Question: Is it halachically permissible to drink brandy, cognac, or champagne produced without kashrut supervision? Answer: In the previous Halacha we have explained the law that our Sages imposed a prohibition on a non-Jew’s wine and usually, the wine is not only forbidden to consume, it is likewise forbidden to benefit from. Regarding the above…
Tag: Sephardic
Non-Jewish Wine
Question: If kosher wine is served at a kosher restaurant and poured by a non-Jewish waiter, is the wine forbidden for consumption? Answer: In olden times, idolatrous non-Jews would customarily pour wine as a libation offering to their various idols and deities. This was quite a common practice. Such wine is forbidden for consumption or…
Mashiv Ha’Ruach
The Laws of Mentioning “Mashiv Ha’Ruach” We Begin Reciting “Mashiv Ha’Ruach” “Mashiv Ha’Ruach U’Morid Ha’Geshem” is a praise we recite to Hashem during the winter months within the “Mechayeh Ha’Metim” blessing of the Amidah as is printed in all Siddurim. We begin reciting “Mashiv Ha’Ruach U’Morid Ha’Geshem” in the Mussaf prayer of Simchat Torah (outside…
Jews of Aleppo
The Jews of Aleppo by Sarina Roffé Sarina Roffé is a career journalist and holds a masters in Jewish Studies. She has researched numerous genealogies including the Kassin and Labaton rabbinic dynasties ans is considered an expert in Aleppan Jewry. She is a member of Brooklyn’s Syrian Jewish community and the Jewish Genealogical Society,…
Motza’ei Yom Kippur-Unique Laws for this Year
Adding From the Mundane Onto the Holiness One must add some of the mundane weekday onto the holiness of Yom Kippur upon its exit, i.e. one should not end this holy day immediately with nightfall; rather, one should wait another few minutes. Thus, it is prohibited to eat or perform work on Motza’ei Yom Kippur…
Erev Yom Kippur
The Mitzvah to Eat on Erev Yom Kippur The Torah (Vayikra 23) states: “And you shall oppress yourselves on the ninth of the month at night,” meaning that the obligation to fast on Yom Kippur begins from the night of the tenth of Tishrei. Our Sages (Berachot 8a) inquired about the language of the verse,…
Laws of Yom Kippur
Eating and Washing One’s Self Yom Kippur Some Laws of Yom Kippur All are obligated to fast on Yom Kippur, including pregnant and nursing women. Any woman whose health is at risk due to the fast should consult a prominent Torah scholar who is well-versed in these laws and he should render his ruling whether…
The Ten Days of Repentance
The Ten Days of Repentance The Gemara in Masechet Berachot (12b) states: “Rabba bar Chinena said in the name of Rav: Throughout the year, one recites (in the Amida prayer) ‘Ha’el Ha’Kadosh’ and ‘Melech Ohev Tzedakah U’Mishpat’ besides for the ten days beginning with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur when one recites…
The Fast of Gedalya this Year (5775)
The Fast of Gedalya is on the third of Tishrei, which is the day Gedalya ben Achikam was killed, the remaining flame of Israel was extinguished, and, as a result of his murder, their exile came about. All this is recorded in the book of Yirmiyah (Chapter 40 and on). This year (5775), the third…
Don Fernando Aguilar’s Amazing Shofar
On August 2, 1492, a young sailor named Christopher Columbus departed Spain. As his ships sailed out of Seville’s harbor, he noted something curious: thousands of men, women and children were desperately cramming into boats and ships. That day was the final deadline for all Jews to leave the Spanish kingdom. King Ferdinand and Queen…
The Customary Order of Rosh Hashanah
The Customary Order of Rosh Hashanah It is customary to eat certain symbolic foods during the two nights of Rosh Hashanah which signify good fortune for the entire upcoming year. It is therefore customary to eat black-eyed peas, pumpkin, leek, spinach, dates, pomegranates, apples dipped in honey, and meat of a sheep’s head on the…
Eruv Tavshilin
The Eruv Tavshilin One Should Make this Year (Rosh Hashanah-5775) and the Laws of Showering on Yom Tov In the previous Halacha, we have explained the laws of candle-lighting on both days of Rosh Hashanah. We have mentioned that when Yom Tov coincides with Erev Shabbat (Friday), one should place an Eruv Tavshilin, as we…
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