Please Note:
Since I am not a Rabbi you should consult your own Rabbi regarding the answers
to these questions, especially those answers which do not refer you to another
web site for the answer.
 | Why do we take three steps back after the Kaddish?
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| Why do we take off the tefillin before starting Musaf on Rosh Chodesh?
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| How can we have a minyan present during the entire Torah Service but when the Kaddish Shalem (Full Kaddish which is recited just before returning the Torah to the Ark during the weekday Shacharit Service) is to be recited, it is not said?
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| Harvesting on Shabbat is prohibited. There is one situation whereby it was not only permitted but was mandatory and overrode the Shabbat. What was it?
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| Who wrote Psalms 90-100?
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| Psalm 92 "Mizmor Shir L'Yom HaShabbat" is a psalm and a song for the Sabbath day, yet it does not contain any direct reference to Shabbat. Why is it then a psalm and a song for Shabbat?
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| Why is the Maftir a repeat of a part of the Aliyah before it?
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| What are Maimonides Thirteen Principles of Faith?
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What is the only holiday for which the Torah does not give a specific calendar date, has no special
Mitzvot for the holiday (eating specific food does not count), is only one day (in Israel) - while the other Shalosh Regalim (Pilgrimage
Festivals) are seven days each and is the only holiday that does not have a tractate in the Talmud named after it?
|
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What are the four
instances when one is obligated to say the gomayl blessing (blessing of
thanksgiving on deliverance from danger)?
|
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Why don't we say
Tachnun the first 12 days of the month of Sivan?
|
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Two men are in
Oxnard on the 36th day of the counting the Omer. That night one man
counts the 37th day and the other man counts the 38th day. Both men are
correct. How can this be?
|
|
Some headstones
in Jewish cemeteries contain the Hebrew letters tav, nun, tzadee,
bet, hey underneath the inscription What do these letters stand
for?
|
|
Who was King David's great-grandmother? Who was his great-
grandfather? What was his mother's name? Where is her
name mentioned? Who was Goliath's great-grandmother?
|
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Moses is called Moshe Rabbeinu,
Abraham is called Avraham Avinu, what is Joseph called?
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1. Who were the
five Maccabee brothers and what were their names?
2. Which one did not die in the Hasmonean revolt?
3. How many years into the revolt did the miracle of the lights
occur?
4. How did Elazar die?
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|
1. What was
Esther's relationship to Mordechai?
2. What do King David and King Saul have to do with Purim and what
do we learn from this?
3. What is unique about the Book of Esther?
4. What is the similarity between the Purim story and the giving of
the Torah at Sinai?
|
|
Which Musaf
Service is the longest of the year?
|
|
What Biblical
holiday is celebrated in the Hebrew month of Iyar and what 4
post-Biblical events are commemorated in that same month?
|
|
Why is there a
hechsher (certificate of kashrut) needed, by Orthodox Jews, on
fruits and vegetables grown in Israel but none needed on fruits and
vegetables grown in the U.S.?
|
|
According to the
Gemara who were the seven prophetesses of Israel?
|
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What does the
Hebrew expression "I am to my beloved and my beloved is to me" have
in connection with the Hebrew month of Elul and what does it teach
us? |
|
1. What are the 15 Psalms (120-134) known as?
2. Where were they sung?
3. What is their significance?
4. Why do they begin in the plural?
5. What Hebrew date of the month are they recited?
|
|
An Orthodox
custom before writing your name in a book is to write the Hebrew
letters Lamed, Hei, Vov, separated by quote marks and then you write
your name. What do these Hebrew letters represent?
|
|
Why is the
contract between Shylock and Antonio, in The Merchant of Venice,
regarding a pound of flesh, an unenforceable contract according to
Jewish Law? The answer has nothing to do with the fact that Antonio
is not Jewish.
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1. According to
the Midrash, which Patriarch agreed to a change in the spelling of
his name and caused the period of slavery in Egypt to be 210 years
long instead of 400 years long?
2. Where do we find the instance of this spelling change?
3. How was the change in the number of years from 400 to 210
arrived at?
|
|
According to
some of our Sages what Mitzvah is best done through an intermediary,
however, you can do it yourself if no intermediary is available?
|
|
What prohibition
must we be mindful of in feeding pets during the entire year and
what additional prohibition must we be mindful of during Passover?
|
|
Why is it
forbidden on Shabbat to pick meat out of a thick stew, containing
other foods, in order to put it into a refrigerator so it will not
spoil and under what circumstances would this also not be permitted
on a Yom Tov?
|
|
Psalm 126 and
Psalm 137 are recited before what prayer, under what circumstances,
and why the difference?
|
|
Q: |
Why do we take three steps back after the Kaddish? |
| A: |
This practice is from the last verse of the Amidah where the "oseh shalom" is recited. There we step back three steps because when we say the Amidah we are in the presence of The King and at the end of the
Amidah we retreat from the presence of The King.
Another reason given is that the daily prayers are the substitution for sacrifices. When the priests left the courtyard they
had to step across three rows of steps to get back to the courtyard.
