Rabbi Hayim Abulafia (1660-1744), founder of modern Tiberias
The Abulafia family is considered one of the most famous Sephardic families of Castila, Spain, and according to their own traditions, they are descendants...
MAIMONIDES on Ba’ale Teshuba and verbal abuse
In the Seventh chapter of Hilkhot Teshuba Maimonides discusses the tremendous merit of doing Teshuba. He also discusses the status of the "penitent" or...
TEHILIM # 05: When a Jewish King prays
Like Israel today, David haMelekh had many enemies. Virtually in every border of his kingdom. David fought against the Syrians in the north and...
Rabbi Isaac Caro (1458-1535), from Toledo to Yerushalayim
Rabbi Isaac (Yitshaq) Caro was born in the city of Toledo, Spain in 1458. His father was Rabbi Yosef Caro haZaqen, a great Rabbi...
When A Rabbi Recommends To Work Out
In the fourth chapter of MT Hilkhot de'ot, Maimonides says that keeping a strong and healthy body helps to prevent sickness, allowing us to...
Traditions, for Birkat haGomel
Birkat haGomel is not a berakha that we say for Mitsvot; it is essentially a Birkat haShebah, a form of public expression of gratitude...
EMUNA: Can you design 7,275,650,514 different faces?
אין צור כאלקינו
Last week we explained what the Hebrew word Tsur (צור) means when used referring to HaShem. We said that Tsur means "rock",...
Maimonides’ Diet
לעולם לא יאכל אדם אלא כשהוא רעב ולא ישתה אלא כשהוא צמא
Maimonides begins the fourאי chapter of his Hilkhot De'ot explaining the religious obligation...
Clint Eastwood, Shlomi and the Jewish people
November 21st, 2014
Two days ago, as Coty and I were leaving 'Mamila', near the Old City we met Shlomi, a young 'cool' Israeli taxi...
BIRKAT HAGOMEL Summary of the four cases
As we have explained last week, there is a fundamental difference between Sephardim and Ashkenazim regarding the recitation of haGomel. In the Ashkenazi tradition,...
EMUNA: Where do stones come from?
One of the names by which we call HaShem is TSUR (צור). This name or attribute of God appears many times in the Tora...
Rabbi Emanuel Abohab (1555-1628) and the Jewish “Mental Law”
Rabbi Emanuel Abohab was born in the city of Porto, Portugal, in 1555. He was the great-grandson of the famous rabbi Isaac Abohab, also...
Rabbi Shelomo ibn Verga (ca. 1460-1540) and “La vara de Yehuda”
Shelomo Ibn Verga was a rabbi, an historian, an astronomer and a famous physician. He was born in Spain (probably Sevilla) in 1460. He...
SHABBAT: Having guests and parenting, by Coty Bitton
This Friday you can feel a sense of excitement at our home. My husband told me that this Shabbat we are hosting a group...
BIRKAT HAGOMEL: Differences between Sephardic and Ashkenazi traditions
As explained before, the blessing haGomel is recited as a public expression of gratitude to God.
HaGomel therefore, should be said in the presence of...
Rabbi Yosef Albo (1380-1444) and the Disputation of Tortosa
Rabbi Albo's was born in Monreal del Campo, a town in Aragon, Spain. He was the student of the famous Sephardic rabbi and philosopher...
BIRKAT HAGOMEL: Understanding the “blessings”
A "Berakha" is a statement, a formula by which we bless God. First, we need to clarify what does it mean to "bless God"...
EMUNA: The name of HaShem
There are several names by which we refer to HaShem (=God). The most prominent name is A-M-O-N-A-Y (reading D for the M). As you...
PARENTING and the blessing of Shabbat, by Coty Bitton
We, parents, know very well what is the appropriate groundwork for a positive and loving relationship with our children. Personal attention. Listen to what...
Rabbi Isaac Canpanton (1360-1463)
Rabbi Isaac Canpanton was born in Castilla, Spain (probably in Zamora) in 1360. Rabbi Canpanton was known as "The Gaon of Castilla". He witnessed...
