Yeshua Centered Judaism

The Thirteen Principles

“The outstanding medieval Jewish philosopherMaimonides (Moses ben Maimon; or Rambam, from the initials of Rabbi Moses ben Maimon), 1135-1204, was physician to the Sultan Saladin and communal leader of Egyptian Jewry, as well as an important figure in the codification of Jewish law. His formulation of the basic principles of Judaism in a series of…

Minyan Becomes Less Than 10

Description: If A Minyan Becomes Less Than 10 During The Reading of Sefer Torah The Torah is read in the synagogue only in the presence of a Minyan, as the Shulhan Aruch rules (Orah Haim 143). The question arises as to whether the reading may continue if ten men were present when the reading began,…

Sefer Torah Barehanded

Description: The Prohibition Against Touching the Parchment of a Sefer Torah Barehanded It is forbidden to touch the parchment of the Sefer Torah with ones bare hands. As the Gemara discusses in Masechet Shabbat, the Sages enacted a prohibition against direct contact with the parchment, and they went so far as to say that one…

Understanding Brachos

A) The Talmudic Sources for the Meaning of the word “Brachah” as Applied to Hashem בבא מציעא קי״ד א:י״ט-כ״ד ויחזירו בהקדש קל וחומר מב”ח ומה בעל חוב שאין מסדרין מחזירין הקדש שמסדרין אינו דין שמחזירין אמר קרא (דברים כד, יג) ושכב בשלמתו וברכך יצא הקדש שאין צריך ברכה ולא והכתי’ (דברים ח, י) ואכלת ושבעת…

Mitzvah of Cancellation

The Mitzvah of Cancellation of Debts at the Conclusion of Shevi’it as it Applies to Women In the previous Halachot we have explained the basic laws of cancellation of debts by Shevi’it in that any debt one is owed and has been incurred by another as a loan and whose time for repayment has already…

Mishneh Torah

Structure of the 14 Books Mechon Mamre’s translation I have seen fit to divide this work into fourteen books: RaMBaM’s Complete Restatement of the Oral Law. Book 1 I include in it all the commandments that are the basic principles of the religion of Moshe [Moses] Our Teacher, which one needs to know at the outset–such as…

Mishneh Torah

בְּשֵׁם ה’, אֵל עוֹלָם (בראשית כא,לג) In the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God (Genesis 21,33) THE COMPLETE RESTATEMENT OF THE ORAL LAW (Mishneh Torah) The Law as it should actually be practiced by all in our day by the Master Teacher Moshe son of Maimon (also known as RaMBaM or Maimonides) in Hebrew…

Mishneh Torah

Positive Commandments א מִצְוָה רִאשׁוֹנָה מִמִּצְווֹת עֲשֵׂה, לֵידַע שֶׁיֵּשׁ שָׁם אֱלוֹהַּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמָר “אָנֹכִי ה’ אֱלֹהֶיךָ” (שמות כ,ב; דברים ה,ו). 1 The first of the positive commandments is to know that there exists God, as it is written “I am the LORD, thy God” (Exodus 20,2; Deuteronomy 5,6). ב לְיַחֲדוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמָר “ה’ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, ה’ אֶחָד” (דברים ו,ד). 2 …

Mishneh Torah

Negative Commandments 1 The first of the negative commandments is not to entertain the thought that there is any god but the LORD, as it is written “thou shalt have no other gods” (Exodus 20,2; Deuteronomy 5,6). 2 Not to make a graven image, neither to make oneself nor to have made for oneself by…

Cancellation of Debts

The Cancellation of Debts at the Conclusion of Shevi’it This year, 5775, is the Shemitta year, as we have discussed in the beginning of this year. There are therefore certain agricultural laws specific to the Land of Israel which apply during the Shemittayear. Besides for the Mitzvah of not working the land and the sanctity…

Torah Portion #49 Ki Tetze

Torah Portion #49 Ki Tetze (Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19) by tlmadmin on August 13, 2013 In this Torah Portion we read about many topics concerning laws for human relations. Topics include Marriage to a captive woman, rights of the firstborn and dealing with a rebellious son. More topics discussed are regulations for sexual purity and regulations concerning…

Torah Reading: KI SEITZEI

Torah Reading: KI SEITZEI Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19.Haftara: Isaiah 54:1-10. THE HOME AND THE FAMILY The opening mitzvah of the parshah, that of the beautiful captive, takes us directly inside the home, which is where the captive is taken to “grow her hair and nails”. Life in the home and in the family is a central theme…