Halocho #881 - Excel in one Mitzva

Doing Teshuva - repenting - is a Mitzva mentioned in the Torah.

Even though Hashem is prepared to accept our Teshuva all year round, the days from Rosh Chodesh Elul until Yom Kippour are an auspicious period for improving ones ways.


This dates back to when Moshe went up to Har Sinai to receive the second set of Luchot; Moshe went up on Rosh Chodesh Elul and returned 40 days later on Yom Kippour with the second set of Luchot.


At the very least one should choose one Mitzva or Halacho to improve on during this period.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 128: 1

Ktiva Vechatima Tova

- Danny
Monday, 6 Elul 5771

Halocho #397 - Forty special days

Doing Teshuva - repenting - is a Mitzva mentioned in the Torah.

Even though Hashem is prepared to accept our Teshuva all year round, the days from Rosh Chodesh Elul until Yom Kippour are an auspicious period for improving ones ways.

This dates back to when Moshe went up to Har Sinai to receive the second set of Luchot; Moshe went up on Rosh Chodesh Elul and returned 40 days later on Yom Kippour with the second set of Luchot.

At the very least one should choose one Mitzva or Halacho to improve on during this period.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 128: 1

Ktiva Vechatima Tova

- Danny Monday, 4 Elul 5769

Halocho #379- Why do we fast on Thursday?

Thursday is the fast of 9 B'Av which commemorates 5 tragedies that befell the Jewish people on that date:

- It was decreed that the generation which left Egypt would remain in the desert for 40 years and not enter the land of Israel, after believing the inaccurate report of 10 of the 12 spies in the year 2449.

- The first Bet Hamikdash (Holy Temple) was destroyed on 9 B'Av in the year 3339.

- The second Bet Hamikdash (Holy Temple) was destroyed on 9 B'Av about 1948 years ago.

- The city of Betar was captured and tens of thousands of Jews were killed in the year 3893.

- The wicked Turnus Rufus plowed the site of the Bet Hamikdash and its surroundings and renamed it Aelia Capitolina, also in the year 3893.

Since these tragedies occurred on 9 B'Av, it was decreed as a day of fasting and mourning.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 121:5

Other tragedies that happened on 9 B'Av:

- 4,000 Jews were expelled from England by King Edward I in the year 5050 (18 July 1290)

- 300,000 Jews were expelled from Spain by Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon in the year 5252 (2 August 1492)

- Word War 1 started in 5674 - 1 August 1914 - with Germany declaring war on Russia

- Danny Tuesday, 7 Av 5769

Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה

Halocho #282 - Yahrzeit of our teacher Moses; Moshe Rabeinu

Today (according to most opinions), 7 Adar, is the 3,279th Yahrzeit of our teacher Moses - Moshe Rabeinu and is a Ta'anis Tzadikim.

Many Jewish Burial Societies [Chevra Kadisha] have their annual meeting today, including fasting and special prayers.

Halachot related to Moshe Rabeinu:

When babies start talking one should teach them the verse "תּוֹרָה צִוָּה-לָנוּ, מֹשֶׁה. מוֹרָשָׁה, קְהִלַּת יַעֲקֹב" and Shma Yisrael...", after ensuring that they are clean while being taught.

Moshe Rabeinu went up to Har-Sinai to get the 2nd set of tablets on a Thursday and came down on a Monday, which is why these 2 days are auspicious for praying - and we therefore add the long "Vehu Rachum" prayer before Tachanun on these 2 days.

There's a limit as to how long one may mourn a deceased - but even for a great Torah scholar one may not mourn longer than 30 days, as nobody can be greater than our teacher Moshe for whom it is stated "and they mourned for Moshe for 30 days".

Sources: Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 58:2, KSA 165:10, 23:9, 215:1

- Danny

Tuesday, 7 Adar 5769

Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה

Halocho #46 - Yahrzeit of our teacher Moses; Moshe Rabeinu

Today, 7 Adar, is the 3,279th Yahrzeit of our teacher Moses - Moshe Rabeinu (according to most opinions) and is a Ta'anis Tzadikim. (Many Jewish Burial Societies [Chevra Kadisha] have their annual meeting today, including fasting and special prayers.) Halachot related to Moshe Rabeinu: When babies start talking one should teach them the verse "Torah Tziva Lanu Moshe..."* and Shma Yisrael...", after ensuring that they are clean while being taught. Moshe Rabeinu went up to Har-Sinai to get the 2nd set of tablets on a Thursday and came down on a Monday, which is why these 2 days are auspicious for praying - and we therefore add the long "Vehu Rachum" prayer before Tachanun on these 2 days. There's a limit as to how long one may mourn a deceased - but even for a great Torah scholar one may not mourn longer than 30 days, as nobody can be greater than our teacher Moshe for whom it is stated "and they mourned for Moshe for 30 days" Sources: Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 58:2, KSA 165:10, 23:9, 215:1 *תורה צוה לנו משה, מורשה קהלת יעקב