Va’eira: Avoiding the Appearance of Idolatry in Prayer
When Pharaoh begs Moshe to stop the hail, Moshe agrees: “When I leave the city, I will extend my hands towards Hashem; the claps will cease, and the hail...
Terumah: Gehinnom on Shabbat
A number of Midrashim indicate that the departed sentenced to Gehinnom enjoy a kind of reprieve on Shabbat. This is not brought as a mere curiosity, but on the contrary comes...
Mishpatim: Not to Dun a Destitute Borrower
Our parsha admonishes the lender, “When you lend money to My people, to the poor among you, don’t be to him as a collector; don’t impose interest on him” (Shemot 22:24)....
Yitro: Bringing Joy to the Bride and Groom
The Tur (EHE 65) writes: “It is a great mitzva to bring joy to the bride and groom, and dance before her… And it says in the Midrash: “Why didn’t the...
Beshalach: Mitzva of Dwelling in Eretz Yisrael
The previous two columns were devoted to the special laws relating to the seven species which the Torah recounts as the special praise of the Land of Israel. Rav Natan of...
Bo: Blessing on the 7 Species (Part 2)
As we mentioned last week, there are special rules of blessing for the “seven species” mentioned in the Torah as the praise of the Land of Israel: Wheat, barley, grapes, figs,...
Va’eira: Blessing on the Seven Species (Part I)
While we are required to make a blessing on any food we eat, there are special rules for the “seven species”, the seven kinds of produce mentioned in the Torah as...
Shemot: Cholent
Some pronounce it in one syllable: CHOLNT Virtually all Jewish communities evolved some form of cholent, some kind of bean or barley stew which is sealed up in the oven to...
Vayechi: Blessing the Sons
It is an old custom for the parents to bless their children on Shabbat night after Shabbat prayers. (Mentioned in siddurim from the early Acharonim.) The blessing for the sons begins...
Vayigash: Adjoining Geula to Tefillah
The Gemara tells us that there is special merit in adjoining geula (the blessing Ga’al Yisrael following the shema) to tefillah (the amida prayer), meaning that he makes no interruption in...
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