Special Chanukah Edition 5783 – Part 2  מזמור שיר חנוכת הבית לדודA psalm – a song for the inauguration of the Temple – by David ***** This mizmor, which we have been reciting (singing) throughout the days of Chanukah, is also how nusach Ashkenaz begins P’sukei D’Zimrah of every Shacharis throughout the year.  It is chapter 30 in T’hilim.  Many say that we recite […]

Special Chanukah Edition ועל נסיך…ועל נפלאותיך…and for Your miracles … and for Your wonders… ***** In Modim, we say “ועל נסיך…ועל נפלאותיך–v’al nisecha…v’al nifl’osecha.”  “Al nisecha” refers to the “hidden miracles” that we do know about, while “nifl’osecha” refers to the miracles that we are not even aware of [based on one explanation in Siach Yitzchak and part of Rav Schwab on Prayer]. The Ramban […]

Special Elul Series 5782 – Part 4 – 13 Midos 3 Before we continue with the 13 Midos in practice, let us briefly examine the power inherent in our repeatedly reciting the 13 Midos throughout S’lichos, culminating with the many repetitions in N’ilah on Yom Kippur. • How does repeating the 13 Midos again and again help us? • What is the basis of […]

Special Elul Series 5782 – Part 3 – 13 Midos 2 The sefer Tomer Devorah uses the 13 midos mentioned in Michah 7:18 rather than the ones we recite from Sh’mos 34:6.  We will note both versions for each midah.  Our purpose in these segments is twofold: • Objective 1: To understand as best as we can the midah of Hashem being described, so that we can put forth […]

Special Elul Series 5782 – Part 2 – 13 Midos 1 How important is it to refine our character and work on our midos?  The Vilna Gaon (1720-1797), in Even Sh’leimah, writes that if we are not actively working to refine and perfect our midos, what is the purpose of our living? How much effort should we put […]

The month of Elul is a great gift of love from Hashem.  The four Hebrew letters of the month of Elul (אלול) are used to provide us with an understanding of what this great month of opportunity is all about.  Perhaps the most well-known one is “אני לדודי ודודי לי–Ani l’dodi v’dodi li (I am my […]

We are within The Nine Days, just prior to Tish’ah B’Av.  May we see the salvation before this Tish’ah B’Av. This week, we present Shemoneh Esrei 45 and 46 on the brachah of “רצה–R’tzei” followed by a segment on Tish’ah B’Av. ציון במשפט תפדה, ושביה בצדקה (ישעיה א:כז) Tzion shall be redeemed with justice, and they that return of […]

We are about to begin the Nine Days period prior to Tish’ah B’Av.  May we see the salvation before this Tish’ah B’Av. This is the second of three parts of this year’s Three Weeks series.  Next week’s third part, which will be emailed, b’ezras Hashem, on Thursday, will repeat Shemoneh Esrei 45 and 46, and will include a […]

We are within the Three Weeks, where we turn our focus to mourning the loss of the Beis HaMikdash.  The deeper aspects of what we mourn are the following: A.  We mourn for Hashem: the loss of Hashem’s Honor in the world.  Tragically, not only does most of the world not recognize Hashem, but the […]

When it comes to tefilah, many are focused on proper timing as dictated by the Shulchan Aruch.  When can we start?  When must we finish?  Though there is a proper time frame for each of the tefilos, if we consider the question “When is the proper time for tefilah?” the answer might surprise us.  The Rambam (Hilchos B’rachos 10:26) states: כְּלָלוֹ שֶׁל דָּבָר […]