Counting Jews-How to count Yidden

Counting Jews:[1] The prohibition: It is forbidden to count Jews [in numbers such as 1, 2, 3 etc].[2] [This applies whether one is counting an individual group of Jews or is counting the Jewish people as a whole, such as for census taking.[3] Rebbe Elazar says that anyone who counts […]

14. The blessing on Matzah

The blessing on Matzah:[1] During Pesach:[2] Throughout Pesach, the blessing on Matzah is Hamotzi according to all opinions.[3] Throughout the year: Most Poskim[4] rule the blessing on Matzah remains Hamotzi throughout the year[5], and so appears to be the ruling of Admur.[6] Some Poskim[7], however, rule that throughout the year, […]

May one have marital relations during daytime?

*The article below is an excerpt from the above Sefer *As an Amazon Associate I earn from  qualifying purchases. Buy on Apple Books Buy on Amazon-Paperback/Kindle eBook Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Donate 1. Daytime versus nighttime:[1] It is forbidden to have marital relations during daytime hours.[2] [One who has relations opposite […]

Jewish manners-Acknowledging the greetings of another

Jewish manners-Acknowledging the greetings of another: It is forbidden to ignore the greetings of another, such as to ignore and not respond to another person telling them hello, good morning, Shalom Aleichem.[1] One who does so, and ignores another person’s greetings is called a robber/Gazlan.[2] Not responding to a greeting […]

Marrying a Kohen

Marrying a Kohenes:[1] An Am Haaretz/Ignoramus is not to marry a Kohenes. If he does so, their marriage will not be successful, as either she or he will quickly die or they will be in constant fight with each other [or they will be poor[2]].[3] However, a Sage who marries […]

Standing for the elderly-Who

Standing for an old person:[1] It is a Mitzvah [a possible Biblical obligation[2]] to stand in front of the elderly.[3] The age defined as elderly:[4] An elderly person is defined, in this regard, as a person who has reached 70 years of age. [According to the Arizal and Kabala, one […]

Blowing bubbles on Shabbos

May one blow bubbles on Shabbos?[1] Blowing bubbles on Shabbos enters into the question of whether it transgresses the Molid prohibition due to it changing the form of the water into foam. Practically, the mainstream approach follows that it does not contain a Molid prohibition, and therefore children may blow […]

Owning Gebrochts on Pesach

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com Making/owning Gebrochts: The entire stringency of Gebrochts is only regarding eating it. It is however permitted to own Gebrochts even according to the stringent opinion.[1] Accordingly, there is no issue with washing one’s floors that contain Matzah crumbs, even though […]

Carobs and eggs on Lag Baomer

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com Carobs:[1] It is customary to eat carobs on Lag BaOmer, in memory of the carobs eaten by Rashbi when he was in the cave for 13 years.[2] Eggs: It is customary to eat hard boiled eggs on Lag BaOmer. This […]

Simcha/Joy on Lag Baomer

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com Simcha/Joy: It is accustomed to increase in joy on Lag BaOmer.[1] It is a Mitzvah to rejoice the joy of Rashbi.[2] Due to this, “One is to rejoice with all his heart and soul and make a day of feasting […]

The Pilgrimage to Meron

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com   The Pilgrimage to Meron: The custom of those in Eretz Yisrael is to visit the Kever of the Rashbi on Lag BaOmer.[1] By the Kever one is to rejoice with great jubilance.[2] This is based on an old custom […]

Matzah on Pesach Sheiyni

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com Matzah:[1] It is customary to eat Matzah in honor of Pesach Sheiyni.[2] When? Many are accustomed to eat Matzah on Pesach Sheiyni, on the day of the 14th of Iyar.[3] Some are accustomed to eat it towards the afternoon.[4] Others[5] […]

Fasting on Pesach Sheiyni

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com Fasting: One is not to fast on Pesach Sheiyni, as is the law regarding any day in which Tachanun is omitted.[1] This applies even if the fasts of Bahab fall on this day.[2] Some Poskim[3] however allow fasting on this […]

Funerals on Pesach Sheiyni

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com Funerals: Eulogy/Hesped:[1] One does not say a Hesped on any day that Tachanun is omitted[2] unless the person is a Torah Sage, and his body is present at the time of the Hesped.[3] Tziduk Hadin:[4] One does not say Tziduk […]

