There is a strange—little spoken about—law that my mind, particularly over the last few months, keeps re-visiting. The Talmud teaches that when one builds a synagogue or house of study the structure should preferably have windows (BT Berakhot 34b). Indeed, this idea is codified as law in the foundational legal code, the Shulhan Arukh (OH…
Tag: Rabbinic literature
Parashat Toldot
The parashat tells of the conflict between Jacob and Esau, of Isaac‘s passing off his wife Rebekah as his sister, and of Isaac’s blessing of his sons. http://www.sefaria.org/sheets/1118?embed=1
Shulchan Aruch – Chapter 29
Chapter 29 – Restrictions on Private Domains; Combining Private Domains It is rabbinically forbidden to move things more than four cubits in an unroofed private domain that is more than 100 cubits long or more than 5000 square cubits in area that is not used for residential purposes (see 358:1-14;359:1;360:1-3;362:1,4;372:2); and it is permitted to…
“Fortunate is the Nation Which Knows the Shofar Blasts”
The Midrash Rabba (Parashat Emor Chapter 29, Section 4) states regarding the verse, “Fortunate is the nation which knows the Shofar blasts”: “Rabbi Yoshiya said: Do the nations of the world not know how to blow? They have so many horns and so many trumpets! Rather, ‘The nation which knows the Shofar blasts,’ refers to…
The Custom of “Tashlich”
Following Mincha services of the first day of Rosh Hashanah, it is customary to go to a seashore, river, well, or pit in order to recite the order of “Tashlich.” If there is no river, lake, or pond in close proximity of one’s vicinity, it is likewise perfectly acceptable to recite the order of Tashlich…
Ramchal
Ch. 4: “Mans Standing in This World, and The Specific Ways Available to Him” Paragraph 3 As to our surroundings and circumstances, they and everything that goes on in them is physical and murky, too. Yet were forced by our makeup to partake in all that; after all, we have to eat and drink, earn…
Lashon Hara
Lashon Hara I would like to bring attention to the issue of our speech. It seems there are cases where we openly attack other believers in the Messiah. Be they called Christians, Messianic Jews, Messianic Believers, Believers, we should not make disparaging comments about what they are called, we should not take pot shots as…
Tannis Daf 30
The Mishna had stated that on the eve of Tisha B’Av, a man may not eat two cooked dishes, he may not eat meat, and he may not drink wine. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel maintains that he should change from his usual manner of eating. Rabbi Yehudah obligates upsetting the bed, and the Sages did…
Sfas Emes, Parshas Pinchos, 5631
Parshas Pinchas By Dr. Nosson Chayim Leff Sfas Emes, Zechuso Tagein Aleinu, Parshas Pinchos, 5631 It helps to see this ma’amar in its historical context. Pinchos had stopped the outburst of aveira (sin), and the ensuing plague. Accordingly, HaShem had promoted Pinchos to the status of full-fledged kohein. The parsha’s first Medrash Rabba…
Halacha Yomit
Opening a Door Which Has Electric Light Bulbs Attached to It Question: May one open the door or lid of a fish tank on Shabbat in order to feed the fish if there are light bulbs attached to the door? Answer: In the previous Halachot we have explained that one may not move a candle or any object that…
Chapter 19 – WORK STARTED BEFORE THE SABBATH
It is permitted to start a process before the Sabbath that will continue by itself on the Sabbath, even if this causes work to be done on the Sabbath, unless there are grounds for suspecting that someone will interfere with the process on the Sabbath, or unless the process is noisy and those who hear…
Daf Notes 29a
The Mishna had stated that on the ninth of Av it was decreed against our ancestors that they would not enter the Land. The Gemora inquires as to the source for that. We have learned in a braisa that on the twenty-ninth day of Sivan Moshe sent out the spies, and it is written: “And…
Yeshua Centered Judaism 
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