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,...