Tachanun on Pesach Sheiyni

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com Tachanun:[1] Tachanun [and Lamnatzeiach[2] and Keil Erech Apayim[3]] is omitted on Pesach Sheiyni, which is the 14th of Iyar. It is however recited the Mincha prior, on the 13th of Iyar.[4] [Thus when the 13th falls on Shabbos, Tzidkascha is […]

Background of Pesach Sheiyni

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com Background of Pesach Sheiyni:[1] In the times of the Temple, a person who did not bring the Pesach offering in the 14th of Nissan, either due to being impure or due to being a distance from Jerusalem, was required to […]

Swimming and traveling during Sefira

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com   May one swim or visit the beach during Sefira? Yes.[1] However, some Poskim[2] rule one must avoid doing so due to danger.   May one travel during Sefira? Yes.[3] However, some Poskim[4] rule one must avoid doing so due […]

Cutting nails during Sefira

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com   May one cut his nails during Sefira?[1] Yes. There is no custom to abstain from cutting nails during Sefirah. __________________________________________________________ [1] Moed Lekol Chaiy 6:1; Zechor Leavraham 1 Bookmark

The prayers said after the Sefira

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com   The prayers said after the Sefira:[1] After the counting of the Sefira it is customary to recite “Yehi Ratzon Sheyibaneh Beis Hamikdash etc”[2] (Some are accustomed for reasons known to them to say after this prayer the Psalm of […]

The Kavana of the Sefira

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com The Kavana:[1] When counting Sefira one is to have in mind the Sefira of that night, one word of the Ana Bechoach, and one word of the psalm Mizmor Elokim Yechoneinu, and one letter from the verse Yismachu. [It is […]

The order of Poreis Mapah Umikadeish

Pores Mapa Umikadeish:[1] Saying Birchas Hamazon before sunset: When a Seudas Mitzvah falls on Friday one is to eat the meal prior to the 10th hour, and if this cannot be done it may be eaten anytime before sunset. Irrelevant to when the meal was started, it is best to […]

Saying the word “Hayom/Today” in the Sefira

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com Saying the word “Hayom/Today”:[1] One must say the word “Hayom/Today is” prior to counting the days. If one counted the amount of days without [first] saying “Hayom/Today is” [i.e. he plainly said “6 days to the Omer”], he does not […]

May one use or own rubbing alcohol on Pesach?

May one use or own rubbing alcohol? The ingredients: Rubbing alcohol comes in two verities; Ethly rubbing alcohol and isopropyl rubbing alcohol. The alcohol content of the rubbing alcohol can be made from either isopropyl alcohol or ethanol-based alcohol. Isopropyl is a compound with the chemical formula C3H8O and is […]

What is the law if one wrote the Sefira?

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com   What is the law if one wrote the Sefira?[1] Some Poskim[2] rule that writing is unlike verbalizing, and one hence cannot fulfill his obligation through writing the Sefira.[3] Accordingly, one who wrote the Sefira, must still count that night […]

Writing the Sefira in a letter/document

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com Writing the Sefira in a letter/document:[1] Some are accustomed to mention the day of Sefira when writing a letter during the Omer period. [This custom was not followed by the Chabad Rabbeim.] _________________________________________________ [1] Taamei Haminhagim 613; See Piskeiy Teshuvos […]

May one count by Bein Hashmashos?

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com May one count by Bein Hashmashos?[1] It is disputed amongst Poskim as to whether one may initially begin counting from after sunset or if he must wait until after nightfall.[2] Practically, it is proper for every person to avoid counting […]

Children saying Sefiras Haomer

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com   Children:[1] Children who have reached the age of Chinuch are to be educated in the Mitzvah of Sefiras HaOmer. They are to recite it at night with a blessing [if they have not missed a previous night[2]], following the […]

Who is obligated in the Mitzvah of Sefira?

