When during the Friday night prayer service do the laws of Shabbat take effect? At one specific point during the service does it become forbidden for a person to perform Melacha (forbidden activity)? This issue is subject to a dispute between Maran (Rav Yosef Karo, author of the Shulhan Aruch) and the Arizal (Rav Yishak Luria of Safed, 1534-1572). …

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This week we're discussing every album by Metallica from 1983 to 1988. That's right, all the thrash albums. This era highlights not only some of their most ferocious and technical material (and let's face it, BEST albums), but also their time with legendary bassist Cliff Burton before his tragic death. Everyone and their mom has heard these albums,…

This is one of the most underused weapons. Joy in Jesus is a lot more than just a happy feeling. It is a spiritual weapon against Satan. How can we use it successfully? Join Nader Mansour in this practical message.By Nader Mansour

…و چهارمین و آخرین قسمت از پادکست ثریا به ماجرای زندگی او پس از جدایی از شاه تا مرگش اختصاص دارد. در این قسمت دیجی شهر در کنار جعبه ایستاده است. دیجی شهر یک فروشگاه آن لاین خرید کالاست که شما می توانید تا سقف ۲۰۰ میلیون تومان در آن وام گرفته و پس از خرید به‌صورت قسطی طی شصت ماه پرداخت نمایید. https://landing.dgshahr.com/…

Most sinks today have an insert, a strainer, that is placed over the drain to prevent large solid objects from going into the drain. Often, a liquid with large pieces is poured into the sink, and the insert catches the large pieces while allowing the liquid to fall down the drain. The question arises as to whether one may pour liquids into a sink t…

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Halacha forbids deriving benefit from a Melacha (forbidden activity) performed on Shabbat. Thus, if a person cooked food on Shabbat in violation of Halacha, it may not be eaten. This prohibition was enacted by the Sages. As far as Torah law is concerned, food that was cooked on Shabbat is permissible for consumption; it was the Sages who enacted th…

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The obligation to recite Habdala on Mosa'eh Shabbat applies to both men and women. Nevertheless, it is customary for the husband to recite Habdala for his wife. Even if a man had already recited Habdala in the synagogue, with the intention of fulfilling his obligation, the custom is that he repeats Habdala for his wife. Despite the fact that he had…

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily GemaraBy Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily GemaraBy Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

One who smells a fragrant plant must recite before smelling either the Beracha of "Boreh Aseh Besamim" or "Boreh Asbeh Besamim." The Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909) presents a number of guidelines to determine which of these two Berachot one recites (listen to audio recording for precise citation). He writes that one recites "Bor…

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Although generally one recites a Beracha before smelling fragrant substances such as fruits, perfumes, plants and spices, one does not recite a Beracha over fragrant substances which are used mainly as deodorizers, to neutralize foul odors. For example, no Beracha is recited over the fragrant spices placed near bodies awaiting burial, which are int…

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If one wishes to smell a fragrant fruit to enjoy its scent, then he first recites the Beracha, "Baruch Ata…Ha'noten Re'ah Tob Ba'perot." Even if the fruit is grown and used primarily for eating, and not for its fragrance, nevertheless, one who wishes to smell it to enjoy its fragrance first recites this Beracha. Even if the fragrance emanates mainl…

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This week we're discussing Umbilical, the latest album by sludge/doom metal band Thou. We sure you hope you like punishing, brutal, and unrelenting metal, because Umbilical is one of the gnarliest records released this year. Not counting collab albums, this is the band's first full-length since 2018's Magnus. Crank it and brace yourselves. Closing …

Before smelling rosemary or jasmine, one recites the Beracha of "Boreh Aseh Besamim." It was customary in ancient times to place spices over burning coals after a meal, in order to produce a fragrant incense. If one smells incense, he must recite a Beracha, but the Beracha must be made at a very specific point in the process – namely, it must be re…

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The final verse of Tehillim (150:6) declares, "Kol Ha'neshama Tehalel Kah" – "Every soul shall give praise to G-d." The Gemara interprets this to mean that one must recite a Beracha over an experience which brings enjoyment specifically to the Neshama (soul) – namely, the enjoyment of fragrance. This is the source of the special Beracha which is re…

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Somebody who smells honeysuckles recites the Beracha of "Baruch Ata Hashem…Boreh Aseh Besamim." Since they grow on a bush, the proper Beracha is "Aseh Besamim" ("fragrant trees"). If one smells cinnamon – as many people do for the Besamim at Habdala – the Beracha depends on which cinnamon is used. Although cinnamon grows on trees, and should thus r…

