by Rabbi Dov Linzer Posted on August 4, 2016
This shiur focuses on the question of whether the mitzvah of shofar on Rosh HaShana is to blow or to hear the shofar. In addition to addressing some of the halakhic aspects of that question, it attempts to see how the טעמי המצוה interact with its halakhic formulation, and how this enables a fuller way of resolving some of the halakhic tensions between hearing and blowing.…
Rabbi Dov Linzer (Posted on July 26, 2016)
From the Lindenbaum Center for Halakhic Studies
Rabbi Dov Linzer (Posted on July 26, 2016)
From the Lindenbaum Center for Halakhic Studies
by Rabbi Dov Linzer Posted on July 5, 2016
The holiday of Shavuot is generally assumed to commemorate the giving of the Torah, which occurred on the sixth of Sivan. In the Torah, however, Shavuot is only described as an agricultural holiday and occurs not on any particular calendrical date, but at the culmination of seven weeks from the beginning of the harvest season that occurs on the second day of Pesach.…
by Rabbi Ysoscher Katz Posted on July 5, 2016
To read this hebrew article, click here.…
by Rabbi Ysoscher Katz Posted on July 5, 2016
To read this Hebrew article, click here.…
by Rabbi Avi Weiss Posted on July 5, 2016
God has blessed Toby and me with three wonderful children: Dena, Elana and Dov. We were also blessed with a fourth child born between Elana and Dov. His name was Yitzchak Rafael. It will be 40 years ago this coming December that Yitzchak Rafael came into this world. …
by Rabbi Nathaniel Helfgot Posted on July 5, 2016
From a purely halakhic point of view, we generally regard Chanuka and Purim as equal in status. Both festivals are de-rabanan (rabbinically mandated), and the issue of “pirsum ha-nes” (publicizing the miracle) is central to both of them. This trend of thought finds expression in the Rambam’s Mishneh Torah.…
by Rabbi Avi Weiss Posted on July 5, 2016
May women read the Megillah for other women, and for that matter, may women read the Megillah for men? This was originally written for the Torah U-Maddah Journal in 1999. Click here to read the full piece.…
by Rabbi Avi Weiss Posted on July 5, 2016
Please enjoy this recording of a High Holidays Sermon that Rav Avi gave in California last month. Click here for the PDF source sheet. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4…
by Rabbi Avi Weiss Posted on May 25, 2016
The literal approach to the Haggadah’s four children is straightforward. On four different occasions, the Torah describes questions asked by children about Passover. Based on the language of the question, the author of the Haggadah labels each of them. One questioner is described as wise, the second rebellious, the third simple, and the fourth not even knowing how to ask.…
by Rabbi Avi Weiss Posted on May 25, 2016
Survivors of the Shoah encounter the experience through what can be called “pure memory.” Their relationship to the event is direct, with very little intervening. As we move further away from the Shoah, and we who were not there seek to remember, symbols may be required to help us.…