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com Who is obligated in the Mitzvah? Men:[1] All men are obligated in the Mitzvah of Sefiras HaOmer.   Is an Onen obligated to recite Sefiras Haomer?[2] An Onen is exempt from Sefiras Haomer until after the burial.[3] Nevertheless, if not […]

Appointing someone to count on one’s behalf

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com Appointing someone to count on one’s behalf:[1] One cannot appoint a messenger to count the days on his behalf. This applies whether one asks an individual to count on his behalf, or one asks a congregation, or Chazzan to count […]

The Mitzvah-Biblical or Rabbinical

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com The Mitzvah:[1] It is a positive command of the Torah for every single Jew[2] to count seven weeks’ worth of days beginning from when the Omer was offered. [In the times of the Temple the Omer was offered on the […]

The meaning behind Sefiras HaOmer

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com The meaning behind Sefiras HaOmer: The Omer is counted in order to commemorate the Temple offering of the Omer.[1] The Omer is counted in anticipation for the receiving of the Torah on Shavuos.[2] The Omer is counted in preparation for […]

Summary of laws-Lag Baomer

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com Lag BaOmer   Historical background-What occurred on Lag BaOmer? It is accustomed to increase slightly in joy on Lag BaOmer. Various reasons behind this celebration have been recorded. The last of the 24,000 students died on Lag BaOmer. The five […]

Pesach Sheiyni-Summary

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com   Pesach Sheiyni Background of Pesach Sheiyni: In the times of the Temple, a person who did not bring the Pesach offering in the 14th of Nissan, either due to being impure or due to being a distance from Jerusalem, […]

Sefirah Mourning Customs-Summary

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com Listen here to audio The Mourning Customs The Mourning period: It is accustomed amongst Jewry to observe certain customs of mourning within the period between Pesach and Shavuos. The reason: The reason behind this custom is because during this time […]

Summary of laws-Counting the Omer

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com The Mitzvah of Sefiras Haomer/Counting the Omer The Mitzvah: It is a positive command of the Torah for every single Jew to count seven weeks worth of days beginning from when the Omer was offered. [In the times of the […]

A Chassidic Discourse-Usifartmen Lachem

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com “Usifartem Lachem.…” [Likkutei Torah p. 35] Parshas Emor discusses the Mitzvah of celebrating the festivals. It goes through each one of the festivals, with its unique commands and prohibitions. The festival of Shavuos is proximate to the Holiday of Pesach, […]

Collecting debts on Chol Hamoed

Collecting debts: It is permitted to collect money of a loan during Chol Hamoed. This applies whether the borrower is a Jew or gentile.[1] [This applies even if one is able to collect the loan also after the Moed.[2]] It is, however, forbidden to collect merchandise in exchange for the […]

Counters and Tables-Koshering

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com Counters/tables:[1] It is customary of all Jewry to Kasher counters and tables that are used with hot foods during the year.[2] Likewise, tables which are used without a tablecloth during the year, or are used with a thin cotton/linen/polyester tablecloth, […]

Parshas Tzav- Summary of the Parsha

This article is an excerpt from our Sefer    Buy now on Amazon.com Parshas Tzav Pesukim: 97 [Siman: צו ] Haftorah: Yirmiyahu 7:21-28[1], 9:22-23 Number of Mitzvos: There are a total of eighteen Mitzvos in Parshas Tzav; Nine positive commands and Nine negative commands. The following are the commands in […]

Disciplining children on Shabbos

Disciplining children on Shabbos: It is permitted to discipline or punish children on Shabbos.[1] One may thus lock a child in his room for disciplinary purposes.[2] Nonetheless, it is possibly even Biblically forbidden to hit or spank a child if doing so can cause a bruise to the child.[3] Furthermore, […]

Courts and punishments on Shabbos

  Courts and punishments on Shabbos: Court hearings:[1] Court cases involving monetary matters are not adjudicated on Shabbos.[2] Punishments and imprisonment:[3] Punishments are not delivered on Shabbos [and in certain cases it is a Biblical prohibition to do so[4]].[5] [Some Rishonim list this prohibition as one of the 365 negative […]

Moshiach’s Seudah:

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com   Moshiach’s Seudah: The Baal Shem Tov was accustomed to eating three meals on the last day of Pesach. This third meal was referred to as Moshiach’s Seudah[1], as on this day shines a revelation of Moshiach.[2] This concept is […]