Search results for: ""Hashkafa""

Tum'a: Washing Hands and Books
You do not need to wash your hands before reading a book of hashkafa/halacha/Jewish philosophy or even Torah or Talmud from a book, unless you have touched something impure/tamei before reading.
Introduction to Torah Study
Studying Torah is a basic requirement for all Jews and such study is considered to be a prestigious commandment (Torah study is as important as doing all the other mitzvot: talmud Torah k'negged kulam). Setting time for Torah study (k'viat zman l'Torah) means that we show how important Torah study is by setting a specific time each day and a specific duration for such study.

But all commandments that you must do (mitzvot aseh) take precedence over studying Torah. That is, you may NOT ignore the need to do another positive commandment because you are studying!

Minimum Required Torah Study
The minimum requirements for Jews to learn:
  • Men:  All parts of the Torah plus whatever halacha is relevant for them.
    Note The most important subjects for men to study are whatever is practical for them in their lives
  • Women:  All halachot relevant for them, and hashkafa.
 
Rosh Hashana: Prayers: Special Bowing: Musaf
For special bowing during Rosh Hashana musaf, please see Waist-Bowing and Knee-Bowing.
Rosh Hashana: Tashlich: Where To Say
Tashlich should be said near a running natural stream or a lake but not at a mikva.
Rosh Hashana: Tashlich: How Much To Say
The minimum amount of the tashlich service to say is the first paragraph (mi eil kamocha).
Rosh Hashana: Tashlich: When To Say
Ideally, say tashlich on the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashana (unless that is Shabbat, in which case say it on the second day of Rosh Hashana). You may say it until the end of the day of Hoshana Rabba.
Rosh Hashana: Tashlich: Introduction to Tashlich
Tashlich is a universal custom with force of halacha. Don't feed fish, don't throw crumbs into the water.
Rosh Hashana: End: Baruch HaMavdil Bein Kodesh L'Chol and Birkat HaMazon
Saying Baruch ha'mavdil bein kodesh l'chol after dark at the end of Rosh Hashana (as for Jewish festivals) does not affect the additions you will then say in birkat ha'mazon.
Situation You washed your hands, said ha'motzi, began eating your meal on Rosh Hashana afternoon, and it is now dark.
What To Do You may say Baruch ha'mavdil bein kodesh l'chol and do melacha, and then continue to eat your meal or say birkat ha'mazon INCLUDING ya'aleh v'yavo and ha'rachaman hu yichadeish alenu et ha'shana ha'zot l'tova v'livracha.
Rosh Hashana: Challa Customs: Challa Dipped in Honey
Eating challa dipped in honey on Rosh Hashana is a universal custom but is not halacha.
 
Rosh Hashana: Challa Customs: Round Challa
It is a custom to make round challa for Rosh Hashana and other Jewish festivals (except Passover!), unless Rosh Hashana falls on Shabbat.
Rosh Hashana: Symbolic Foods (Simanim): God's Name
Situation You made up your own segulot for Rosh Hashana.
What to Do You may say them with God's name or without, in the yehi ratzon.
Rosh Hashana: Symbolic Foods (Simanim): HaMotzi
On Rosh Hashana, before eating the symbolic foods (simanim):
  • Make kiddush,
  • Wash your hands,
  • Say ha'motzi, and
  • Eat bread.
Then eat the symbolic foods (simanim), saying the appropriate blessings (borei pri ha'eitz, borei pri ha'adama) before eating the simanim.
 
Rosh Hashana: Symbolic Foods (Simanim): Which Foods
Eating the special symbolic foods (simanim) on Rosh Hashana evening is a universally accepted custom. These may include:
Apple Dipped in Honey
Beets
Black-eyed Peas
Carrots
Dates
Fish Head
Leeks
Pomegranate
 
Rosh Hashana: Evening Kiddush: New Fruit for SheHecheyanu on Second Night
Place a “new” fruit--over which you may say she'hecheyanu--at the table for kiddush on the second night of Rosh Hashana.
Reason So the she'hecheyanu of kiddush also covers the fruit. 
Note B'di'avad, still say she'hecheyanu even if you do not have a new fruit.
Rosh Hashana: How Many Shofar Blasts To Hear
Men are required to hear at least 60 shofar blasts on Rosh Hashana (l'chatchila) in order to fulfill the commandment of hearing shofar:  30 before the musaf amida and 30 afterward.  But they fulfill their requirement (b'di'avad) if they have heard at least 30 on each day of Rosh Hashana
Women only need to hear 30 shofar blasts on each day of Rosh Hashana.
Note Although 100 shofar blasts are blown each day of Rosh Hashana, hearing all 100 is a non-binding custom.  You do not need to hear the first blasts or any other particular set, but you must hear blasts that include:
  • 3 tashrat (teki'a-shevarim-teru'a-teki'a) +
  • 3 tashat (teki'a-shevarim-teki'a) +
  • 3 tarat (teki'a-teru'a-teki'a).