Important and meaningful content on the Moadim (Jewish holidays) Posts

On Shavuos, the Rema (494:3) writes that one should eat dairy foods, and over time, cheesecake has become a beloved and iconic dish associated with the chag.  When it comes to the proper brachos to recite before and after eating cheesecake, on…

Part 1: The Shulchan Aruch (249:2) rules that on Friday, one is prohibited from eating a large meal that is not typically consumed on a weekday. The Rama adds that a seudah [mitzvah] that falls on Friday, such as a bris or pidyon haben, is permitte…

Tu BiShvat, or the "New Year of the Trees," is a Jewish holiday celebrated on the 15th of Shevat in the Hebrew calendar. Tu BiShvat is named after its occurrence on the fifteenth day of Shevat in the Hebrew calendar. "Tu" represents the Hebrew lett…

There is a longstanding custom in Klal Yisrael to eat donuts on Chanukah, which dates back to the time of the Rambam’s father, Rabbi Maimon ben Yosef. Sefer Sarid Upalit (p. 8) cites his words: "One should not be lenient with any custom, even…

Question: What is the background on spending money on the menorah? Isn't the mitzvah about the candle and oil? If I purchase a menorah, is it better to buy silver than another material? Answer: This is no small question as the Mishna Berura (671:1)…

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…

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…

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…

The days between Shiva Aser B'tamuz and Tisha B'av are referred to as "Ben Hametzarim" (the dire straits) based on the verse in Eichah (1:3). Shibbolei Haleket (263) references the verse in Daniel (10:2), which says, "Daniel mourned for three weeks…

Six Fascinating Facts That make Lag Ba'omer a memorable and more festive day The Shulchan Aruch (493:2) mentions the custom of increasing joy on Lag Ba'omer because it's the day that the students of R' Akiva stopped dying. The Pri Chadash (ibid)…

BeHaB begins this coming Monday, May 13th. BeHaB is a series of three fast days on the Monday, Thursday, and subsequent Monday following the months of Tishrei and Nissan (BeHaB is an acronym for Beis (Monday), Hei (Thursday), Beis (Monday)). A Mi Sh…

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…

There are three reasons why we fast on Tannis Esther, and there is a practical difference between this fast and all the other fasts. The Tur (686:2) says the custom is to fast on Tannis Esther, the 13th of Adar. This custom is mentioned in Tosafos …

During leap years on the Hebrew calendar, Purim is celebrated in the second month of Adar. The 14th of the first Adar is then called Purim Katan ("Little Purim" in Hebrew), and the 15th is Shushan Purim Katan, for which there are no set observances …

Tu BiShvat (ט״ו בִּשְׁבָט‎) is a Jewish holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat. They are also known as Rosh HaShanah La'Ilanot (ראש השנה לאילנות‎), meaning "New Year of the Trees". The term "Tu BiShvat" is derived from i…