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...
HILKHOT TESHUBA 2:1: Forgiveness and quality of life
Yesterday we explained that when somebody apologizes for an offense or for a wrong thing he or she did to us, we should be...
