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…
Instructed by God, Moshe conveyed to the Israelites the regulations about the impurity of women after childbirth. A woman giving birth to a boy would be considered impure for seven days, followed by 33 days of purification. Conversely, if she gave b…
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁלֹּא עָשַֽׂנִי גּוֹי: Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the Universe, Who did not make me a gentile. Why do we make a bracha in the negative "that he didn't make us a goy" as opposed to the positive "״שאני יהודי (…
This week, instead of reading the regular Parshas Shemini haftarah, we read the haftarah for Parshas Hachodesh (Yechezkel 45:16-46:18). Verse nine mentions that when leaving the Bais Hamikdosh, one should exit from the opposite gate of entry;…
The Rama (429:1) brings a custom to distribute wheat to the poor before pesach; this is known as maos chitim (money for wheat) or kimcha d'pischa (Passover flour). The Mishnah Berura (429:3) says this is an ancient custom from the times of the Gemar…
During the ordination ceremony for Kohanim and consecration of the Mishkan, Moshe instructed Aaron to gather calves, rams, a goat, a lamb, an ox, and a meal offering for sacrifices (קָרְבֳּנוֹת, korbanot) to present before God. Aharon blessed the pe…
