Rab Safra and Religious Integrity
The real test of integrity takes place when someone is faced between keeping his word and suffering a financial loss. King David expressed this...
BIOETHICS: Abortion and congenital disorders in Jewish law (2 of 4)
Other than for medical reasons (see for example, here) abortion is forbidden by Jewish Law. However, Jewish Law does not considered abortion as murder,...
Isaac Chayim haCohen Cantarini (Padua 1644-1723)
Rabbi Isaac Cantarini was born in Padua, Italy, in 1644. He was a rabbi, poet, writer and physician. He studied Talmud with Rabbi Salomon...
The 13 principles of Jewish faith: # 4 God is eternal (Part 1/2)
As we discussed last week (see here) since God is not a body, nothing associated with the physical realm can apply to Him. Sleep,...
ZEBED HABAT: Naming a baby girl (Part 2/2)
In our community it is customary to name the newborn with an Hebrew name and an English name. Sometimes these two names are related,...
Rabbinical Advice on Shidukhim
In the matter of Shidukhim --finding the future spouse-- the Shulchan Arukh (eben ha'ezer 2:2) writes that one should be mindful of certain red...
SHEMA ISRAEL: Pasuq 5. Love for God in actions and thoughts.
"And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes".
We are commanded to...
ZEBED HABAT: Naming a newborn baby girl (Part 1/2)
The name-giving of the daughter --known in Sephardic communities as Zebed haBat and in some Ashkenazi communities as Shabua haBat-- takes place usually during...
The 13 Principles: # 3 God does not have a body (Part 2/2)
Previously, we explained that God does not have a body or any resemblance to humans (see here).
So different is God from us that we...
Rabbis and Shidukhim (finding your spouse)
The Rabbis of the Talmud (=chazal) have given a few practical advices on Shidukhim, i.e., looking for the right spouse. The decision should be...
