MAIMONIDES on ‘aboda zara, 11:4. Judging Eli’ezer
Last week we explained that the Tora forbids nihush -divination- the reading of divine signs in natural or trivial events or in certain arbitrary signals that...
SHABBAT: Treating a medical condition on Shabbat
Last week we discussed the cases of medical emergencies on Shabbat. We explained that when we know or even suspect that the patient's life...
When does HaShem reject our prayers?
ישעיה פרק א15. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even when you offer to me many prayers, I...
Rabbi Abraham Zacuto (1452-1515)
Rabbi Abraham Zacuto was born in Salamanca, Spain in 1452. He studied Tora with his father Shemuel Zacuto and with rabbi Isaac Abohab. He...
MAIMONIDES ‘aboda zara 11:4. Let’s flip a coin!
Last week we began to describe a pagan practice called "divination" which Maimonides in Hilkhot 'aboda zara 11:4 includes within the prohibition of idolatry....
SHABBAT, medical emergencies during Shabbat
As we have previously explained, in a case where we asses that there is danger to a person's life (hole sheyesh bo sakana), the rules...
Rabbi Moshe Alashqar (1466-1542)
Rabbi Moshe Alashqar (מהר"ם אלאשקר) was born in 1466 in Zamora, Spain. In 1492, when rabbi Moshe was 26 years old, the Jews were...
KASHRUT: What makes a fish Kosher?
The Tora says: "These you may eat, of all that are in the waters. Everything in the waters that has fins and scales ... you...
Maimonides ‘Aboda Zara 11:4: Divination and other superstitions
People always longed to know what the future holds, either out of curiosity or mainly in order to anticipate unseen dangers. All ancient civilizations...
Halloween
QUESTION FROM A READER: Since we came to America, we celebrate Thanksgiving, is it OK for my family and I to celebrate Halloween? There are significant...