An excellent explanation of the Kaddish and all of the underlying customs can be found in the book "Kaddish" by Rabbi Nosson Scherman, published by
Artscroll/Mesorah Publications. |
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Q: |
Why do we take off the tefillin before starting Musaf on Rosh Chodesh? |
| A: |
The Kedushah in the Musaf Amidah for Rosh Chodesh begins with the word "Keter" (a crown). Since the head tefillin are also referred to as keter we cannot have two crowns so we remove the Tefillin. |
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| Q: |
How can we have a minyan present during the entire Torah Service but when the Kaddish Shalem (Full Kaddish which is recited just before returning the Torah to the Ark during the weekday Shacharit Service) is to be recited, it is not said? |
| A: |
The Kaddish Shalem is tied to the Amidah. If there was no minyan present during the recitation of the Amidah, the repetition of the Amidah is not done and the Kaddish Shalem is not recited, even though there is a minyan present when it would be said. The Kaddish Shalem is a public expression of faith and there must be a public recitation of the Amidah (the repetition of the Amidah aloud) in order for it to be said. |
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| Q: |
Harvesting on Shabbat is prohibited. There is one situation whereby it was not only permitted but was mandatory and overrode the Shabbat. What was it? |
| A: |
The harvesting of the omer, the meal offering of barley that was brought on the 16th of Nissan, the second day of Pesach. This offering was to be harvested the night before it was offered. So, when the 16th of Nissan fell on Shabbat, it was mandatory to harvest the barley on Friday night for the meal-offering brought the next morning. |
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| Q: |
Who wrote Psalms
90-100? |
| A: |
Moses wrote these
Psalms. They were incorporated into the Book of Psalms by King David.
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| Q: |
Psalm 92 "Mizmor Shir
L'Yom HaShabbat" is a psalm and a song for the Sabbath day, yet it
does not contain any direct reference to Shabbat. Why is it then a
psalm and a song for Shabbat? |
| A: |
The song was sung by the Levites for the Shabbat Service. Rashi explains that this psalm does not refer to the weekly Shabbat but to the World to Come, when man will achieve the spiritual perfection we only glimpse during the Shabbat. |
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| Q: |
Why is the Maftir a
repeat of a part of the Aliyah before it? |
| A: |
The person who reads the Haftarah (Ba'al
Haftarah) also gets the Maftir Aliyah. In Talmudic times the person saying
the Aliyah blessings would additionally read the portion. The reason that
the Ba'al Haftarah receives the additional Maftir Aliyah rather than one of
the seven mandated Aliyot is to avoid giving the impression that the
Haftarah (which comes from the prophetic section of the Hebrew Bible) is of
equal sanctity as the Torah portion. By reading both a short repeat of the
Torah reading and a section of Prophets (thus equating the Haftarah with a
less important Torah portion), the Haftarah demonstrates that the Haftarah
is less sacred than the main Torah reading. Incidentally, both 'Maftir' and
'Haftarah' mean the same thing -- concluding portion. |
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| Q: |
What are Maimonides
Thirteen Principles of Faith? |
| A: |
|
Maimonides, Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, (the Rambam) wrote his thirteen
foundations in his Commentary on the Mishnah in the tenth chapter of
tractate Sanhedrin. The Thirteen Principles fall into three general
categories: (a) the nature of belief in G-d; (b) the authenticity of
the Torah, its validity and immutability; and (c) man's
responsibility and ultimate reward.
1. I believe with perfect faith
that G-d is the Creator and Ruler of all things. He alone has made,
does make, and will make all things.
2. I believe with perfect faith that G-d is One. There is no unity
that is in any way like His. He alone is our G-d He was, He is, and
He will be.
3. I believe with perfect faith that G-d does not have a body.
Physical concepts do not apply to Him. There is nothing whatsoever
that resembles Him at all.
4. I believe with perfect faith that G-d is first and last.
5. I believe with perfect faith that it is only proper to pray to
G-d. One may not pray to anyone or anything else.
6. I believe with prefect faith that all the words of the prophets
are true.
7. I believe with perfect faith that the prophecy of Moses is
absolutely true. He was the chief of all prophets, both before and
after Him.
8. I believe with perfect faith that the entire Torah that we now
have is that which was given to Moses.
9. I believe with perfect faith that this Torah will not be changed,
and that there will never be another given by G-d.
10. I believe with perfect faith that G-d knows all of man's deeds
and thoughts. It is thus written (Psalm 33:15), "He has molded every
heart together, He understands what each one does."
11. I believe with perfect faith that G-d rewards those who keep His
commandments, and punishes those who transgress Him.
12. I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah. How
long it takes, I will await His coming every day.
13. I believe with perfect faith that the dead will be brought back
to life when G-d wills it to happen. |
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| Q: |
What is the only
holiday for which the Torah does not give a specific calendar date, has no
special Mitzvot for the holiday (eating specific food does not count), is
only one day (in Israel) - while the other Shalosh Regalim (Pilgrimage
Festivals) are seven days each and is the only holiday that does not have a
tractate in the Talmud named after it? |
| A: |
Shavuot |
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| Q: |
What are the four
instances when one is obligated to say the gomayl blessing (blessing of
thanksgiving on deliverance from danger)? |
| A: |
1. When you
have traveled across a sea, whether by ship or plane.
2. When you have traveled
through a wilderness and reached an inhabited area.
3. When you were held captive
or imprisoned and your life was in danger.
4. When you were seriously
injured or bedridden due to an illness for more than three days and have
recovered completely. |
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| Q: |
Why don't we say
Tachnun the first 12 days of the month of Sivan? |
| A: |
|
When the Holy Temple
stood in Jerusalem,
and all Jews would
come there for the
three annual
"pilgrimage
festivals"
(Passover, Shavuot
and Sukkot), Sivan
12 was the last of
the seven days
allotted for the
offerings brought in
conjunction with the
Shavuot pilgrimage
(unlike the 7-day
festivals of
Passover and Sukkot,
Shavuot consist only
of one day; hence
the additional six
days of tashlumin or
"fulfillment").
Thus we do not
recite the
tachnun
(confession of
sins), and the other
prayers omitted on a
festival or joyous
commemoration, from
the 1st of Sivan
until and including
the 12th, as all
these days bear a
connection with the
festival of Shavuot.
