TMC Torah Blog

Should one who fasts or recites Selichos on Behab after Sukkos and Pesach also do so after the third Yom Tov, Shavuos? This ancient custom dates back to the era of Tosafos (Kiddushin 81a), who mentions it only on Sukkos and Pesach. Let's explore so…

Rav Chaim of Volozhin (21 January 1749 – 14 June 1821), also known as "Reb Chaim Volozhiner" or "Reb Chaim," was born in Volozhin, a part of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Reb Chaim and his elder brother Reb Simcha received educatio…

In the times of Chazal, each morning blessings were recited when the particular benefit for which it was written occurred. Nowadays, it is customary to recite all these blessings at one time only after one has washed his hands. (SA 46.2) Men, wom…

God commands Moshe to instruct Aaron to light the Menorah in the Mishkan. Levites are purified and consecrated to serve in place of the firstborn Israelites. God sets an age limit for Levite service in the Tent of Meeting, retiring them at 50. The P…

Today commemorates the Yahrtzeit of the esteemed Mr. Kalonymus Ze'ev Wissotzky (1824–1904), a distinguished businessman and philanthropist.  Hailing from a lineage of merchants near Kovno, Wissotzky embarked on his journey when he marrie…

וְזֹ֥את תּוֹרַ֖ת הַנָּזִ֑יר בְּי֗וֹם מְלֹאת֙ יְמֵ֣י נִזְר֔וֹ יָבִ֣יא אֹת֔וֹ אֶל־פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃  This is the ritual for the Nazirite: On the day that the term Nazirite is completed, the person shall be brought to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. Rashi: יביא אתו. יָבִיא אֶת עַ…

Rabbi Yaakov Chaim Sofer (1870-1939) was a distinguished Sephardic Rabbi, Kabbalist, Talmudist, and author of the renowned work Kaf Hakhaim on Halakha.  His magnum Opus, "Kaf Hachaim," spans ten volumes and is a significant work discussing Hal…

Calendar for the Month of Sivan with significant events in Jewish History (8th - 30th) Sivan 8 (June 15, 2024)Rabbeinu Tam was Attaked Sivan 10 (June 17, 2024)Klonimus Zev Wissotzky (Kelm) Yahrtzeit (Klonimus Wolf Wissotzky, the son of poor pare…

Klal Yisroel has the custom of staying up Shavuos night learning Torah. Many sources support this custom, the earliest of which is the Zohar, Parshas Emor (97b).  Magen Avraham (494) provides a reason for the custom based on the Midrash in Shi…

Akdamus or Akdamut Milin ("In Introduction to the Words," i.e., to the Ten Commandments) is a prominent piyyut ("liturgical poem") written in Aramaic recited annually on the Jewish holiday of Shavuos by Ashkenazi Jews. Rabbi Meir bar Yitzchak penned…