by Joel Rich
How widespread is the practice of having an aveil daven on rosh chodesh up to, but not including, yishtabach? What is halachically gained by this practice? (During a regular shacharit as well?)
From Nefesh Hachayim loose translations – addressed to whom?
Chapter 3:8: “With my eyes I saw one place some men who were habituated in this significant time until they almost forgot the time for mincha as set by Chazal. To the contrary, they established in their hearts out of habituation, like a set law, that mincha was primarily after the stars come out”
Chapter 9:1: “And thus in these generations, due to our great sins, it is the opposite, the high are lowered, that many have made their primary set learning most days only in books of awe and morals, in their saying this is what man should always be immersed in in this world, because they light the soul and then his heart will surrender and be broken from its desires and be straight with good ethical characteristics. And the crown of torah is left in a neglected corner”
- Rabbi Etan Schnall-Davening for Personal Needs on Shabbos and Yom Tov
Seemingly contradictory sources on bakashot on Shabbat. Maybe they are allowed if they are: Standard text; Unique event; or Related to community or ruchniyut.
- Rabbi Zev Smith-נגילה ונשמחה בך
We have the time and ability to learn and must use our ratzon to raise the bar on limud torah.
- Rabbi Netanel Wiederblank-Is desire a good thing? Understanding the Tree of Knowledge
There are varying opinions as to what change was engendered by the eitz hadaat. Adam always had bechira but not ratzon [Ramban] or true/false (objective) vs. good/bad (subjective) [Rambam]. Either way it’s not simple.
- Rabbi Shraga Kallus-Great “Chops” From Even Greater Rabbis
Stories illustrating the practical insights of the gedolim.
- Rabbi Zev Smith-Honoring the Torah – A Halachik Perspective
Kavod hatora may be duraita. Various practical applications discussed including: Standing; Bringing to aveil’s home; Maftir; Rabbis speech; and Hakafot.
- Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-An Appreciation of Rav Tendler zt”l
R’Tendler was very demanding of himself and of poskim. He was always very prepared and devoted to his family and talmidim. His more well-known positions were on: Brain death, Abortion, Har habayit and Tcheilet.
- Rabbi Jonathan Ziring-What is the Purpose of Prayer?
First in a series on prayer. R’Chaim understood prayer in the context of being in front of HKBH, R’YBS viewed it in the context of communication and R’Hirsch viewed it in the context of reflection. To R’YBS, prayer defines the nature of the religious personality.
- Rabbi Dr. Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff-Rav Menashe Klein: Non-Jewish Name in a Get From a Husband Who Converted to Christianity. Non-Jewish Clothing. Second Day Yom Tov and Prime Minister Bennett’s Visit to the U.S.
Topics include: Ida Nudel’s Israel experience; More on secular names in general; Secular name in a get (case study); Secular name as a badge of honor; and Acceptable clothing styles.
- Dr. Scott Goldberg-No Talmid Left Behind: Reorienting our Approach to Chinuch
There’s a taxonomy of the development of intellect and learning. Learn more about it here.
- Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman-Chinuch Advice from Pirkei Avos
Respect your students by being prepared, relevant and considerate of each student’s needs.
- Rabbi Aaron Buechler-Women and Handguns
Are weapons considered beged ish? Maybe, but it shouldn’t keep women from carrying them when necessary.
- Rabbi Dr. Jeffrey Woolf-Living in Two Worlds: Business and Professions in Judaism
Working men can be bnai torah, it’s a matter of attitude.
- Rabbi Yoni Levin-Extreme Sports: Skydiving and Bungee Jumping
It’s all about risk/reward trade-offs. Now what profession would be good at that?
- Rabbi Jeremy Wieder-Sichah – Tzelem Elokim
Tzelem elokim is the basis of our humanity and the source of our special obligations to each other. Losing sight of this can lead to a slippery slope. Examples today are animal rights, assisted suicide and disparate administration of death penalties.
- Rabbi Assaf Bednarsh-Bava Batra shiur 8 (חלוקת השותפין, בית כנסת)
How does a goral technically work in assigning ownership between partners? When (and why) may we take down a shul to build another one.
- Rabbi Shay Schachter-Can a Family Sit Shiva Before the Relative Passes Away?
HKBH sat shiva in advance of the death of the dor hamabul but we wouldn’t sit in advance of an individual’s death.
- Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz-Ten Minute Halacha – Hatavas Chalom
Just ignore bad dreams, especially in eretz yisrael.
- Rabbi Yoni Mandelstam-Relying on Miracles
In general we don’t rely on miracles but perhaps we don’t ignore the possibility of small ones.
- Rabbi Reuven Brand-The Weekly Torah Controversy: Introduction & Perspectives on Our Spiritual Role Models
Learn from both the strengths and imperfections of the great ones.
- Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman-Introduction to Hezek Reiyah
Is hezek riah about damages or shared responsibilities?
- Rabbi Dr. Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff-R’ Meir Kahane: Russian Jewry, JDL, Problems R’ Kahane Saw in Israel
Defining R’M Kahane’s problem statements for U.S. and Israeli Jewry.
- Rabbi Efrem Goldberg-Noach: Be a Mensch Before a Tzaddik
Parshat Noach thoughts including: First be a mensch, then a tzadik; Reduce drama; Leave spiritual children; Believe in yourself; Use proper language; and Keep your priorities straight.
- Rabbi Zev Smith-Solutions to Situations of Safek Beracha
Some say safeik brachot lhakheil is only by birchat hamitzvot (since by birchat hanehenin eating w/o a bracha is assur) but the counter pressure is from using HKBH’s name lvatala. A number of workarounds are discussed (e.g., Aramaic, writing, saying from learning text). Generally interesting topic—purposely causing a bracha sheina tzricha.
- Rabbi Zev Smith-The Sandak in Halacha
Who should (and shouldn’t) be sandak (and how often)? There are a number of considerations, the main thing is to do the right thing by HKBH.
- Rabbi Yehoshua Grunstein-Can a ISRAELI VISITOR to MANHATTEN fly out on Yom Tov Sheni?
PM Bennet shouldn’t have travelled on yom tov sheini.
- Rabbi Tanchum Cohen-Birkas ha-Torah: Two Opinions in Lomdus and Halacha, Dual Aspects in Machshava
Is birchat hatora a bracha on the mitzvah or the cheftza of Torah (encounter with HKBH)? Torah is both a necessity and a luxury.
- Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner-King Solomon’s Arc #1: Introduction
First in a series on understanding King Shlomo. What is included in the books Shmuel vs. Mlachim vs. Divrei Hayamim and why? The contrasts between Kings David and Shlomo are worth considering.
- Rabbi Jeremy Wieder-KJ’s Dr. William Major Memorial Advanced Shiur in Talmud with Rabbi Dr. Jeremy Wieder
Discussion of birchat hatora (Rambam and Ramban) and kriat shma status.
- https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1012902/rabbi-evan-hoffman/introduction-to-history-of-anti-semitism/.
rabbi-evan-hoffman/introduction-to-history-of-anti-semitism/.
- >href=”https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1012967/rabbi-dovid-gottlieb/shabbos-candles-why,-who,-what-and-when-(part-1)/”> Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb-Shabbos Candles: Why, Who, What and When (part 1)
Shabbat candles (Part I) issues include: Chova; Segula; Kavod; Oneg; Who lights; Where; and Why.
This first in a series on the history of anti-Semitism outlines the curriculum and some of the basic theories
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