(From
www.chabad.org)
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| Q: |
Two men are in Oxnard
on the 36th day of the counting the Omer. That night one man counts the
37th day and the other man counts the 38th day. Both men are correct. How
can this be? |
A: |
The man counting the
38th day traveled from West to East (in this case from Australia to Oxnard
during the counting of the Omer (Sephira)) and crossed the International
Date Line. When he first started counting the Omer he was a day
earlier than those counting in Oxnard and he has to continue counting as if
he was home. |
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| Q: |
Some headstones in
Jewish cemeteries contain the Hebrew letters tav, nun, tzadee, bet, hey
underneath the inscription What do these letters stand for? |
A: |
The Hebrew letters
stand for "tehi nishmato tzeruah betzror hachayim". "May his soul be
bound up in the bond of eternal life." |
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| Q: |
Who was King David's great-grandmother? Who was his great-
grandfather? What was his mother's name? Where is her
name mentioned? Who was Goliath's great-grandmother? |
A: |
King David's
great-grandmother was Ruth. His great-grandfather was Boaz. His
mother was Nitzevet bat Adel. You can read about King David's sad
childhood
here. His mother is mentioned on the Talmud (Tractate Bava Batra 91a).
Goliath's great-grandmother (some say mother) was Orpah (sister and
sister-in-law of Ruth, so David and Goliath were cousins). Because Orpah
shed four tears when she parted from her mother-in-law Naomi, she was
granted the privilege of giving birth to four giants. Goliath was the
strongest and the greatest of these. And because she walked forty steps with
Naomi before turning back to Moab, Goliath was permitted to show off his
great strength and skill to the Israelites for forty days before being
killed by David.
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Q: |
Moses is called Moshe
Rabbeinu, Abraham is called Avraham Avinu, what is Joseph called? |
A: |
Yoseph Hatzaddik
(Joseph the Righteous). |
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| Q: |
1. Who
were the five Maccabee brothers and what were their names.?
2. Which one did not die in the Hasmonean revolt?
3. How many years into the revolt did the miracle of the lights occur?
4. How did Elazar die?
|
A: |
1.
The five sons of Mattisyahu the Hasmonean, son of Yochanan The Kohen Gadol.
They were Shimon, Yehudah the Maccabee, Elazr, Yochanan and Yonasan.
2. Shimon.
3. Three years.
4. Killing a war elephant in
battle. |
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| Q: |
1. What
was Esther's relationship to Mordechai?
2. What do King David and King Saul have to do with Purim and what do we
learn from this?
3. What is unique about the Book of Esther?
4. What is the similarity between the Purim story and the giving of the
Torah at Sinai? |
A: |
1.
She was his wife. Our Sages say not to read 2:7 "like a daughter" but
"like a home", meaning as a wife.
2. When David's son Absalom
rebelled and drove David from Jerusalem he was pelted with stones and bitter
curses by Shim'i ben Gera. David's followers begged him for permission
to kill Shim'i but David had compassion on Shim'i and refused to let them
kill him. One of Shim'i's descendants was Mordechai of the Purim story.
King Saul was
commanded to wage war against Amalek and to spare no one. He spared
one man, King Agog because he thought he would be more merciful than G-d.
One of Agog's descendants was Haman of the Purim story.
From the above
we learn that there are people to whom we should show mercy and those
to whom we shouldn't show mercy. Our Sages tell us that if we show
mercy to one who we shouldn't that we won't show mercy to one that we
should.
3. The name of G-d is not
mentioned in it, although there are instances where it appears in acrostic
form (e.g. 5:4, the first letters of the Hebrew words yavo hamelech v'haman
hayom form the name of G-d).
4. In the Purim story the
Jews reaffirmed the acceptance of the Torah which was given at Sinai. In
both instances it was preceded by a battle with Amalek.
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| Q: |
Which
Musaf Service is the longest of the year? |
A: |
On Rosh Hashanah, the Musaf prayers are the longest of the
year. Musaf is divided into three parts:
Malchuyot, Zichronot and Shofarot. |
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| Q: |
What
Biblical holiday is celebrated in the Hebrew month of Iyar and what 4
post-Biblical events are commemorated in that same month? |
|
A: |
Pesach
Sheini (14 Iyar) is Biblical. The other post-Biblical events are Yom
Hazikaron (4 Iyar), Yom Ha'Atzmaut (5 Iyar), Lag B'Omer (18 Iyar), and Yom
Yerushalayim (28 Iyar). |
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| Q: |
Why is
there a hechsher (certificate of kashrut) needed, by Orthodox Jews, on
fruits and vegetables grown in Israel but none needed on fruits and
vegetables grown in the U.S.? |
A: |
Because
of the laws of
Shemitah, the fields may not be planted in the seventh year and the
fruits that grow are considered "hefker" (ownerless and may be picked by
anyone. These laws only apply to the Land of Israel. A hechsher
is required by Orthodox Jews to insure that the laws of Shemitah have been
strictly complied with. |
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| Q: |
According
to the Gemara who were the seven prophetesses of Israel? |
A: |
Sarah,
Miriam, Deborah, Hannah (mother of the prophet Samuel), Abigail (a wife of
King David), Huldah (II Kings, Chapter 22), Esther. |
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| Q: |
What does
the Hebrew expression "I am to my beloved and my beloved is to me" have in
connection with the Hebrew month of Elul and what does it teach us?
|
A: |
The
four letters of the name Elul are an acronym for the initial letters of the
phrase in the Song of Songs (6:3): "I am to my beloved and my beloved is to
me." "I am to my beloved" in repentance and consummate desire to return to
my soul-root in G-d. "And my beloved is to me" with Divine expression of
mercy of forgiveness. A time to bring our love of G-d to a deeper level!
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| Q: |
1. What are the 15 Psalms (120-134) known as?
2. Where were they sung?
3. What is their significance?
4. Why do they begin in the plural?
5. What Hebrew date of the month are they recited? |
|
A: |
1.
Songs of Ascents. 2.
The Temple.
