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ביאור שי’ הגר”א ביחס למנהג העמדת אילנות כו’ בחג השבועות

ביאור שי’ הגר”א ביחס למנהג העמדת אילנות כו’ בחג השבועות

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ביאור שי’ הגר”א ביחס למנהג העמדת אילנות כו’ בחג השבועות* איסר זלמן ווייסברג, לייקוואוד איתא בשו”ע אורח חיים (תצד, ג) ברמ”א: ונוהגין לשטוח עשבים בשבועות בבית הכנסת והבתים זכר לשמחת מתן תורה. לשון הרמ”א צ”ב, דאיך מזכירים שמחת מ”ת ע”י שטיחת עשבים בביהכ”נ או בתים? מקור הדברים הוא במהרי”ל (מנהגים) הלכות שבועות: נוהגין להשטיח רצפת בית הכנסת בבשמים של עשבים ובשושנים לשמחת הרגל. ובמעגלי צדק[א]: נהגו לשטוח שושנים ועשבים טובים בביהכ”נ לכבוד התורה. ובמנהגים דק”ק וורמישא (לר’ יוזפא שמש[ב]) ח”א…

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Lag B’Omer through the eyes of a Litvak in 1925

Lag B’Omer through the eyes of a Litvak in 1925

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Lag B’Omer through the eyes of a Litvak in 1925[*] By Shimon Szimonowitz Dov Mayani (1903-1952) A Static and Evolving Chag Lag B’Omer has infiltrated Jewish culture as a bona fide holiday. While the day is celebrated throughout the Jewish world, it tends to take on added significance in Eretz Yisrael. This age-old disparity has seen a little easement, probably as a result of enhanced communication between the Promised Land and the rest of the world, but the difference is…

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Afikoman – “Stealing“ and Other Related Minhagim

Afikoman – “Stealing“ and Other Related Minhagim

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Afikoman – “Stealing“ and Other Related Minhagim* By Eliezer Brodt One of the most exciting parts of Seder night for kids is the “stealing” of the afikoman. Children plan well in advance when the best time would be for them to steal it, where they will hide it, as well as what they should ask for in exchange for it. Not surprisingly, toy stores do incredibly good business both during Chol Hamoed and in the days following Pesach because of…

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The Rabbi, the Rebbe, and the Messiah

The Rabbi, the Rebbe, and the Messiah

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The Rabbi, the Rebbe, and the Messiah By Brian Schwartz If someone were to ask you of an instance where a rabbi was declared the messiah by his followers, the first example that would probably come to mind is the last Lubavitcher Rebbe, R’ Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, who to this very day many of his chasidim regard as the Messiah, despite his death.  Many people would struggle to point to any other similar times in history, besides for the Shabbethai…

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Kaddish – His Will

Kaddish – His Will

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Kaddish – His Will Leor Jacobi Note: I wrote the following essay outline several years ago, but shelved it upon discovering that most of its novelty and much more had already been published by David de Sola Pool over a hundred years ago.[1] On the sad occasion of the recent passing of my beloved mother I offer it now in her memory. Prayer and divinity were close to her heart. May our prayers be deepened by their study. The Kaddish…

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Regarding Haftarah on Simchat Torah and the daily obligation to recite 100 blessings

Regarding Haftarah on Simchat Torah and the daily obligation to recite 100 blessings

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Regarding Haftarah on Simchat Torah and the daily obligation to recite 100 blessings Chaim Sunitsky It is well known that Simchat Torah is not mentioned anywhere in the two Talmuds or Midrashim[1]. In fact we have no proof that in the times of Talmud they used to finish the Torah cycle reading on Simchat Torah. The prevalent minhag in the land of Israel was to read the Torah not in one year but approximately in three[2]. In fact it seems…

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