Kevurah: A. Eulogy/Hesped:[1] One does not say a Hesped on Rosh Chodesh[2], unless the person is a Torah Sage, and his body is present at the time of the Hesped.[3] Some opinions[4] rule that a Hesped should not be said even on the night of Rosh Chodesh. B. Tziduk Hadin:[5] […]
Placing plants and trees in the Shul and in one’s home on Shavuos
Placing plants and trees in the Shul and in one’s home:[1] It is customary to spread plants[2] and stand trees[3] in Shul and in one’s house in honor of Shavuos. [However, some Poskim[4] abolished this custom due to it being simialr to the gentiles.[5] Other Poskim[6] defend its practice. Practically, […]
Placing plants and trees in the Shul and in one’s home on Shavuos
This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com Placing plants and trees in the Shul and in one’s home:[1] It is customary to spread plants[2] and stand trees[3] in Shul and in one’s house in honor of Shavuos. [However, some Poskim[4] abolished this custom due to it […]
Tosefes Rosh Chodesh
Tosefes Rosh Chodesh:[1] There is a Biblical command to add to the time of the Shabbos and holidays in both its entrance and exit.[2] This means that one is to take in the Holiday prior to sunset and delay the leave of the Holiday past nightfall. It is disputed whether […]
The reasons mentioned behind eating dairy products on Shavuos
This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com What are the reasons mentioned behind eating dairy products on Shavuos? Commemoration of Shtei Halechem:[1] Dairy products are eaten in commemoration of the Shtei Halechem offering, which consisted of two loaves [i.e. two meals], which were brought on Shavuos. We […]
The names of the month
The names of the month:[1] A. The origin: The Yerushalmi[2] states that the names of the Hebrew months, Nissan, Iyar, Sivan etc, were brought down from Bavel, during the first exile [approximately in the 3200’s or 500 BC]. This teaches us that the names of the Hebrew months are not […]
The dispute of Rav Sadya Gaon [Rasag] and Rebbe Ahron Ben Meir of Eretz Yisrael
The dispute of Rav Sadya Gaon [Rasag] and Rebbe Ahron Ben Meir of Eretz Yisrael:[1] In the times of Rav Sadya Gaon [882-942] erupted one of the most infamous disputes with regards to the Jewish calendar that threatened a catastrophic split amongst the Jewish people regarding the dates of Rosh […]
One versus two days of Rosh Chodesh
One versus two days of Rosh Chodesh: A. Why in some months do we celebrate Rosh Chodesh two days and in some months only one?[1] Above we explained why there are months which contain 29 days and months that contain 30 days. This however does not explain why we celebrate […]
Calculating the new moon and creating a calendar of months
Calculating the new moon and creating a calendar of months: As explained in the previous Halachos, calculating the Molad and the expected time of the appearance of the new moon, was part of the process of the sanctification even in the times of the Sanhedrin. However, in the times of […]
When is Rosh Chodesh?
When is Rosh Chodesh?[1] Rosh Chodesh is determined based on when the new orbit of the moon begins and when the new moon can be seen. This itself can be determined in one of two ways: a) Calculating the Molad and calculating as to when the moon can be seen, […]