3. In the Temple the Jew was
catapulted to successively higher spiritual summits. In the Temple the
nation of Israel declared that man must not be spiritually stagnant, that
the world is composed of infinite degrees of goodness, and man's mission is
to scale the spiritual heights, which rise from earth heavenward.
4. The Levites would sing
these Psalms as they ascended the 15 steps of the Temple. Also because
when the Jewish people are worthy to ascend they do not climb one step at a
time, they ascend many rungs at once.
5. The 27th day of each
Hebrew month. |
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| Q: |
An
Orthodox custom before writing your name in a book is to write the Hebrew
letters Lamed, Hei, Vov, separated by quote marks and then you write your
name. What do these Hebrew letters represent? |
A: |
It stands
for La'Hashem Ha'aretz Um'loah; The world and all therein belongs to Hashem. |
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| Q: |
Why is
the contract between Shylock and Antonio, in The Merchant of Venice,
regarding a pound of flesh, an unenforceable contract according to Jewish
Law? The answer has nothing to do with the fact that Antonio is not Jewish.
|
A: |
Our
bodies are not ours to do as we choose. Hashem is a partner in every
birth along with the father and the mother. We cannot desecrate our
bodies in any manner. This is the reason for the prohibition against
tattoos, excessive signs of morning by cutting our bodies, etc. We
therefore cannot remove a part of our bodies and cannot contract to do this. |
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| Q: |
1.
According to the Midrash, which Patriarch agreed to a change in the spelling
of his name and caused the period of slavery in Egypt to be 210 years long
instead of 400 years long?
2. Where do we find the instance of this spelling change?
3. How was the change in the number of years from 400 to 210 arrived at? |
A: |
1.
Issac (Yitzchok) 2. Psalms 105:9 3. Yitzchok told Hashem
that his name should have been Yishchok as it is written in Psalms 105:9
instead of Yitzchok. The
numerical value of the letter shin in
Gematria is 300.
The numerical value of the letter Tzade is 90. The difference is 210
which is the length of time of the period of slavery in Egypt. |
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| Q: |
According to some of
our Sages what Mitzvah is best done through an intermediary, however, you
can do it yourself if no intermediary is available?
|
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A: |
The
giving of Shalach Manos, also called Mishloach Manos, for Purim. |
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| Q: |
What
prohibition must we be mindful of in feeding pets during the entire year and
what additional prohibition must we be mindful of during Passover?
|
A: |
The
prohibition against cooking together or eating together meat and dairy foods
during the year. One may not even derive benefit from a combination of meat
and dairy foods; for example, selling such a combined product or feeding it
to a pet. During Passover we have the added prohibition of owning or
benefiting from having Chametz and we should be careful not to feed our pets
any food that contains rye, wheat, oats, barley and spelt. |
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| Q: |
Why is it
forbidden on Shabbat to pick meat out of a thick stew, containing other
foods, in order to put it into a refrigerator so it will not spoil and under
what circumstances would this also not be permitted on a Yom Tov? |
A: |
This
action violates the prohibition against Selection on Shabbat. While
selection is permitted in most cases on a Yom Tov it is not permitted if
what is being selected is not intended to be used until after the Yom Tov. |
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| Q: |
Psalm 126
and Psalm 137 are recited before what prayer, under what circumstances, and
why the difference? |
A: |
Psalm 137
is said before the Birkat HaMazon on weekdays in order to keep the memory of
the destruction of the Temple fresh in our minds, even when our bodies are
full and comfortable in exile. Psalm 126 is recited before the Birkat
HaMazon on Shabbat and Festivals since these days afford the downtrodden,
exiled Jews a glimpse of their future elevation and glory. Psalm 126 tells
us that HaShem will return the exiled captive nation of Israel to
tranquility in the Land of Israel.
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| Q: |
Why are there two
names of G-d (Hashem and Elokim; Elokeinu is a contraction of Elokim shelanu)
in the first line of the Shema? |
|
A: |
Hashem
refers to G-d's attribute of mercy and to G-d revealed by the open or
revealed miracles he performs (e.g. 10 Plagues, Splitting of the
Seas of Reeds, Giving of the Torah at Sinai, etc). Elokim refers to G-d's
attribute of strict judgment and in Gematria has the same numerical value as
HaTevah (the nature) which refers to G-d performing hidden miracles in what
we call nature (e.g. the sun rising daily in the East and setting daily in
the West). In the Shema we are saying that G-d, who performs revealed
miracles (HaShem) is the same G-d (Elokim) who performs hidden miracles
through what we call nature. |
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| Q: |
Which
Psalms are read as the "Song Of The Day" for each day of the week? |
A: |
Sunday -
Psalm 24, Monday - Psalm 48, Tuesday - Psalm 82, Wednesday - Psalm 94 and
Psalm 95:1-3, Thursday - Psalm 81, Friday - Psalm 93, Shabbat - Psalm 92. |
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| Q: |
It states
in Deuteronomy 6:16 "You shall not test Hashem your G-d....". It is
explicitly written, however, that in the case of one commandment we are to
test Hashem. What is the commandment and where in the Jewish Bible is this
written? |
A: |
The
commandment to give Tzedakah. In Malachi 3:10 (Book of Prophets)Hashem
says "Test me with this, referring to tithing. If I will not open you
the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall be more
than sufficiency." |
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| Q: |
We don't
say Avinu Malkeinu on Shabbat, yet during the Ne'ila Service on Yom
Kippur, which in 2007was on a Shabbat, we did recite a short Avinu Malkeinu.
This was recited before Shabbat was over. Why were we able to do this?
