איסור שאלת שלום בתשעה באב The Rambam seems to have a unique shitah regarding the prohibition of greetings on a full-fledged taanis. The Mishna in Maseches Taanis (12b) says that, after the fasts (over lack of rains) have passed, if the community’s prayers have still not been answered, a number of prohibitions come into effect, […]

וידבר אלקים Why is the name Elokim the one which is employed for the aseres ha’dibros? Wouldn’t it have made more sense for it to have been the sheim Havayah? Rashi brings from Chazal that the implication of the name Elokim is dayan lipara, a judge who can exact punishment. In the sefer, Pischei Shearim, […]

זכור את אשר עשה לך עמלק כה:יז Numerous times, the word machar (tomorrow) is mentioned in the context of mechiyas Amaleik (wiping out Amaleik). In parshas Beshalach – the very first time there is a confrontation with Amaleik – Moshe says to Yehoshua, “v’tzei hilacheim ba’Amaleik machar anochi nitzav al rosh ha’givah, go out and […]

Gadol Gibor v’Nora – Great, Mighty, and Awesome Why are the Anshei Knesses Ha’Gedolah, asks the Gemara in Yoma (69b), called by that name? Because they reinstated the practice of referring to Hashem as “great, mighty, and awesome”. Yirmiyahu and Daniel had omitted (respectively) “mighty and awesome” for in relation to the destruction of the […]

Shofar During Elul In Pirkei d’Rabi Eliezer (perek 46), Chazal say that a shofar was blown on Rosh Chodesh Elul when Moshe Rabbeinu went up to Har Sinai (for the final 40 days). This is the source for blowing shofar during the month of Elul. The text of this Chazal as brought by a number […]

Kavsah Ein Zakuk Lah – If the Chanukah Candles Go Out There is a machlokes in the Gemara (Shabbos 21a-b) if one is obligated to relight the Chanukah candles in the event that they go out before having burned for the requisite amount of time. Rav Huna holds that you do have to relight them, […]

On Rosh Chodesh during the winter, what is the halacha if someone forgot to say v’sein tal u’matar, and when he repeated Shmoneh Esrei, he forgot yaaleh v’yavo? In Brachos (26b) there is a machlokes Rishonim brought down in Tosafos and the Rosh regarding someone who forgot to say yaaleh v’yavo in Mincha of Rosh […]

The Rambam says (Hilchos Teshuva 6:1-2) that some sins bring about a judgement of punishment that will pertain to the person’s body or his possessions, or his young children, some sins bring about a judgement of punishment that will take place only in the next world, and there are some sins that bring about a […]

The three haftaros of each Shabbos of the three weeks – which are known as the tlasa d’puranusa – are obvious in terms of their connection to the time period. In addition to the basic content, dorshei reshumos have found an allusion in the first word of each one of the three haftaros which are: […]

The Gemara in Maseches Rosh HaShana (18b) says that there are three categories regarding the four fasts (of Asarah b’Teves, Shiva Asar b’Tamuz, Tisha b’Av, and Tzom Gedaliah) : 1) when there is gezeiras malchus (persecution) all four fasts are obligatory as fasts, 2) when there is no gezeiras malchus but also not shalom only Tisha b’Av is obligatory, and the rest are optional, 3) when there is shalom all four are Yamim Tovim.  […]