Originally posted on Sefardi Beit Sefer:
In the previous Halacha, we have begun discussing the prohibition of verbal oppression between man and his fellow and between husband and wife. We shall now discuss some of the laws of verbal oppression based on the rulings of Maran Ha’Shulchan Aruch (Choshen Mishpat, Chapter 228). The Gemara (Baba Metzia 58b) states: “Our Sages taught: ‘One shall not oppress… Continue reading The Laws of Verbal Oppression

Originally posted on Sefardi Beit Sefer:
Verbal Oppression The Mishnah in Masechet Baba Metzia (58b) teaches, “Just as there is a prohibition to cheat in business, there is likewise a prohibition to verbally hurt someone else, as the verse states (Vayikra 25), ‘And one shall not oppress his fellow and you shall fear your G-d.’” Hurting someone with words is worse than cheating someone in… Continue reading Verbal Oppression

Originally posted on Sefardi Beit Sefer:
Question: Is there any source for lighting a candle on the day of a parent’s Yahrzeit (anniversary of death)? Can this custom be fulfilled by turning on an electric light or candle? Answer: A source for lighting a candle in honor of the deceased is mentioned in the Gemara (Berachot 52b) where the Mishnah states that the “Boreh Me’orei… Continue reading Yahrzeit Candles and Torah Study

Originally posted on Sefardi Beit Sefer:
By Popular Demand: When is it permissible to begin praying Shacharit? Many individuals must arrive at their places of work at a very early hour in the morning and would like to know when the earliest possible time to pray Shacharit is. Answer: Preferably, the time to pray Shacharit is from sunrise and on. This time is printed in… Continue reading Praying Shacharit Early

Originally posted on Sefardi Beit Sefer:
In the previous Halacha we have explained that one should preferably not pray Shacharit before sunrise. Nevertheless, workers who must arrive at their jobs early in the morning and do not have an opportunity to pray after sunrise may act leniently and pray beginning from dawn which is calculated as seventy-two seasonal minutes before sunrise. Since many people have… Continue reading The Proper Order of Prayer for a Workers’ Minyan

Originally posted on ancientchurchorders:
A very charitable review by Maria Doerfler may be found online at sites.duke.edu/medoerfler/publications-presentations/. The interesting and pertinent point is made that I do not make much of “how the DA may have functioned in its finalized form for its communities.” Fair comment… a matter to which I should return. Continue reading Review of Didascalia apostolorum available online

Originally posted on Sefardi Beit Sefer:
Shevi’it Wine Which Has Not Been Eliminated In the previous Halachot we have established that when any species of Shevi’it produce is no longer available in the field, one must eliminate it from one’s home (by means of Hefker). Fruits Whose Time for Elimination Has Already Arrived But Have Not Yet Been Eliminated The Baraita (Yoma 83a) states that… Continue reading Shevi’it Wine

Originally posted on Sefardi Beit Sefer:
Hannah’s Prayer In the Book of Shmuel (Chapter 1), an incident is recounted that Hannah, wife of Elkana, did not have children. When Hannah made a pilgrimage to the Mishkan (Tabernacle) in Shiloh, she cried to Hashem from the depths of her soul and vowed that if Hashem would give her a son, she would dedicate his life to… Continue reading Hannah’s Prayer

Originally posted on Sefardi Beit Sefer:
UNIVERSAL TORAH: VAYIGASH By Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum Torah Reading: VAYIGASH Gen. 44:18-47:27; Haftara: Ezekiel 37:15-2. “AND JUDAH STEPPED FORWARD.” The key to the dramatic encounter between Judah and Joseph with which our parshah of VAYIGASH begins is to be found in the Haftara our sages attached to this parshah: Ezekiel’s vision of the joining of the two sticks. One… Continue reading TORAH: VAYIGASH