Why isn't Avinu Malkeinu recited on Shabbat?
|
A: |
You can
recite Avinu Malkeinu on Yom Kippur after sh'kiah (sunset). In fact
you can also blow the Shofar on Yom Kippur after sh'kiah. Avinu
Malkeinu is not recited on Shabbat, nor on Yom Kippur which is referred to
as Shabbat Shabatot (the Shabbat of Shabbaths) because it is an intensive
listing of petitions. Petitions to Hashem are not allowed to be made
on Shabbat. |
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| Q: |
1. What is the position assumed in
the synagogue when saying the section of the Siddur (found after the Amidah)
beginning "To You, O Lord, I lift my soul."
2. Why do we assume this position?
3. When is this said?
4. What position do we assume if this is said where there is no Aron Kodesh
and why? |
|
A: |
1.
During the morning service when tefillin are worn on the left arm the
congregant is seated, bent over, with face lowered. The right hand
covers the head with the tallit. When tefillin are not worn the
congregant lowers his head on his left forearm.
2. The position is symbollic of
Temple practice, in which the people knelt and prostrated themselves until
their faces touched the ground. This was a gesture of absolute
humility and total self-effacement indicating total submission to G-d.
3. Daily except Erev Shabbat
afternoon, Shabbat, Motzaei Shabbat until midnight, Erev Rosh Chodesh
afternoon, Rosh Chodesh, the entire month of Nissan, the afternoon of the
17th of Iyar and Lag B'Omer (19th of Iyar), from the afternoon of Erev Rosh
Chodesh Sivan through the 12th of Sivan, the afternoon of the 8th of Av and
Tisha b'Av, the afternoon of the 14th of Av and 15th of Av, Erev Rosh
Hashanah and Rosh Hashanah, Erev Yom Kippur through the end of Tishrei, Erev
Chanukah afternoon and Chanukah, the afternoon of the 14th of Shevat and the
15th of Shevat, the afternoon of the 13th of Adar, Purim and Shushan Purim
(in a leap year, also Erev Purim Katan afternoon, Purim Katan and Shushan
Purim Katan), when there is a circumcision in the synagogue or in the
presence of the father, the sandek or the mohel, when a bridegroom is
present on the day of the wedding or during the week of the Sheva B'rachot.
4. We do not assume the
position in #1. above, This is in keeping with the spirit of the verse in
Joshia (7:6), where it says that "he fell on his face on the ground before
the Ark of the Lord."
The above is from "To Pray As A
Jew" by Rabbi Hayim Halevey Donin, published by Basic Books. |
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| Q: |
Why is the Jewish calendar set up so the first night of Chanukah can't ever be on a Monday night? |
A: |
You have
to back into the answer. The 5th night represents Galut (exile) and
Shabbat represents a preview of Moshiach so the two can't be together.
Nowadays the 5th night is celebrated as the time during the holiday when we
have more light than darkness (5 of the 8 candles are lit). Working
backwards, since the 5th night can't be on a Friday night, the first night
can't be on a Monday night. |
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|
| Q: |
1. In
Parasha Vayishlach (Genesis 32:4-36:43) why did Jacob go back across the
river to retrieve a few small jars?
2. Who was the angel he wrestled?
3. Why did the struggle take place at night and how does it relate to the
history of the Jewish people?
4. What do the letters on a dreidel (used outside of Israel) have to do
with Moshiach?
5. Where in Parasha Bereshit (Genesis 1:1-6:8) is there an allusion to
Chanukah?
6. Where in Parasha Vayigash (Genesis 44:18-47:27) is there an allusion to
Chanukah? |
A: |
1.
All of our possessions are granted to us by Hashem. To willingly
disregard them is to go against something that is bashert.
2. Esau's guardian angel.
3. Night, or darkness is
symbolic of exile. The struggle ended at daylight which is symbolic of
Torah, Moshiach, redemption. Even though we may be in despair in exile
we know that Hashem is with us and we will survive no matter how dark it
gets.
4. In Gamatria the letters on
the dreidel have the same numerical value as the letters of the word
Moshiach.
5. The 25th word in Bereshit
is light which is an allusion to the Festival of Lights, Chanukah, which
begins on the 25th of Kislev.
6. In Genesis 46:29 the
Hebrew word "Goshnah" (to Goshen) has the same letters as on the dreidel,
nun, gimmel, hey, shin. You just have to rearrange the letters of the
word. |
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|
| Q: |
One of
the Ten Commandments is not to take G-d's name in vain. This can
inadvertently happen if one says a blessing over food, forget it was
previously said and repeats the blessing again. If we catch ourselves after
saying Baruch Atta Hashem the second time we can get around the prohibition
by completing a verse in Psalms. Which psalm and verse is it? (Hint, the
psalm is referred to in the Talmud as t'maniah apin, the repetition of
eight.)
|
A: |
Psalm
119, verse 12 which states "Baruch Attah Hashem lamdeyni chukechah."
"Blessed are You, Hashem, teach me your statutes." If you catch
yourself after saying Baruch Attah Hashem you can say lamdeni chukecha and
you will have said a verse in Tehillim and not take Hashem's name in vain.
By the way, Psalm 119 is the longest psalm in the entire book of Tehillim.
It has 176 verses. |
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| Q: |
Why do some Orthodox Jews
not specifically invite guests to a Bris but instead just tell them when and
where the Bris is to be held? |
|
A: |
The
Prophet Elijah is a guest at every Bris. If we invite someone and that
person says he will attend and then doesn't come it is showing disrespect to
Elijah. |
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| Q: |
When Shabbat falls on a Festival why do some Orthodox Jews recite certain
prayers only applicable to Shabbat (e.g. Shalom Aleichem, Eishet Chayil) in an
undertone instead of aloud? |
A: |
We don't
want to embarrass the Yom Tov by saying these prayers aloud so we say them
in an undertone. Our Sages say that if we have such concern not to
embarrass a day how much more so should we be careful not to embarrass a
person. |
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|
| Q: |
When we are counting the Omer if we miss counting for a complete day we
cannot say the blessing when we continue the count and, in fact, will not
have fulfilled the mitzvah of counting seven complete weeks. What happens
in the following situations (i.e Is a blessing said each day, what day
starts the count, what about the count for the previous days, and why)?
