by Rabbi Shlomo Sobol | Nov 15, 2008
Rabbi Shlomo Sobol Former Rosh Kollel in Detroit In Eretz Yisrael, we begin reciting “v’tein tal u’matar” (the petition for rain) on 7 Cheshvan, but in chu”l, they do not start until sixty days after “tekufat Tishrei”. One who forgets to recite “v’tein tal...
by Rabbi Harel Gordon | Jul 5, 2008
Rabbi Harel Gordon Former Rosh Kollel in Manhattan The final parshiyot of Sefer Bamidbar depict the inherent tension between the leadership, who serve as the public’s representatives, and the public itself. This tension is a natural result of the gaps, the...
by Rabbi Yossi Slotnick | May 31, 2008
Rabbi Yossi Slotnick Former Rosh Kollel in Cape Town (1997-1998) Currently Ra”m in Yeshivat Ma’ale Gilboa In honor of Yerushalayim, we will discuss the well-known halachah that one must face Eretz Yisrael, Yerushalayim, and theMikdash during the tefillah...
by Rabbi Yehuda David | Nov 10, 2007
Rabbi Yehuda David Former Rosh Kollel in Dayton Next week is Rosh Chodesh Kislev, a day when we recite hallel. As we know, hallel is recited on certain special days and holidays. In this article, we will address two issues: Is there a difference between the...
by Daniel Damboritz | Apr 14, 2007
Daniel Damboritz Former Shalaich in Manhattan The Rambam in Hilchot Tefilla (15:7) writes with regard to Birkat Cohanim that the Cohanim are simply a channel for Hashem’sblessing to Bnei Yisrael. The bracha is not the Cohanim’s bracha to Bnei Yisrael,...
by Howard Jackson | Oct 20, 2006
Rabbi Abahu said in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish: “… With regard to prayer in a Shul and the obligation to wash hands, the distance set by the Sages is four mil [1].”… Rabbi Yose the son of Rabbi Chanina said: “The aforementioned teaching only applies when one...
by Rabbi Shlomo Sobol | Apr 1, 2006
Every childbirth entails certain dangers that allow us to desecrate the Shabbat, and therefore, after childbirth the mother must recite Birtkat HaGomel. Usually, the mother is considered to be fully recovered seven days after the birth and she may then recite Birkat...
by Rabbi Moshe Spetter | Feb 11, 2006
The source for saying “Baruch hu u’varuch sh’mo” is the Tur, where the author (Rav Yaakov Baal HaTurim) quotes his father, the Rosh: I heard my father and teacher say “Baruch hu u’varuch sh’mo” each and every time that...
by Rabbi Moshe Aberman | Jan 14, 2005
Rav Moshe Aberman Former Rosh Kollel in Chicago If asked, most people would agree that tefilah is a central part of Jewish life. Tefilah is our prime form of communication with God, it forms and expresses the bond between Jews and functions on some level as a...
by Rabbi Moshe Aberman | Dec 13, 2003
In conclusion of our series on the laws pertaining to an oleh to the Torah, we will discuss a question debated by the Poskim. As we have previously noted the oleh should first see where the reading of the next section begins and then say the Bracha having that piece...
