TMC Torah Blog

There is a widespread custom to study one chapter of Pirkei Avos each Shabbas afternoon during the summer months. (Rema O.C. 292:2) Some observe the custom for the first six weeks following Pesach, thereby completing the entire tractate of Pirkei A…

After you've finally finished putting away your Pesach items, it's time to make Schlissel or Key Challah (shlissel challah, or key challah. Shlissel originates from the German word for key: shlüssel.) It is an old and established custom that on…

Rav Moshe ben Nachman (מֹשֶׁה בֶּן־נָחְמָן Mōše ben-Nāḥmān, "Moses son of Nachman"; 1194–1270), known as Nachmanides or Ramban, was born in Girona in 1194 and passed away in the Land of Israel around 1270. Descending from Rav Yitzchak ben Reuve…

Where does the custom to steal the Afikoman come from? The source is not clear, but the Chok Yaakov (472:2) says it could come from the Gemara in Pesachim (109a): The Gemara says, "We grab the matzah on pesach night so the children don't sleep." We…

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לַשֶּֽׂכְוִי בִינָה לְהַבְחִין בֵּין יוֹם וּבֵין לָֽיְלָה:  Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the Universe, Who gives the rooster understanding to distinguish between day and night.  The significance of a rooster'…

Hashem instructed Moshe on the ritual of cleansing those with Tzaraas. If the Kohen observed healing, he would procure two live, clean birds, cedar wood, crimson stuff, and hyssop. The Kohen would then sprinkle the blood seven times on the individu…

The Yerushalmi (Pesachim 10:1) prohibits eating matzah on "Erev Pesach." The Rishonim debate when this prohibition begins: Baal Hamaor (15b) says it's from the time chametz can no longer be eaten, the 6th hour into the day. Ramban (Milchemes 15b) le…

The Haggadah, meaning "telling" in Hebrew, is a significant Jewish text outlining the Passover Seder's sequence. It is a Jewish practice to read the Haggadah at the Seder table as an obligation for every Jew to narrate the story from the Book of Exo…

From the first of Nissan to the 13th of Nissan, it is customary to read about the Nasi of each day.  This tradition originates from the time after the inauguration of the Tabernacle, where a different Nasi of a tribe presented a sacrifice each…

In the Hebrew calendar, Nisan is significant as it marks the beginning of the ecclesiastical year. Described as the 'first of the months of the year' (Exodus 12:1-2), the 'first month' (Ex 12:14), and the month of Aviv (בְּחֹ֖דֶשׁ הָאָבִֽיב), it is celebrated…