Would your answer be different if, in the case of A. and B. the count was
started from the beginning of Sefira before they became obligated to count?
A. A non-Jew is converted during Sefira (the period of counting the Omer).
B. A boy becomes Bar Mitzvah during Sefira.
C. A person, G-d forbid, is in a coma and awakes from the coma during
Sefira. |
A: |
The
blessing is for counting seven complete weeks. Once a complete day is
missed you can still count the other days but without saying a blessing.
If the Bar Mitzvah started counting with a blessing and hadn't missed a day
then he can continue counting each day after his Bar Mitzvah with a blessing
provided he hasn't missed a complete day. In the case of A. and C.
they start counting but without saying a blessing. |
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|
| Q: |
What two tractates of the Talmud are studied during Sefira and why? |
A: |
Tractate
Pirkei Avos and Tractate Sotah. Pirkei Avos (Ethics of the Fathers) teaches
us about refining our character, personality, morality and ethics.
Tractate Sotah (wayward wife who secludes herself with other men after being
warned not to do so). The Israelites, at the time of the Exodus, had
sunk to the 49th level of spiritual degradation. Had they reached the
50th level they would not have been saved. Sefira is 49 days whereby
we are to rise one spiritual level a day until the 50th day where we are
spiritually ready to receive the Torah (Shavuot). In Kaballah we have 7
emotional attributes and each attribute contains all of the other
attributes( 7 x 7 = 49). One of the trials the Sotah has to go through
is eating barley, which was considered as food for animals, because she
acted like an animal and has to refine her neshamah. Barley is the
grain used for the Omer. |
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| Q: |
What was the first day of the creation of the world (Hebrew day and
month)? |
|
A: |
25th of
Elul. |
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| Q: |
What was the day that man was created (Hebrew day and month)? |
A: |
1st of
Tishrei. |
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|
| Q: |
Why do we celebrate Rosh Hashanah on the date we do? (Hint,
other than it is specified in the Torah on that date)?
|
A: |
The world
was created for man so that Hashem could have subjects who would serve Him. |
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|
| Q: |
Why do some Jews have the custom of eating carrots on Rosh Hashanah?
|
A: |
Carrots
in Yiddish is merren. Meren connotes "to multiply" or to "have many"
of G-d's infinite, boundless blessings. |
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| Q: |
The psalms for which day of the Hebrew month contain the Hallel ?
|
|
A: |
25th of
the month. |
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| |
| Q: |
Why is there no Shabbat Mevarchim for the month of Tishrei?
|
A: |
G-d
blesses the month of Tishrei on Shabbat Mevarchim and with this power we
bless the rest of the months in the year. Also , the 1st of Tishrei is
not called Rosh Chodesh but Rosh Hashanah. |
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|
| Q: |
How does the shaking of the lulav remind us of the High Holy Days?
|
A: |
When we
shake the lulav we always bring it back to our heart. The same place
that we strike when we say the Viduy and the Al Chet, the collective
confessionals. |
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|
| Q: |
What does the Sukkah remind us of (besides that we lived in
them after the Exodus from Egypt)? |
A: |
It
reminds us of the Clouds of Glory that enveloped the Israelites on all sides
during the jorneys in the Wilderness as an expression of G-d's love for us. |
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| Q: |
How is the answer to the above question connected to the shaking of the
lulav?
|
A: |
We shake
the lulav while facing East and shake it to all 4 compass points plus up and
down which are the directions that the Clouds of Glory protected us. |
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| Q: |
There was a minyan in the morning during the recitation of the Amidah yet it
was not repeated by the Chazzan nor was the Kaddish recited after the
completion of the Amidah. Why?
|
A: |
In order
to repeat the Amidah you need 6 men starting the Amidah at the same time.
In this instance there was less than 6 men starting the Amidah but there was
a minyan at the end of the Amidah. Because there was less than 5 men
starting the Amidah the repetition of the Amidah could not be said and the
Kaddish after the Amidah could not be recited because that one is tied to
the repetition of the Amidah being said. |
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| Q: |
Why is
there a mitzvah to have a festive meal on Purim but there is no such
mitzvah associated with Chanukah? This seems to go against the saying for
each Holiday "They tried to kill us, we won, let's eat! ". |
A: |
In Purim
Haman tried to physically kill the Jews, to desteroy our bodies but he
failed. Therefore our bodies celebrate by having a festive meal.
In Chanukah the Syrian-Greeks didn't want to kill us, at least not
initially. They didn't mind if we studied Torah or observed those
mitzvot that they considered rational. They only wanted us not to
observe any mitzvot that they considered above the realm of reason like
circumcision. Therefore, since there was not an attempt, initially to
destroy us there is no mitzvah to eat a festive meal. |
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| Q: |
What is
the blessing we recite before eating a banana or pineapple? Hint: It is not
the one that you would normally think that we recite. |
A: |
You would
think that it is Borei Pree Haeitz (fruit of the tree) but the correct
blessing is Borei Pree Haadamah (fruit of the ground). This is due to
the bark of the two trees. |
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| Q: |
The reading of the Torah is a
Rabbinic commandment. Who instituted it?
Although the reading of the
Torah is a Rabbinic commandment there is one Torah reading that is a
Biblical commandment. What is that reading?
Even if a synagogue allows a pre-Bar Mitzvah boy to be counted for a minyan,
on one Shabbat he cannot be counted for a minyan and in fact a post-Bar
Mitzvah boy called to the Torah must have at least some hair on his chin.
Which Shabbat is this?
|
A: |
Moshe
Rabbeinu (Moses) instituted it.
