by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Haber | Jun 18, 2009
A common situation. You’re standing in Shul behind an overly exuberant new Chosson, who after checking out his reflection in his shiny new Tallis bag, zips it open, pulls out his Tallis, and proceeds to whirl it around his head like a chicken at kaparos, giving...
by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Haber | Jun 5, 2009
We Orthodox Jews tend to get the heebee jeebies when it comes to nails (the ones that grow on fingers and toes, not the ones that are intentionally hit with a hammer). What is the background of this? A brief history: The Gemara (Moed Katan 18a, Niddah 17a) says that...
by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Haber | May 26, 2009
Eating Dairy on Shavous The Rema cites a minhag to eat a Milchig meal on the first day of Shavous. There are many reasons given for this custom, The Rema himself suggests (as explained by the Mishna Berura) that just as on Pesach we have two foods to remember the...
by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Haber | May 14, 2009
As many of you know we were blessed with a beautiful baby girl this week. It’s been busy, so I present here a guest post by Rabbi Avraham Reit explaining the entire chalitza process. Rabbi Reit is the ultimate “Do It Right”er, having actually written...
by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Haber | Apr 27, 2009
What Not To Do during Sefirah – The Real Story There seems to be a never ending stream of overly finessed minutiae as to what is or is not permitted during Sefirah. Let’s elucidate: The Tur (OC 493) cites three things that were customarily refrained from during...
