Reciting the Beracha of "Yesimcha Elokim Ke'Efrayim Ve'chi'Menasheh" at a Berit
The work Machshireh Mila (by Hacham Eliyahu Shama Ha’levi, Chief Rabbi of Aleppo, d. 1814)...
Podcasts de Halachaot
Under Which Circumstances May a Sefer Torah be Transported?
The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 135:14) writes that it is forbidden to bring a Sefer Torah to a...
Where May an Aliya Begin and End?
The text of the Torah is divided into paragraphs, which are called Parashiyot. A Parasha is...
Preparing Before Reading the Torah; The Different Customs When Calling Someone For an Aliya
The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 139) writes that before one reads from the Torah, he must prepare...
Concluding the Torah Reading on a Positive Note
The Rama (Rabbi Moshe Isserles, Poland, 1525-1572), in his concluding remarks to the Orah Haim...
The Berachot Before and After an Aliya
The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 139:4; listen to audio recording for precise citation) rules that a...
It is customary to ensure that three people are standing at the Teba during the reading of the...
Standing While Reading the Torah or When Called for an Aliyah
The Shulchan Aruch (141:1) rules that both the one who reads the Torah and the one called to the...
Birkat Kohanim in a Place Without a Sefer Torah; One Who Enters the Synagogue During Birkat Kohanim;
There is a misconception that since in the synagogue the Kohanim go in front of the Aron for...
Birkat Kohanim and the Blessing of Parnasa
Each day, the Kohanim deliver the “Birkat Kohanim” (priestly blessing) to the congregation. This...
Birkat Kohanim - The Hazan's Announcement of "Kohanim"; If There is One Kohen or No Kohanim Present
The Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909), in Parashat Tesave, writes that the Hazan...
Reciting Birkat Kohanim More Than Once a Day; If a Kohen Arrives in the Synagogue at the Time of Bir
The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 128; listen to audio recording for precise citation) rules that if a...
Must a Kohen Wash for Birkat Kohanim if He Had Already Washed Earlier
The Shulchan Aruch (128) writes that even though a Kohen washed his hands in the morning before...
When During Birkat Kohanim Do the Kohanim Turn to Face the Congregation, and When Do They Lift Their
When the Kohanim come forward to the Hechal (ark) to recite Birkat Kohanim (the priestly...
How To Do Birkat Kohanim When There Are Only Kohanim Present In Shul
What is the proper procedure for Birkat Kohanim (the priestly blessing) if the congregation...
Purchasing an Aliya to Express Gratitude for a Loan
The Torah forbids charging or paying interest on loans. If somebody borrows money, he may not...
If the Gabbaim Know That Somebody Who Pledged Money is Unable to Pay
Rav Eliezer Papo (1786-1827), in his Hesed La’alafim (listen to audio recording for precise...
Torah Reading - If the Reader Shows the Oleh the Wrong Place; Leaning on the Teba
When a person receives an Aliya to the Torah, the reader should show him the place where the...
Preparing the "Keri" and "Ketib"
There are certain words in the Torah which are not read the way they are written. Although the...
Torah Reading - If the Oleh Recites the Wrong Beracha
When a person receives an Aliya to the Torah, he recites the Beracha “Asher Bahar Banu Mi’kol...
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