TEFILA: matir asurim, appreciating our ability to move
ברוך אתה ה´ אלוקינו מלך העולם מתיר אסורים
The expression matir asurim, "HaShem sets free those who are imprisoned" appears in the book of Psalms...
The Tenth of Tebet and the Kaddish haKelaly
This coming Friday, December 25th 2012, we observe the fast of the Tenth of Tebet. We remember the siege of Yerushalaim, in the year...
The Tenth of Tebet and the Greek Translation of the Tora
Yesterday we mentioned two of the three events that we remember in the Tenth of Tebet (see here). Once again, it is important to clarify...
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...
