RELIGIOUS INTEGRITY: Can we lie to avoid embarrasment?
The Tora instructed us to stick to the truth and stay away from lies. We have already seen, however, that in some exceptional cases...
HUPA: Why the ring?
As we previously explained, it is an ancient custom to use a ring for the wedding ceremony to do the Kiddushin or consecration of...
CHUPA: The wedding ring
Once the Rabbi who presides the wedding (Mesadder Kiddushin) pronounces the first two blessings (see here), the ceremony of Kiddushin (=consecration) takes place. The...
THE 13 PRINCIPLES. # 7. Moshe reached the highest level of Prophecy
Previously, we explained that we Jews believe that Moshe attained the highest level of prophecy (see here).
One of the differences between Moshe and all...
Rabbi David Pardo (1718-1790)
Rabbi David Pardo, (1718-1790) was a famous Sephardic Rabbi, a prolific author and a poet. He was born in Venice, Italy. At a young...
RELIGIOUS INTEGRITY: Three Kosher Lies (Part 2 of 2)
Last week we examined two of three cases in which the Rabbis said that one can deviate from the truth. The first one was masekhta,...
SHABBAT: From fire to electricity (Part 2)
Last week we explained that there are 39 categories of melakhotor creative activities, which we are not allowed to perform on Shabbat. One of them...
SEPHARDIC RABBIS: Isaac Shemuel Reggio (1784-1855)
The portrait of Rabbi Isaac Shemuel Reggio
Rabbi Reggio studied Tora under his father, and secular studies in the local gymnasium. At the age of fourteen...
RELIGIOUS INTEGRITY: Three Kosher Lies (Part 1 of 2)
Previously, we explained the value the Tora gives to saying the truth (see here). We also discussed one exception: shalom, peace which is above...
SHABBAT: From fire to electricity (Part 1)
There are 39 categories of forbidden activities in Shabbat. They are called melakhot. Melakhot are not necessarily hard work (see here), but (most of them)...