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily GemaraBy Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily GemaraBy Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

There is a time-honored practice – dating back many centuries – to read Shir Hashirim on Friday night. Some communities read it before Minha on Friday afternoon, others between Minha and Arbit, and some after Arbit. The text of Shir Hashirim is, essentially, a love story between a man and a woman. The Seror Ha'mor (Rav Abraham Saba, 1440-1508), in …

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Hacham Moshe Rahamim Shayo, in his Mehkerei Eretz (v. 8 Orah Haim 41), discusses the following question: Is a person who prays a different prayer with the congregation considered to be praying with the community (tefilla b'tzibur)? The Shulhan Arukh (Orah Hayim 90:9) writes that "A person should do his best to pray in the Beit Kenesset with the com…

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The custom in many communities, including ours, is to allow reciting the Arbit prayer early, before sundown, during the summer months, especially on Friday night. How exactly does this work, and under what circumstances is this permitted? The primary source of this discussion is the Mishna in Masechet Berachot which brings a famous dispute between …

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily GemaraBy Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

This week we're discussing every album by Acid Bath. While their existence was short lived, Acid Bath's style of sludge metal and stoner rock was a clear inspiration to bands like Pantera. If you're looking for brutal sludge with hard rock hooks, these dudes deliver. Closing track: "Finger Paintings of the Insane" from When the Kite String Pops (19…

The Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909) writes in Parashat Debarim (listen to audio recording for precise citation) that one should make a special effort to recite Birkat Ha'lebana on Mosa'eh Tisha B'Ab with joy. Birkat Ha'lebana should always be recited joyfully, but this is especially important on Mosa'eh Tisha B'Ab. In particular,…

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One of the prohibitions that apply on Tisha B'Ab is "Sicha," which means rubbing oil on one's skin. The modern-day application of this Halacha is the use of skin creams, which is meant to make one's skin feel smoother and more comfortable. The use of skin creams is forbidden on Tisha B'Ab, as it violates the prohibition of "Sicha." However, Hacham …

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily GemaraBy Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

It is forbidden to bathe with hot water during the week of Tisha B'Ab, from the Shabbat preceding Tisha B'Ab through the day of Tisha B'Ab. This is one of several difficult Halachot that we observe during this period to commemorate the calamity of the Temple's destruction. It is permissible to bathe with cold water, and one may mix in some hot wate…

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily GemaraBy Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

A Daily Gemara podcast, brought to you by Daily GemaraBy Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

Today, the fifth day of Av, is the Yahrzeit of Rabbenu Ha'ari, Rabbi Yishak Luria (1534-1572, Tsfat). Last night in Tsfat, thousands of people came to his grave to pray and perform Tikunim. Therefore, it is appropriate today to study a teaching of the Ari. When one learns the Torah of the Sadikim on the day they passed away, the lips of that Sadik …

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Our custom is to refrain from eating meat during the Nine Days, from Rosh Hodesh Ab until after Tisha B'Ab, except on Shabbat. The question is often asked whether it is permissible to eat after Shabbat meat that is left over from Shabbat. Is this food permissible since it was prepared for Shabbat, or is this food permissible only during Shabbat, bu…

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The Maharam of Rotenberg (Germany, 1215-1293) was of the opinion that Tisha B'Av, the saddest day of the year, has the same status in Halacha as the first day of mourning, and thus just as one does not wear Tefillin on his first day of mourning, Heaven forbid, so do we all refrain from wearing Tefillin on Tisha B'Av. Other authorities, however, hel…

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This week we're discussing Lost Themes IV: Noir, the latest album by legendary movie director John Carpenter. Collaborating with his son, Cody Carpenter and his godson, Daniel Davies, this is Carpenter's fourth album and it's a ton of fun. Like previous Lost Themes albums, there are a ton of synths, 80s rock guitars, and driving electronic rhythms.…

The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 551) cites three views regarding the consumption of meat and wine during the period before Tisha B'Ab. The first opinion is that meat and wine are forbidden only during the week of Tisha B'Ab, from after the Shabbat preceding Tisha B'Ab until after the fast. According to the second view, meat and wine are forbidden alre…

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The Sages instruct, "Mi'shenichnas Ab Mema'atin Be'simha" – "When Ab enters, we reduce our joy." This means that with the onset of the month of Ab, we are to avoid certain undertakings that bring us special joy. Thus, for example, one should not have his home freshly painted or wallpapered during the period of the Nine Days from Rosh Hodesh Ab thou…