Ritual Items | Machon Shilo

Romaine Lettuce is No Joke

Question: You wrote in a previous post: “Maror comes from the word "mar" meaning bitter. As everyone knows "bitter" is distinct from...

Wearing Tefillin on Chol haMoed Where Others Do Not

Question: I usually pray in a shul where they do not wear tefillin on Chol haMoed, however I do regularly wear them during this time,...

Maror: Lettuce or Horseradish?

Question: Is it preferable to use horseradish or lettuce for maror at the Seder? I have heard different opinions and am confused as are...

Removing Tefillin After Sunset

Question: If I say Mincha with tefillin on and then when I take them off it is already after shkiah (sunset) should I still say the...

Bracha when Removing One's Tefillin

Question: Is there a bracha for when taking off tefillin? If so, what is it and when does one say it? Answer: 1. The bracha is "Asher...

When to Say the Bracha when Putting on Tefillin

Question: If I put on tefillin more than once on a given day should I say the brachot on them each time? Answer: The Talmud Yerushalmi...

The Bracha on Tallit Katan

Question: Which bracha should I make upon putting on my tallit katan? Answer: One should make the bracha "lehitatef betzitzit" upon...

Wearing Tzitzit at Night

Question: Should I wear tzitzit at night as well as during the day? Answer: Yes, the mitzvah of tzitzit applies at night as well. 9th of...

Saying the Bracha on Tzitzit

Question: Should I say the bracha on tzitzit each time I put them on during the course of the day? Answer: If one takes off one's tzitzit...

Tying Tzitzit

Question: I have heard that you disagree with Rambam’s opinion regarding how one should tie tzitzit. I understand that you claim that...

The Ideal Etrog

Question: What type of etrog should I buy? Answer: One should buy a Yemenite etrog. 9th of Nisan, 5769 Friday, 03 April 2009

Taking the Lulav When the First Day of Sukkot Falls on Shabbat

Question: Should we take the lulav when the first day of Sukkot falls on Shabbat? Answer: Yes, if you are a resident of Eretz Yisrael....

How many brachot on tefillin?

One, or two? Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Can we take lulav on Shabbat?

When the first day of chag falls of Shabbat, do we take our lulav?

Taking lulav

What brachot do we make in taking lulav, and when?

Lulav on Shabbat?

What should we do when the first day of Sukkot falls on Shabbat?

Checking tefillin

When do tefillin need to be checked? Perhaps never. So says the Rambam, drawing on Hazal. As long as the housing is whole, you don't...

Wearing a Tallit During Avelut

Must an avel (mourner) wear a tallit? 2014-11-25 Ssissith Aveluth-Moe'd Qattan 15a-Brakhoth 18a

Wearing a Tallit Before Marriage

2014-10-29 Bavli Qidushin 8a-29b-Ssissith

Do I Need to Check My Tefillin?

Question: 1. The last time my tefillin were checked was 10 years ago. Nothing major has happened to them. Should they be checked...