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Cheshvan Yahrtzeits Include: 1. Bluzhever Rebbe/Reb Shmuel Kunda/Rav Shlomo Lorincz2. Rav Simcha Wasserman3. Rav Itzeleh Volozhiner/Rav Yisroel of Ruzhin/Rav Eliezer of Dzikov/Rav Ovadia Yosef4. Piaseczner Rebbe5. Maayanah shel Torah/Rav Avrohom Er…

The Question: I see many shuls have a minyan for Maariv right after Mincha, but isn't that too early to daven since it's not the time when three stars come out? The Answer: Hi, thank you for your submission and feedback! To clarify, we need to de…

The Levush (669:1) explains this week's selected Haftorah’s connection to Parshas Lech Lecha in pasuk 41:2: “Who inspired [the one] from the East, who would proclaim His righteousness and at [every] footstep?" The verse concludes, "May h…

Rambam: Mishneh Torah, Foreign Worship and Customs of the Nations The Story of Idolatry and How Our Father Avraham Discovered Hashem Trans. by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, Moznaim Publishing Courtesy of: www.sefaria.org/texts   Chapter 1 Law 1 בִ…

Parshas Lech Lecha states, "And you shall no longer be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I make you the father of a multitude of nations." It is remarkable to note that to this day, Abraham is considered the father of billions of peo…

1. Source To Learn Halachos Thirty Days Before Rosh Hashanah: Gemara Pesachim (6A) tells us that 30 days before Pesach, we begin learning the halachos of Pesach. Seder Hayom says the obligation applies to Rosh Hashanah, too. Sources: Seder Hayom…

The best way to discard the Lulav and Esrog is to burn them with the Chametz before Pesach (Mishna Berura). If this is not possible, these items are Tashmishei Mitzva, Holy articles used for a Mitzva, and one should place them out in a field or some…

Be prepared in advance for the Zman. Gather the necessary holy texts and essential supplies. Cultivate the right mindset, resembling the determination and focus of an Olympic athlete before a marathon. Select your chavrusa wisely. Pairing study p…

Isru Chag (אסרו חג, lit. 'Bind [the] Festival') refers to the day after each of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals. The phrase originates from Psalms 118:27, which states, "Bind the festival offering with cords to the corners of the altar." Accor…

An abridged version of Selichos is said on Erev Yom Kippur, and During Shacharis, Mizmor L'sodah, Tachanun, and Lamenatzei'ach are omitted. Avinu Malkeinu is recited this year (as Yom Kippur coincides with Shabbos). The minhag of Kapparos should be…

Rama cites the custom of reciting the Tashlich (lit. "to cast") prayer by a body of water on Rosh Hashanah. This prayer asks God to cast away our sins. The Maharil explains that we recite it near water based on a Medrash that tells how When Avraham …

The transcribed speeches of the Chasam Sofer (Volume two, page 356) record that three days before Rosh Hashana, one should boost one's focus on repentance in light of the upcoming Day of Judgment. The Chasam Sofer also cited the Shelah Hakodesh, who…

Selichos (for Ashkenazim) begin this Motzaei Shabbos, September 28th.  Selichos are generally recited each morning before davening, although some say it the night before (after chatzos, according to many).  One should say Birchas Hatorah…

The mitzvah to write a Torah scroll (מצוות כתיבת ספר תורה)  Sefer Devarim 31/19:וְעַתָּ֗ה כִּתְב֤וּ לָכֶם֙ אֶת־הַשִּׁירָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את וְלַמְּדָ֥הּ אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל שִׂימָ֣הּ בְּפִיהֶ֑ם לְמַ֨עַן תִּֽהְיֶה־לִּ֜י הַשִּׁירָ֥ה הַזֹּ֛את לְעֵ֖ד בִּבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃  Therefore, write down this poem and teach it to the people…

Uman (Ukrainian: Умань, IPA: [ˈumɐnʲ]) is a city in Cherkasy Oblast, central Ukraine. It is located to the east of Vinnytsia. Situated in the east of the historical region of Podolia, the city rests on the banks of the Umanka River. For more than a…

The verse "הוּא עָשָֽׂנוּ וְלוֹ (וְלֹא) אֲנַֽחְנוּ" contained in this chapter of Tehillim can be read in two ways: "וְלוֹ" (He created us, and we are His) or "וְלֹא" (He created us, and we did not create ourselves). The Sfas Emes, quoting his grandfather, the Chidushe…

Source To Learn Halachos Thirty Days Before Rosh Hashanah Gemara Pesachim (6A) tells us that 30 days before Pesach, we begin learning the halachos of Pesach. Ben Yehoyada says the obligation applies to Rosh Hashanah too. Sources: Ben Yehoyada: Eruvi…

Focus on making the bracha of "shehakol nihiyah bed'varo" with concentration. For the month of Elul, wash Netilas Yadayim next to your bed in the morning. (The Chofetz Chaim highly encourages this.) Arrange a Mussar study session with a partner …

Moshe directed the Israelites to appoint judges (שֹׁפְטִים‎) and officials for their tribes to govern the people with justice, with impartiality, and without bribes. "Justice, justice shalt thou follow," he said. Moshe warned the Israelites against …

1 Elul (1313 BCE) (Wednesday)Moses ascends Mount Sinai for 3rd set of 40 days [2 Elul]First printing of the Shulchan Aruch, near Tzfat, 1555. [3 Elul]Birthdate of the Meiri, 1240.Yahrzeit of Rav Kook zt”l, 1935. He died 16 years to the day o…

בָּרוּךְ שֶׁאָמַר וְהָיָה הָעוֹלָם. בָּרוּךְ הוּא. בָּרוּךְ עוֹשֶׂה בְרֵאשִׁית. בָּרוּךְ אוֹמֵר וְעוֹשֶׂה. בָּרוּךְ גּוֹזֵר וּמְקַיֵּם. בָּרוּךְ מְרַחֵם עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ. בָּרוּךְ מְרַחֵם עַל־הַבְּ֒רִיּוֹת. בָּרוּךְ מְשַׁלֵּם שָׂכָר טוֹב לִירֵאָיו. בָּרוּךְ חַי לָעַד וְקַיָּם לָנֶֽצַח. בָּרוּךְ פּוֹדֶה וּמַצִּיל. בָּרוּךְ שְׁמוֹ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הָאֵל הָאָב הָרַחֲמָן הַמְ֒הֻלָּ…

The Gemarah in Tannis (30b-31a) provides six reasons for the joy of Tu B'Av. Among the reasons given is that on Tu B'Av, they ceased chopping wood for the mizbeach. This is because, from that day onward, the sun was no longer strong enough to dry th…

Tu B'Av (ט״ו באב, lit.' fifteenth of Av') is a minor Jewish holiday. It is called Tu B'Av because of the sound of the two Hebrew letters whose combined numerical value corresponds to that of the date (15). The value 15 is obtained by combining th…

Moshe tells the people of Israel how he implored G‑d to allow him to enter the Land of Israel, but G‑d refused, instructing him instead to ascend a mountain and see the Promised Land. Continuing his heavenly monologue, Moshe describes Exodus from E…