Shabbat and a life threatening situation (part 2)
As we have previously explained, a life threatening situation requires that the Laws of Shabbat be suspended, and therefore we are allowed (or obligated)...
HILKHOT ABODA ZARA 2:1: Religious idolatry
Maimonides says in the second chapter of Hilkhot 'aboda zara: "The essence of the prohibition of idol worshipping is not to serve any creature...
Was the Shulhan arukh ever summarized?
Yesterday I got many phone calls and emails from friends and readers who reacted to my proposal of rewriting the original Shulhan 'arukh. Most...
Shulhan ‘arukh Venezia
Previously, I explained why rabbi Yosef Caro (1488-1575) wrote the shulhan 'arukh and how did it happen that the shulhan 'arukh became the most...
Shabbat and the Fourth Commandment
"Zakhor et yom haShabbat leqaddesho... " Remember the day of Shabbat to sanctify it. This is the fourth of the Ten Commandments: our duty to...
Rabbi Obadia Yosef and the power of Halakhic leniency
As we explained yesterday, one of the principles that guided the rulings of rabbi Obadia Yosef is that a Rabbi must do all possible...
The Leadership of Rabbi Obadia Yosef z”l
Uniting the Israeli Sephardic Jews around one set of traditions, customs and rulings was one of the main goals and achievements of Rabbi Obadia...
Who taught rabbi Obadia Yosef?
"נפלה עטרת ראשנו"
Yesterday, Rabbi Obadia Yosef was buried in Jerusalem. More than 800,000 people attended his levaya in what is considered the largest funeral in...
Rabbi Obadia ben Ya’aqob Yosef z”l, 1920-2013
Today is a very sad day for Am Israel. Hakham Obadia Yosef passed away at the age of 93. Hakham Obadia was not just...
Shabbat and a life threatening situation (part 1)
1. "The laws of Sabbath are suspended in the face of a danger to life (piquah nefesh) Therefore, we may perform according to the...
Third Commandment: You shall not “carry” the name of God in...
In Jewish tradition the third commandment "LO TISA" refers to the prohibition of swearing in the name of God in vain or unnecessarily (shebu'at shav). Following Maimonides,...
Maran Rabbi Yosef Caro (1488-1575)
Rabbi Yosef Caro (also Karo or Qaro) was born in Toledo, Spain in 1488. In 1492, at the age of four, he and his family...
What you might not know about the shulhan ‘arukh.
The shulhan 'arukh is known to be "the Code of Jewish Law", and "the most authoritative legal code of Judaism". Here is what most people don't know...
Teshuba and Jiminy the cricket
Our conscience is an integral part of the makeup of our Neshama (human soul). Like Pinocchio's cricket, Jiminy, its mission is to warn us...
The fast of Gedalia
Today is the fast of Gedalia, a fast-day instituted by the Rabbis to remember the assassination of Gedalia Ben Ahiqam, the governor of Israel during...
HILKHOT TESHUBA 4:2 When the King repents
Maimonides explains the difficulties of admitting to ourselves that we have sinned. Taking charge of our misdeeds -hakarat haHet- is probably the hardest step in...
HILKHOT TESHUBA 4:1-2. Obstacles in the way of Teshuba
In Chapter 4 of Hilkhot Teshuba Maimonides enumerates twenty-four actions, personality patterns or attitudes which prevent or make very difficult for a person to...
HILKHOT TESHUBA 3:14 Maimonides on Bullying
In the third chapter of Hilkhot Teshuba, Halakha 5, Maimonides asserts that the Jews, and the righteous among the gentiles (haside ummot ha'olam), will...
