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What should someone wear on Chol Hamoed? The Mechilta (12:16) brings a verse in Vayikra (23:2) to teach us that on Yom Tov and even on Chol Hamoed, one is obligated to sanctify the day with clothes and food. However, the dress code on Chol Hamoed …

Here's a clever tip for remembering short-term tasks, such as counting Sefiras Haomer at night: deliberately and slightly misplace an object, like your ring, watch, or phone. Rediscovering the displaced item will prompt your memory about the task at…

Rabbi Yechiel Yitzchak Perr (1935 - 2024) was an American-born rabbi known for founding and serving as the rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Derech Ayson (Yeshiva of Far Rockaway) in New York. His educational journey includes attending Mesivta Yeshiva Rabbi C…

The Parsha commences with the Kohen's practice on Yom Kippur. Following the death of Aaron's sons, G-d instructed Moshe to relay to Aaron the prohibition of entering the Most Holy Place (קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים‎, Kodesh Ha-Kodashim) at will, as it could resu…

There is a widespread custom to study one chapter of Pirkei Avos each Shabbas afternoon during the summer months. (Rema O.C. 292:2) Some observe the custom for the first six weeks following Pesach, thereby completing the entire tractate of Pirkei A…

After you've finally finished putting away your Pesach items, it's time to make Schlissel or Key Challah (shlissel challah, or key challah. Shlissel originates from the German word for key: shlüssel.) It is an old and established custom that on…

Rav Moshe ben Nachman (מֹשֶׁה בֶּן־נָחְמָן Mōše ben-Nāḥmān, "Moses son of Nachman"; 1194–1270), known as Nachmanides or Ramban, was born in Girona in 1194 and passed away in the Land of Israel around 1270. Descending from Rav Yitzchak ben Reuve…

Where does the custom to steal the Afikoman come from? The source is not clear, but the Chok Yaakov (472:2) says it could come from the Gemara in Pesachim (109a): The Gemara says, "We grab the matzah on pesach night so the children don't sleep." We…

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לַשֶּֽׂכְוִי בִינָה לְהַבְחִין בֵּין יוֹם וּבֵין לָֽיְלָה:  Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the Universe, Who gives the rooster understanding to distinguish between day and night.  The significance of a rooster'…

Hashem instructed Moshe on the ritual of cleansing those with Tzaraas. If the Kohen observed healing, he would procure two live, clean birds, cedar wood, crimson stuff, and hyssop. The Kohen would then sprinkle the blood seven times on the individu…

The Yerushalmi (Pesachim 10:1) prohibits eating matzah on "Erev Pesach." The Rishonim debate when this prohibition begins: Baal Hamaor (15b) says it's from the time chametz can no longer be eaten, the 6th hour into the day. Ramban (Milchemes 15b) le…

The Haggadah, meaning "telling" in Hebrew, is a significant Jewish text outlining the Passover Seder's sequence. It is a Jewish practice to read the Haggadah at the Seder table as an obligation for every Jew to narrate the story from the Book of Exo…

From the first of Nissan to the 13th of Nissan, it is customary to read about the Nasi of each day.  This tradition originates from the time after the inauguration of the Tabernacle, where a different Nasi of a tribe presented a sacrifice each…

In the Hebrew calendar, Nisan is significant as it marks the beginning of the ecclesiastical year. Described as the 'first of the months of the year' (Exodus 12:1-2), the 'first month' (Ex 12:14), and the month of Aviv (בְּחֹ֖דֶשׁ הָאָבִֽיב), it is celebrated…

Instructed by God, Moshe conveyed to the Israelites the regulations about the impurity of women after childbirth. A woman giving birth to a boy would be considered impure for seven days, followed by 33 days of purification. Conversely, if she gave b…

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁלֹּא עָשַֽׂנִי גּוֹי: Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the Universe, Who did not make me a gentile. Why do we make a bracha in the negative "that he didn't make us a goy" as opposed to the positive "״שאני יהודי (…

This week, instead of reading the regular Parshas Shemini haftarah, we read the haftarah for Parshas Hachodesh (Yechezkel 45:16-46:18).  Verse nine mentions that when leaving the Bais Hamikdosh, one should exit from the opposite gate of entry;…

The Rama (429:1) brings a custom to distribute wheat to the poor before pesach; this is known as maos chitim (money for wheat) or kimcha d'pischa (Passover flour). The Mishnah Berura (429:3) says this is an ancient custom from the times of the Gemar…

During the ordination ceremony for Kohanim and consecration of the Mishkan, Moshe instructed Aaron to gather calves, rams, a goat, a lamb, an ox, and a meal offering for sacrifices (קָרְבֳּנוֹת‎, korbanot) to present before God. Aharon blessed the pe…

אֵֽלּוּ דְבָרִים שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם שִׁעוּר הַפֵּאָה וְהַבִּכּוּרִים וְהָרְ֒אָיוֹן וּגְמִילוּת חֲסָדִים וְתַלְמוּד תּוֹרָה: אֵֽלּוּ דְבָרִים שֶׁאָדָם אוֹכֵל פֵּרוֹתֵיהֶם בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְהַקֶּֽרֶן קַיֶּֽמֶת לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, וְאֵֽלּוּ הֵן כִּבּוּד אָב וָאֵם וּגְמִילוּת חֲסָדִים וְהַשְׁכָּמַת בֵּית הַמִּדְרָשׁ שַׁחֲרִית וְעַרְבִית וְהַכְנָסַת אוֹרְ֒חִים וּבִקּוּר חוֹלִים וְהַכְנָסַת כַּלָּה וּלְוָיַת הַמֵּת וְעִיּוּן…

Harav Yechiel Michel Epstein (the Arukh HaShulchan) 1829–1908Harav Yechiel Michel ha-Levi Epstein, renowned as "the Aruch haShulchan" for his monumental Torah literary contribution, Harav Yechiel Michel ha-Levi Epstein, famous as "the Aruch ha…

This week, instead of reading the regular Parshas Tzav Haftorah, we read the Haftorah for Parshas Parah (Yechezkel 36:16-38). Maftir discusses the purification process of the Parah Adumah (red cow), executed when someone became ritually impure throu…

The Gemara in Pesachim (6A) tells us, "30 days before Pesach, we begin learning the halachos of Pesach." However, another Gemara in Megillah (32a) says we learn the halachos on Pesach itself, implying there's no obligation to know them before Pesach…

The Law Hashem instructed Moses and Aaron to educate the Israelites on the ritual Law regarding the Red Heifer (פָרָה אֲדֻמָּה‎, parah adumah) used for the water of purification. The heifer must be at least in its third year (i.e., two years plus a b…