TEFILA: Our ability to walk upright (hamekhin mis’ade gaber)
כשהוא הולך, הוא אומר: ברוך המכין מצעדי גבר.
This blessing, "Blessed are You, haShem, our God, King of the universe, Who makes firm the steps...
SHABBAT: At what time does Shabbat end?
We have explained that Shabbat begins at sunset and that we are instructed to add some additional time at the beginning of Shabbat. Thus,...
PRINCIPLE 12: When will the Messiah come, according to Maimonides?
In the last chapter (Chapter 1000th) of his monumental book Mishne Tora, Maimonides conveys a very interesting idea about the Messianic times, which sheds...
Rabbi Eliyahu Hazan (1846-1908) and the Role of Secular Studies
Rabbi Eliyahu Bekhor Hazan
Rabbi Eliyahu Hazan (1846-1908) , son of Yosef Rafael Hazan, was born in Izmir, Turkey . His grandfather was Rabbi Hayim David...
TEFILA: Standing on solid ground
כשהוא מניח רגליו על הקרקע, הוא אומר: ברוך...רוקע הארץ על המים
The Rabbis of the Talmud said that when we wake up, as we are...
SHABBAT: At what time does Shabbat begin?
The new day, in the Hebrew calendar, begins at some point between sunset and nightfall. Nightfall is defined as the time when is so...
THE 13 Principles: # 12: Messianic times.
Previously, we explained that according to Jewish tradition in the times of the Mashiaḥ the Jewish people will live in Israel in an independent...
Rabbi Refael Aharon ben Shimon: Sephardim and Ashkenazim
Cairo was also home to an Ashkenazi community, which was founded in the aftermath of the progroms that hit Europe in the latter part of...
TEFILA: noten laya’ef koah. Renewal of our strength.
"Blessed are You haShem. our God, King of the universe, Who gives strength to those who are exhausted. "
Following the same idea of birkot...
SHABBAT: Lighting Shabbat candles in a Hotel.
Lighting Shabbat candles is a rabbinical decree. The candles should be lit mainly to have light in the room where the family will have...
The 13 Principles of Judaism: #12: Messianic age.
Previously, we described what the characteristics of the Mashiaḥ are (see this). Today, within the 12th principle, we will touch upon the subject...
Refael Aharon ben Shimon response on suicide
As we saw last week, Rabbi Refael Aharon ben Shimon (1847-1928) is a good example of a rabbi that confronted the challenges of modernity.
We described...
TEFILA: Malbish Arumim. Clothing vs. Evolution.
כשלובש את בגדיו הוא אומר: מלביש ערומים
Previously (see here) we have explained that the Birkot haShaḥar are organized as a careful description of all the steps...
SHABBAT: Understanding Shabbat Candle lighting
Lighting candles before Shabbat begins is a Rabbinical, not a Biblical commandment. The Rabbis saw that many times, people would forget to leave the...
The 13 principles of Judaism. # 12: The Jewish Messiah
Maimonides explains that if a Jewish political leader possesses these three characteristics he has the potential to be the Mashiaḥ. He has to be...
Rabbi Refael Aharon ben Shimon (1847-1928)
As we said last week (see here) Rabbi Ben Shimon wrote many responsas about the new inventions of his time. As the highest authority in...
TEFILA: zoqef kefufim, the Rabbis’ version of Homo Erectus
כשעומד מברך: ברוך אתה ה' אלוקינו מלך העולם, זוקף כפופים
When a person stands up straight --when he or she wakes up in the morning--...
American Rabbis on celebrating New Year’s Day
We have written in previous HOTD about the views of modern orthodox rabbis regarding the celebration of different American holidays (see here). All rabbis...
Rabbi Refael Aharon ben Shimon (1847-1928)
Rabbi Refael Aharon ben Shimon was born in Rabat, Morocco in 1847. In 1854 he came to Israel with his father, Rabbi David ben Shimon,...
