Vayishlach: Tearing the Hair in Mourning
“You are the children of HaShem your God; don’t cut yourselves, nor make baldness between your eyes for the dead” (Devarim 14:1). The second half of the verse forbids a pagan...
Vayeitzei: Placement of the Head Tefilin
The Torah says that the head tefillin should be “frontlets between your eyes” (Devarim 11:18). However, this expression does not mean actually between the eyes, for example the bridge of the...
Toldot: “Urging Vows”
A vow (neder) is a kind of oath that works by imposing a prohibition on a particular object by likening it to a sanctified item. For instance, instead of swearing that...
Chayei Sarah: Burial Shrouds
The burial of Sarah discussed in our portion provides an opportunity to discuss the important and ancient custom of the shrouds or burial garment. Jewish burial is always in a simple...
Vayeira: Carrying between Two Private Domains
Last week (read that as “Two weeks ago”) we gave Rav Natan of Breslav’s explanation of the Torah prohibition to move objects from public to private domain or the opposite. The...
Parshat Lech Lecha: Blessing on Additional Courses
A blessing includes whatever foods the person making the blessing intended to include. If a person decides conclusively that he has finished eating, then he has to make a new blessing...
Parshat Noach: Spaying animals
The spaying of animals, in order to prevent undesired reproduction or in order to make them more docile, is an ancient custom of animal husbandry, but it is one which is...
Yom Kippur: Melave Malka
One way we honor and indulge the Shabbat is by eating three meals on Shabbat itself. But we also honor the Sabbath by accompanying it as it departs with an additional...
Nitzavim-Vayelech: Praying in a Minyan
The mishna at the very end of Rosh HaShana records a dispute between Rabban Gamliel and the Sages. The Sages state that the prayer leader (shaliach tzibur) can fulfill the prayer...
Ki Tavo: Aninut
(preoccupation with burial) Part of the special recitation made on disposing of all tithes is “I did not eat any in my aninut” (Devarim 26:14). This verse is one...
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