Apr 181 minTefillin on Chol haMoedBoth Talmudhim indicate that one is to wear T'philllin during Hol HaMo'edh. The Rif, Rambam, Rosh and Tur all agree that the misswah...
Apr 181 minWhy we Omit the Temple on ShavuothThe minhag of staying up all night studying is only about 200 years old. The temple was the center of the holiday. The mishnah makes it...
Apr 121 minUnderstanding the Pesach HaggadahPart 1 Understand the Haggadah and what is essential and what you can skip (especially if you have young children). Proof from the...
Apr 121 minWhat Grains are Hametz?Which grains can become leavened? With which grains can one fulfill one's obligation to eat massa during the seder?
Mar 281 minWhy are Hazal Authoritative?What produces Halakhic authority? Was it the acceptance of the Jewish nation that created Hazal's authority, or was it the other way...
Mar 251 minThe Rambam's PhilosophyPart 1: Should you take the midrash literally? The Rambam defines the audience for his writings. See if you fit in. Part 2: The Rambam...
Mar 161 minThey Censored our TalmudPart 1: The gemara we have today - the Vilna edition - was printed by a non-Jew who did it for the money. No rabbinic council approved...
Feb 151 minThe GR"A Supports Torath Eress YisraelPart 1 Despite local Ashkenazi custom, the Gra rules to say boreh nephashoth with the name of Hashem, following the Jerusalem Talmud and...
Feb 151 minBirkath haTorahWhen is it appropriate to recite Birkath haTorah? The Rav speaks in Hebrew and English, and translates between the two.
Dec 24, 20211 minTefillat ha'tzibburPart 1 Rambam h' tefillah, perek 8. Is there a separate idea of hearing hazarat haShatz? Must one daven (lahash) in a minyan? Part 2 Is...
Dec 22, 20211 minPrayer at Graves and Other SuperstitionsWhen should aggada and midrash be taken literally?
Dec 22, 20211 minIntro to sheviit, 1:1An introduction to the mishnayot and yerushalmi on masechet sheviit. Rav Bar Hayim uses the perush of R Yehuda Felix ztz"l and helps...
Dec 21, 20211 minSheviit, 1:1Why are old halachot retained in the mishna? In general, the hachamim based their statements on Torah verses (אסמכתא). As explained by R...