The Torah Reading that is Biblically
mandated is Zachor ( to remember Amalek).
Shabbat Zachor, the Shabbat that
precedes Purim. |
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| Q: |
In what
city in Israel must one observe the first two nights of Passover just as if
he/she would be outside of the Land of Israel and why? |
A: |
Eilat
because it is Halachically considered to be outside of the boundaries of
ancient Israel so anyone staying there must observe two Seder nights just as
if he/she is in Galus.
|
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| Q: |
Why is
the 2nd of Sivan a "special day"? |
A: |
The
second day of Sivan is known traditionally as the "Yom Hameyuchas," the
"distinguished day," or "Yom Yichus," the "day of unique relationship," for
it was on this day, prior to Mattan Torah, that the Holy One, Blessed be He,
addressed the Jewish people with the famous pronouncement: You will be to Me
a kingdom of kohanim and a holy nation. |
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| Q: |
The
prayer "Av Harachamim" is not recited on Shabbat Mevarchim except for
Shabbat Mevarchim Sivan. Why? |
A: |
Because
the massacres of Rhineland and French Jewry during the First Crusade reached
their peak in the beginning of Sivan in the secular year 1096 when this
prayer was instituted. |
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| Q: |
Which
aliyah is always the bridge between two Torah Portions when we have a double
Torah Portion on Shabbat? |
A: |
The
fourth aliyah. |
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| Q: |
Which is
the longest aliyah of the year? |
A: |
The
fourth aliyah of Mattot-Massei. It has 72 verses. |
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| Q: |
Where do
we find a reference to Chanukah in the Torah Portion of Massei? |
A: |
In the
Torah Portion of Massei (Numbers 33:29). The encampment is Hashmonah
which is the 25th encapment, Chanukah is celebrated on the 25th of
Kislev. The 5 sons known as Maccabees were of the Hashmonayim
dynasty. |
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| Q: |
Why is
the Jewish calendar set up so that the first day of Rosh Hashanah will never
be on a Sunday? |
A: |
The first
day of Rosh Hashanah can never fall on a Sunday, Wednesday or Friday.
For a complicated Kabbalistic reason click
here. The simple reason that it can't fall on a Sunday is because
if it did then Hoshanah Rabbah would fall on Shabbat and we are precluded
from carrying anything on Shabbat. |
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| Q: |
Why is
the first letter in the Torah an extra large letter? |
A: |
Beraishis
can be read as Beis (the number 2) reishis (beginings). Rashi says
that Creation was for two things called reishis. The Torah,
which is called "the beginning of His way" (Proverbs 8:22) and for Israel,
the Jewish People, who are called "the first of his crop" (Jeremiah 2:3). |
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| Q: |
How does the name of
the holiday of Chanukah tell us the Hebrew date of the first night it is
celebrated? |
A: |
The
Hebrew name of Chanukah can be broken down as Chanu Chof Hei "they rested on
the 25th". The first night of Chanukah is on the 25th of Kislev. |
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| Q: |
Why do we
stand while saying the Amidah and why is it recited silently? |
A: |
The name
"Amidah," which literally is the Hebrew gerund of "standing," comes from the
fact that the worshipper recites the prayer while standing with feet firmly
together. This is done to imitate the angels, whom Ezekiel perceived as
having "one straight leg." As worshippers address the Divine Presence, they
must remove all material thoughts from their minds, just as angels are
purely spiritual beings.
The guideline of silent prayer
comes from Hannah's behavior during prayer, when she prayed in the Temple to
bear a child. She prayed "speaking upon her heart," so that no one else
could hear, yet her lips were moving. Therefore, when saying the Amidah
one's voice should be audible to oneself, but not loud enough for others to
hear. |
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| Q: |
What blessing is recited when one builds in the Holy Land
and why is this particular blessing recited? |
A: |
The
blessing is "Baruch matziv gevul almanah" "Blessed is He who restores the
borders of the widow." "This is our way of thanking Hashem for Israel's
return to its land. Like a broken, solitary widow with little chance
to return to her borders and build a new home, we gain Hashem's mercy to
return to and build anew in our homeland-despite being driven from our
land,scattered about, and mocked by other nations." Rabbi Menachem
Porush, zt"l. |
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| Q: |
What do Moses and Pharoah have to
do with Matzah and Chametz?
|
A: |
Moses was
the most humble of all men. This character trait is represented by
Matzah. Pharoah was extremely arrogant. This character trait is
represented by Chametz, all puffed up. |
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| Q: |
A midrash
states that the reason that Adam sinned was because he only saw two, and had
he seen three he would not have sinned. What does this mean? |
A: |
Ethics of
the Fathers 3:1 states that in order to avoid sin, a person must concentrate
on three things; his humble beginning from a putrid drop, his ultimate end
in the grave, and that he will stand before G-d to be judged. Adam
could only see two of these things. He did not have a humble origin
from a putrid drop, being the handiwork of the Creator Himself. Inasmuch as
one must see all three items in order to avoid sin, and Adam could only see
two of the three he was vulnerable to sin. (From Visions of the
Fathers, Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D., The Shaar Press) |
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| Q: |
What Biblical figure was born
on the first of Tammuz and died on the same date? How old was he when
he died?
|
A: |
Joseph.
