Around the Jewish Year

Laws of selichot and their significance in light of the teachings of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook

From the beginning of the month of Elul, Sephardi and Yemenite Jews are accustomed to reciting selichot at dawn, while Ashkenazi Jews customarily begin selichot...

The Three Weeks: From Sorrow to Joy

During the Three Weeks—from the 17th of Tammuz until the 9th of Av—various customs of mourning are observed. This article explores the laws of mourning observed...

Planting during the Nine Days

Is it permissible to plant during the Nine Days? On permissible and forbidden gardening activities during this time.

Marking bikkurim today

Suggestion for marking first fruit to demonstrate that we are anticipating using them as bikkurim with the imminent rebuilding of the Beit Hamikdash, without...

Bikurim and the giving of the Torah: Gratitude

The foundation of the commandment of bringing bikurim lies in our appreciation for the Creator, as expressed in the text read during the bikurim, when one...

Status of Land-Dependent Mitzvot in Areas Liberated in the Six-Day War

On the halachic status of various territories conquered during the Six-Day War vis-à-vis the land-dependent mitzvot: Gaza, Arava, and the Golan Heights, and...

Pesticide traces in etrogim

Etrogim must be edible to be fit for use in the arba minim. Every year, the issue of pesticide traces arises, putting into question if it is, in fact, edible...

Holy etrog jam and pesticide traces

Sukkot: The etrog's pitom

Many G-d fearing Jews are willing to pay for a beautiful, mehudar etrog. The greatest hidur has to do with the pitom, yet many are not aware of what to look out...

Shavuot: The connection between Shavuot, Megillat Rut, and Harvest

One reason cited for reading Megillat Rut on Shavuot is because it occurred during the harvest. Does this fact really matter? On the spiritual significance of...