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Moadim (Jewish holidays) Posts

Information and informative articles about Jewish holidays.
Navigating the Transition: The Afternoon Purim Seudah into Shabbas and the Halachic Principle of Poreis Mapah U'Mekadeish
March 10, 2025

Navigating the Transition: The Afternoon Purim Seudah into Shabbas and the Halachic Principle of Poreis Mapah U'Mekadeish

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…
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10 Facts About TuBishvat
Feb. 11, 2025

10 Facts About TuBishvat

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…
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Why We Eat Donuts on Chanukah
Jan. 5, 2025

Why We Eat Donuts on Chanukah

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…
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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?
Dec. 23, 2024

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?

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)…
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Shloshim Yom Kodem Hachag - Elul and Tishrei: An essential guide for preparing for Yom Tov
Nov. 1, 2024

Shloshim Yom Kodem Hachag - Elul and Tishrei: An essential guide for preparing for Yom Tov

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…
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Isru Chag: A Comprehensive Overview of This Additional Day of Holiness
Oct. 26, 2024

Isru Chag: A Comprehensive Overview of This Additional Day of Holiness

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…
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Laws and Customs of Erev Yom Kippur
Oct. 10, 2024

Laws and Customs of Erev Yom Kippur

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…
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Torah & Tu B'Av
Aug. 19, 2024

Torah & Tu B'Av

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…
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The Enigmatic Jewish Holiday of Tu B'Av
Aug. 18, 2024

The Enigmatic Jewish Holiday of Tu B'Av

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…
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Three Weeks Laws and Customs
July 18, 2024

Three Weeks Laws and Customs

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…
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Six Fascinating Facts That make Lag Ba'omer a memorable and more festive day
May 22, 2024

Six Fascinating Facts That make Lag Ba'omer a memorable and more festive day

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)…
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BeHaB Fast Days
May 12, 2024

BeHaB Fast Days

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…
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March 28, 2024

"30 days before Pesach, we begin learning the halachos of Pesach."

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…
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Taanis Esther
March 21, 2024

Taanis Esther

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 …
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Purim Katan
Feb. 21, 2024

Purim Katan

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 …
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Tu BiShvat (ט״ו בִּשְׁבָט)
Jan. 23, 2024

Tu BiShvat (ט״ו בִּשְׁבָט)

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…
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