The fast of the Tenth of Tebet
This coming Sunday December 23rd, 2012, we will observe the Tenth of Tebet, a fast day, which reminds us of three tragic events. 1. The...
TEFILA: Opening the eyes of the blind
ברוך אתה ה´ אלוקינו מלך העולם, פוקח עורים.
As we explained last week, the Birkot haShaḥar are the blessings which we say following the different...
TEFILA: Thanking the Creator for the rooster’s circadian rhythm
בָרוּךְ..... הַנוֹתֵן לַשֶכְוִי בִינָה לְהַבְחִין בֵין יוֹם וּבֵין לָיְלָה
"Blessed are you, HaShem... Who gives the rooster the understanding to distinguish between day and night."
Birkot...
Rabbi Hayim Palachi (1788-1869)
Rabbi Ḥayim Palachi (also Palaggi or Palacci) was born in Smyrna, Turkey in 1788. He was the grandson of Rabbi Yosef Ḥazan, the author...
TEFILA: Elo-hay! Neshama… the blessing of a new day.
א' נְשָמָה שֶנָתַתָ בִי טְהוֹרָה, אַתָה בְרָאתָהּ, אַתָה יְצַרְתָהּ, אַתָה נְפַחְתָה בִי, וְאַתָה מְשַמְרָהּ בְקִרְבִי...
"My God! The soul You gave within me is pure....
Rabbi Hayim Nahum (1872-1960)
Rabbi Ḥayim Naḥum was born in 1872 in Izmir, Turkey. He was an extraordinarily intelligent person with an exceptionally diverse education. He received his formal...
TEFILA: Understanding The Blessing Asher Yasar
...אֲשֶׁר יָצַר אֶת הָאָדָם בְּחָכְמָה, וּבָרָא בוֹ נְקָבִים נְקָבִים, חֲלוּלִים חֲלוּלִים. גָּלוּי וְיָדֽוּעַ לִפְנֵי כִסֵּא כְבוֹדֶֽךָ, שֶׁאִם יִסָּתֵם אֶחָד מֵהֶם, אוֹ אִם יִפָּתֵֽחַ אֶחָד...
Israel’s mandatory wars
Milḥemet Miṣva (war by commandment or a mandatory war) refers to the wars to conquer the land of Israel in the times of Yehoshua' bin...
Rosh Hodesh Kislev
√ Today is the first day of the month of Kislev. Rosh Ḥodesh Kislev will be celebrated for one day only. √ Rosh Ḥodesh...
Rabbi Yishaq ben Walid (1777-1870)
"The western luminary" (Ner haMa'arabi). That was the title given by Morrocan rabbis to one of its most illustrious: Rabbi Yiṣḥaq ben Walid (or Bengualid) from...
TEFILA: Netilat Yadayim
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹ-ינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל נְטִילַת יָדָֽיִם.One of the first...
SHABBAT: Modifying a Shabbat timer
As we have explained before (see here) during Shabbat we can't turn on or off any electrical appliance or lights. However, it is permitted to program...
The 13 principles: # 12: The prerequisites for the Jewish Messiah
As we explained last time, the Mashiaḥ will be a Jewish King, descendent of the house of King David. According to Maimonides (MT, Kings 11:4) "We may...
Rabbi Shemtob Gaguin (1884-1953)
Rabbi Shemtob Gaguin(e) was born in Jerusalem in 1884. Rabbi Gaguin was a British Sephardic Rabbi and a descendent of a famous Moroccan Rabbinical dynasty which...
TEFILA: Mode Ani Lefanekha
מוֹדֶה אֲנִי לְפָנֶֽיךָ, מֶֽלֶךְ חַי וְקַיָּם, שֶׁהֶחֱזַֽרְתָּ בִּי נִשְׁמָתִי בְּחֶמְלָה, רַבָּה אֱמוּנָתֶֽךָ.Virtually all...
The 13 Principles: # 12: The Mashiah
The Twelfth principle involves our belief in the coming of the Messiah and the Messianic age. The Messianic age will take place when the...
“Sandy” and the blessings of a blackout
We are expecting a big storm in New York today. In our area the worst part will probably begin after 7.00 PM. We have...
The 13 Principles: # 11: God is Just.
The Eleventh principle of Judaism asserts that God is Just. He rewards those who keep His commandments and punishes those who transgress them.
In the...
TEFILA (Jewish prayer): Introduction.
Praying is an innate tendency of any human being who believes in God. Since God is all-powerful, merciful and compassionate, man would naturally make...
The 13 Principles of Judaism: # 10. God knows everything.
The Tenth principle asserts that God is omniscient, i.e., He knows everything.
His knowledge, obviously, is completely unlike our knowledge. We acquire knowledge while "His knowledge is...
