Category: Moadim/Holidays

See and Sanctify

by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on March 15, 2018

החדש הזה לכם ראש חדשים – This month, the month of Nissan, shall be for you the first of the months.  So opens parashat HaChodesh.  It is the first mitzvah given to the Children of Israel, to sanctify the months – כזה ראה וקדש – like this, when the moon, in the midst of darkness, appears once again, like this shall you see and sanctify.…

Reading the Megillah in English

Rabbi Avram Schwartz
(Posted on February 26, 2018)
From the Lindenbaum Center for Halakhic Studies

Rabbi Meir Ben Zion Hai Uziel (1880-1953) was the Rishon Li’tziyyon (Sephardi Chief Rabbi) at the time of the founding of the State of Israel. He served as Chief Rabbi of Salonica, a major Jewish community pre- World War II, and of Tel Aviv.…

There’s No Going Home Again? – Where Do Travelers, Guests, and College Students Light Hanukkah Candles?

by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on December 14, 2017

Many of us fondly remember precious moments with our families during Hanukkah – lighting candles, singing songs, eating latkes, and playing dreidel. The family-oriented strand of this holiday is actually deeply woven into its mitzvot and halakhic requirements. The obligation rests not on the individual, as is the case with almost all other mitzvot, but on the household as a unit, ner ish u’veito, a candle for the person and his household.…

Urban Living: Where to Light Your Menorah

Rabbi Avram Schwartz
(Posted on December 12, 2017)
From the Lindenbaum Center for Halakhic Studies

This teshuvah is the fourth in a series of teshuvot related to the yamim tovim. Check out the first, second, and third teshuvot as well. Each teshuvah is introduced with a small biography of the author, and teshuvot are chosen to reflect a diverse range of halakhic approaches featuring pre-modern and modern poskim from different geographical areas.…

Less Fire, More Light – Lighting Hanukkah Candles Without Burning Your House Down

by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on December 7, 2017

The story of Yosef and his brothers has, on the face of it, nothing to do with Hanukkah. But as it is often read right around Hanukkah time, it is not surprising that attempts have been made to find connections to Hanukkah.…

Is There a Bracha for Sukkah Hopping?

Rabbi Avram Schwartz
(Posted on October 3, 2017)
From the Lindenbaum Center for Halakhic Studies

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Not Wearing Shoes Doesn’t Mean Going Barefoot

Rabbi Avram Schwartz
(Posted on September 26, 2017)
From the Lindenbaum Center for Halakhic Studies

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Time to Build the Sukkah!

by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on September 18, 2017

There is a practice to build the sukkah immediately following Yom Kippur, to begin involving ourselves with mitzvot as soon as possible so as to turn our teshuvah process into action. But building a sukkah is not just one mitzvah of many mitzvot; it can be seen as a model of how we can live our lives better in the year to come.…

The Prayers of Small Gestures

Rabbi Avram Schwartz
(Posted on September 12, 2017)
From the Lindenbaum Center for Halakhic Studies

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Should We Regret Making the Right Decision?

by Rabbi Haggai Resnikoff
Posted on July 31, 2017

  Much of the regret that we express on Tisha B’Av and the teshuva that we do is for sins of the past or for שנאת חנם which, though it still continues doesn’t indicate any specific moment or act. I have identified another theme in the Tisha B’Av story, which I feel may give us one more opportunity to do real teshuva on that day and in our lives.…

Panel Discussion- Jerusalem: Fifty Years On, Between Our Hearts and Minds

by Rabbi Nathaniel HelfgotDr. Tammy JacobowitzRabbi Steven Exler Posted on July 6, 2017

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On the Nature of Birkat HaTorah

by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on May 26, 2017

כי שם ה’ אקרא הבו גודל לא-לוהינו For the name of the Lord I proclaim; Give glory to our God (Devarim 32:3)   This verse, from Parashat Haazinu which we will be reading this Shabbat, Shabbat Shuva, is the basis for our daily recitation of Birkat HaTorah.…