He was 110 years old when he died. |
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| Q: |
We are supposed to answer Amen
when we hear someone recite a blessing. What do we answer if we hear
two blessings at the same time?
|
A: |
Amen
v'Amen. |
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| Q: |
In
Megillat Eichah (Lamentations) Chapter 1 verse 2 is translated as "She
weeps bitterly in the night.....". In the Hebrew the double form of weeping
is used in both the present and future tense. What does this signify?
|
A: |
Mourning
for the destruction of the First Temple (present tense) and for the
destruction of the Second Temple (future tense). |
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| Q: |
What is
the most important change to the Amidah prayer from Rosh Hashanah until the
end of Yom Kippur? |
A: |
The
conclusion of the third b'rachah is changed from Ha-el Hakadosh to Hamelech
Hakadosh because during this time Hashem sits on the throne of judgement and
demonstrates his Kingship over the entire world. |
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| Q: |
At what times during the Service
do Orthodox men pull their tallit over their heads?
|
A: |
Customs
vary and your local Rabbi should be consulted as to the minhag in your shul.
It can occur when you first put your tallit on. Some keep it on during
the entire Service. Some only during the major portions of the Service
(e.g. Borchu, Shema, Amidah, Recitation of the Amidah through Kedushah.
All cover their head during Duchaning (the recitation of the Priestly
Blessing during Musaf of the Festivals by the Kohanim (Shacharit on Simchat
Torah). |
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| Q: |
In the merit of an act by
Abraham of spiritual selflessness the Jewish People received two
commandments that epitomize the value of sacrificing one's own spiritual
wellbeing for the sake of others.
1. What was this act of spiritual selflessness by Abraham and
where is it found in the Torah?
2. What were these two commandments and who performed them? |
A: |
1.
Abraham interrupted his conversation with G-d to attend to the three
strangers (angels) approaching his tent. This is found in the opening
verses of Parshah Vayeira (Genesis 18:1-2)
2. Both of these were performed
by the priests. The first was the purification process of the Red
Heifer whereby the priest automatically became ritually impure. The
second was by the priest preparing the solution to be administered to the
Sotah (suspected wayward wife) and taking a parchment containing G-d's name
written on it and submerging it in the solution thereby erasing G-d's name. |
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| Q: |
It
is said that the 10 Commandments encompass all of the 613 Mitzvot. How is
this so? |
A: |
The 1st
Commandment is a positive commandment and encompasses all of the 248
positive commandments. The 2nd Commandment is a negative commandment
and encompasses all of the 365 negative commandments. |
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| Q: |
What are 3 differences between the Jewish 10 Commandments and the non-Jewish
10 Commandments? |
A: |
1st
Commandment. Some non-Jewish versions do not refer to the taking out
of the land of Egypt. 6th
Commandment. Refers to Murder not Killing.
8th Commandment. Refers to
Kidnapping not Stealing. |
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| Q: |
Why is the Shehechiyanu blessing not recited when lighting the candles and
chanting the Kiddush during the last two days of Passover? |
A: |
The first
two days celebrate the Exodus which already happened so we can say
Shehechiyanu. The last two days celebrate the future redemption and
the coming of Moshiach which has not yet happened so we don't say
Shehechiyanu. |
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| Q: |
When is Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) usually studied and where is
Tractate Avot found? |
A: |
Pirkei
Avot is usually studied between the Shabbat immediately after Passover
through the Shabbat immediately preceding Rosh Hashanah.
Tractate Avot is part of the Order
of Nezikin (Damages) which deals with torts and civil law. |
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| Q: |
The custom in many communities is for children to begin the study of Talmud
with what Tractate and why? |
A: |
The
second chapter of Tractate Bava Metzia, the second Tractate in the Order of
Nezikin. This is to teach children that a Jew must live by the Torah
in the secular realm just as much as in the religious realm. |
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| Q: |
Why is there no mourning on
Shabbat?
|
A: |
Shabbat
is a foretaste of the time of Moshiach (a day that will be all Shabbat) at
which time there will be no illness or death. |
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| Q: |
Why does the Fast of the 17th of Tammuz end before 3 stars appear at night?
(Because we are hungry is not the answer!) |
A: |
Since it
is a Rabbinic Fast and not a Biblical Fast we are allowed to be less strict. |
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| Q: |
Why is there no blessing of
the month of Tishrei said on the Shabbat before Tishrei as is said on
the Shabbat before every other month?
|
A: |
G-d
blesses the month of Tishrei. The rest of the months represent man's
potential. That is why we introduce each month with a prayer for
success and achievement. Before Tishrei , however, we omit the prayer
because Tishrei symbolizes G-d's flow of beneficence to man. (Rosh
Hashanah, Artscroll Mesorah Series) |
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| Q: |
What does the light of the
Chanukiah represent?
|
A: |
The light
of Torah. |
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| Q: |
What is special about the 5th night of Chanukah? |
A: |
It is the
first night where there is more light than darkness from the candles. |
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| Q: |
If
someone already has davened at an earlier Service and in fact has been
called to the Torah then and subsequently that day goes to another shul
for the same Service can he be called to the Torah again? |
A: |
Yes he
can. |
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| Q: |
You are reciting the
Amidah and are a slow davener. The Chazan has finished his recitation
and starts the repetition of the Amidah. He comes up to the Kedushah
and you are still not finished with your recitation. What do you do?
|
A: |
It
depends where you are in the Amidah. If you have not completed the Sim
Shalom paragraph then you stand for the Kedushah without saying it and
afterward you go back and complete the Amidah. If you have completed
the Sim Shalom paragraph then you can recite the Kedushah with the
congregation. As in any matter discussed here you should consult with
the Rabbi of your congregation. |
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| Q: |
Reserved For Future Question. |
A: |
Reserved For Future
Answer. |
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| Q: |
Reserved For Future Question. |
A: |
Reserved For Future
Answer. |
| |
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| Q: |
Reserved For Future Question. |
A: |
Reserved For Future
Answer. |
| |
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| Q: |
Reserved For Future Question. |
A: |
Reserved For Future
Answer. |
| |
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| Q: |
Reserved For Future Question. |
A: |
Reserved For Future
Answer. |
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| Q: |
Reserved For Future Question. |
A: |
Reserved For Future
Answer. |
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 |
|