by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Haber | Jun 6, 2016
The custom in many communities is to recite Kiddush Levana (bless the New Moon) on the first possible Saturday night. Halachically it must be three days after the ‘birth’ of the new moon, but before the apex of the moon. (The exact calculations needed to determine the...
by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Haber | May 11, 2014
It is well known that there are two main customs regarding the mourning practices of Sefira. The Shulchan Aruch writes that it is from the second day of Pesach until Lag B’Omer, after which all mourning ceases; this is the “Minhag Sefard”. The Maharil (quoted by the...
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 | Jun 18, 2010
What happens if on Yom Tov one mixes up the end of the blessing in Shemoneh Esrei , and in place of saying Mekadeish Hashabbos Veyisrael Vehazmanim, he says Mekadeish Hashabbos, or vice versa? There is a three way dispute (Beitzah 17) regarding the proper format of...
by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Haber | Apr 23, 2009
Sign seen in Shul: This Shul adheres to the tenets of Shulchon Aruch. Anyone who davens for the amud in this Shul must also adhere to Shulchon Aruch. Therefore we do not permit those who shave during Sefirah to lead the congregation in Tefillah. Poskim (those commonly...
