by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Haber | Apr 7, 2014
Although the usual blessing made before drinking wine is Borei Pri Hagefen, in very specific circumstances one may make the blessing of Hatov Vehameitiv. The specific circumstances is worthy of an article of its own, however in a nutshell, when a second wine is...
by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Haber | Dec 31, 2013
“Hachodesh hazeh lechem rosh chadoshim”, this month shall be for you the first of months. In a beautiful essay Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch explains – כי הנה הסתיו עבר the winter has passed, the spring is coming and Shlomo Hamelech is describing the beauty of the coming...
by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Haber | Nov 25, 2013
The Shulchan Aruch succinctly tells us (673) that ‘all oils and all wicks are kosher to be used in the menorah and one fulfills their mitzvah with them.’ In fact, one fulfills his obligation by lighting any fuel, even the fats of non-kosher animals. However the...
by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Haber | Nov 21, 2013
On January 18th 1920 the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, prohibiting the “”the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within… the United States… for beverage purposes”. The Volstead Act,...
by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Haber | Aug 4, 2013
We are familiar with the concept of Maaser Sheini. You take your tithe, bring it, or its monetary value to Jerusalem, and let it here, in the presence of the Bais Hamikdash. We do the same with Maaser Beheimah – we tithe our animals, bring them up to Jerusalem, and...
