after the Meghillah while standing. This...
Tuesday, March 3, 2009/Adar 7, 5769
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As we know, the Halakha is that everybody reads the Meghillah on the fourteenth of Adar, except for cities that had a...
Monday, March 2, 2009/Adar 6, 5769
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It is appropriate to remove and clean away cobwebs from one's house every Ereb Shabbath (Friday, during the day)...
Thursday, February 26, 2009/Adar 2, 5769
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We know that on Purim we have to send Mishlowah Manoth (gifts of food) on the day of Purim itself. There is an...
Wednesday, February 25, 2009/Adar 1, 5769
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On Rosh Hodesh we are not permitted to fast, just as we are not allowed to fast on Shabbath and Yom Tob. The...
Tuesday, February 24, 2009/Shebat 30, 5769
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On Rosh Hodesh, during the three prayers, Arbith, Shahrith, and Minha we say Ya'aleh WeYabo. This excludes, of...
Monday, February 23, 2009/Shebat 29, 5769
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"Im Kesef Talweh Eth 'Ami, Eth He'Ani Imakh" "If you lend money to my people, to the poor...
Friday, February 20, 2009/Shebat 26, 5769
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"Eem Kesef Talweh Eth Ami, Eth He'Ani Immakh" (If you lend money to my people, to the poor person who...
Sunday, February 15, 2009/Shebat 21, 5769
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"We Attem Teehyoo Li Mamlekheth Kohanim WeGhoyqadosh". It says in Parashath Yithro, "You shall be unto...
Friday, February 13, 2009/Shebat 19, 5769
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At what point do we have to stand for an elderly person or Torah Scholar? The answer is, once they enter the room in...
Wednesday, February 11, 2009/Shebat 17, 5769
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