Tag: Mitzvah

Why I Love Tefillin

Rabbi Lauren Tuchman writes "Why I Love Tefillin" and explores how all people can wear tefillin, based on her own experience.

Rabbi Lauren Tuchman February 6, 2024 Accessories for Prayer Every Day

Why We Cover Challah at the Shabbat Table

Why we cover Challah at the Shabbat table can be found when we learn about manna and the seven species of Israel.

Hazzan Sara Geffen Geller January 30, 2024 Erev Shabbat Holidays

Understanding The Jewish Call To Sustainability

Understanding the Jewish call to sustainability is rooted in a new category of mitzvot: bein adam l'adamah, between the self and the Earth.

Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin January 3, 2024 Climate and Environment Living

The Mitzvah of Environmental Sustainability

What does Judaism say about environmental sustainability? Yishuv Ha'olam is the mitzvah to build and maintain a sustainable world.

Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin January 3, 2024 CJLS Climate and Environment

Bright Wings

Parashat Haazinu is the poem that Moshe sings to the people of Israel before he delivers his deathbed blessing, discussing bright wings.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva June 12, 2023 Parashat Haazinu Parashat Haazinu Dvar Torah

Study Guide: Food or Famine? Up to Us?

The study guide for parashat Eikev explores the Shema and the mitzvot mandated by the sacred prayer, such as mezuzot and tefillin.

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva June 6, 2023 Parashat Eikev Parashat Eikev Study Guide

A Conduit of Blessing

In this parashah, Moshe prepares the people for their entry into Israel, extolling the conduit of blessing that they are about to conquer.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva June 6, 2023 Parashat Eikev Parashat Eikev Dvar Torah

Study Guide: Danger of Complacency

This week's study guide explores the danger of complacency in relation to our parashah, using commentary by Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch.

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva June 5, 2023 Parashat Va'etchanan Parashat Va'etchanan Study Guide

Spies and Tzitzit: Camels and Death

Our parashah is bookended by the story of the spies and tzitzit. This leads to a discussion on the obligation of mitzvot.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva May 28, 2023 Parashat Shlach Parashat Shlach Dvar Torah

Why Prayer Matters

Tefillah is more than the sum of its parts and encompasses far more than the obligation to recite certain specific daily prayers.

Rabbi Dr. Karen Reiss Medwed, The Observant Life (Book) May 16, 2023 Every Day Prayer

What is a Kippah?

There is a wide range of specific customs related to the issue of covering the head, including what to cover it with.

Rabbi Dr. Karen Reiss Medwed, The Observant Life (Book) May 11, 2023 Accessories for Prayer Every Day

Fasting While Ill

It is considered forbidden to fast on fast days if injurious to one’s health, for the sake of performing positive commandments.

Rabbi Carl Astor, The Observant Life (Book) May 10, 2023 Health Illness

Study Guide: For the Land is Mine

The study guide for Behar focuses on the concept of Shmitah, the rest year, and the language used to refer to it.

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva April 26, 2023 Parashat Behar Parashat Behar Study Guide

Study Guide: Plugging of the Loophole

The study guide for Kedoshim synthesizes Rashi, Rashbam, and Ramban to discuss a text from Vayikra about holiness.

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva April 19, 2023 Parashat Kedoshim Parashat Kedoshim Study Guide

How Old Is Old?

Public buses in Israel feature a sign that quotes from a verse in this week’s parashah: “You shall rise before the aged'' (Leviticus 19:32).

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva April 19, 2023 Parashat Kedoshim Parashat Kedoshim Dvar Torah

Study Guide: Let Go!

This week's study guide presents commentary on the shemitah—sabbatical year—and giving to the poor or giving tzedakah.

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva February 5, 2023 Parashat Mishpatim Parashat Mishpatim Study Guide

Study Guide: Tabula Rasa?

The study guide for Parashat Yitro discusses the Ten Commandments and the relationships between fathers and children.

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva January 27, 2023 Parashat Yitro Parashat Yitro Study Guide

Bridegroom of Blood

Shemot describes the early years of Moshe’s life up to the pivotal moment when he is informed of his mission awaiting him in Egypt.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva December 30, 2022 Parashat Shemot Parashat Shemot Dvar Torah

Songs for Hanukkah

Hanukkah songs include those that follow candle lighting, as well as S'vivon sov sov sov, Hanukkah O'Hanukkah, and Neir Li.

Reena Bromberg Gaber December 6, 2022 Hanukkah Holidays

What is The Menorah?

The central mitzvah of Ḥanukkah is the lighting of the menorah at home and in the synagogue. This brings light to the darker winter months. ...

Rabbi Alan Lucas, The Observant Life (Book) December 6, 2022 Hanukkah Holidays

How to light the Hanukkah Candles

Read here for the procedure for lighting candles for Hanukkah. This includes the blessings, song ideas, and order for lighting candles.

Rabbi Alan Lucas, The Observant Life (Book) December 5, 2022 Hanukkah Holidays

Sukkot at Home

While celebrating Sukkot at home, rituals include lighting candles, sitting in the sukkah, and customs related to the sukkah.

Rabbi Alan Lucas, The Observant Life (Book) October 28, 2022 High Holidays Holidays

Rituals of Sukkot

Sukkot, one of the shalosh r’galim, the three pilgrimage festivals is celebrated five days after Yom Kippur.

Rabbi Alan Lucas, The Observant Life (Book) October 14, 2022 High Holidays Holidays

The Shofar on Rosh Hashanah

Sounding of the shofar is a characteristic mitzvah of Rosh Hashanah. The holiday is alternatively called the Day of Sounding the Shofar.

The Observant Life (Book), Rabbi Alan Lucas September 16, 2022 High Holidays Holidays

T’fillah/Prayer: A Mitzvah to Take a “Time Out”

T'fillah, Jewish prayer, is rooted in self-judgment, reflection, and connecting to something greater than ourselves.

The Observant Life (Book), Rabbi Dr. Karen Reiss Medwed June 29, 2022 Prayer Understanding Prayer