Letters For Our Time

Yitzchak prayed in a field, but in Shulchan Aruch is says that one may not pray in a field. What’s going on?

Part of the JewishU program for students

Short & powerful maamer from the Alter Rebbe. Unofficial sister maamer of Anochi Mogen Lach which we learned last week.

Sources: Shulchan Aruch HaRav, Shulchan Aruch, Shach & Taz etc.

Isn’t there anyone I can hate?!

Short & powerful maamer from the Alter Rebbe about the meaning of the bracha “Magen Avraham.” Explore the difference between Avraham and Yishmael and more.

Our sages tell us to learn the halachos of a holiday 30 days before the day. What does that mean? And does it apply to Chanukah? Source: Gemora, Beis Yosef, Shulchan Aruch, Mishna Berurah, shu”t Tzitz Eliezer, Shulchan Aruch HaRav.

Discussion about the meaning of love

What happens if you forget to say mashiv ha’ruach u’morid ha’geshem? Sources: Shulchan aruch, Magen Avraham, Be’er Heitev, Sharei Teshuva, Chasam Sofer, Mishna Berurah, Shulchan Aruch HaRav, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch.

Part 2 of JewishU course

First JewishU class of the year.

In honour of Chai Elul, Rabbi Elisha Pearl, author and speaker, explores a maamer of the Alter Rebbe explaining a teaching of the Baal Shem Tov uncovering the deeper dimension of Shofar.

Explore an excerpt of a letter written by Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson to his son, the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Weave together the stories of 3 barren women, Noah’s Ark and the emergence of life of Rosh Hashana.

Does a doorway without a door require a mezuzah? Explore the sources from the gemora, Rambam, Raavad, Tur Beis Yosef and Shulchan Aruch. Learn about the Chachmei Lunil from Southern France, concluding with the practical halacha.

Exploring the practice of checking your mezuzos. Gemora, Rashi, Rambam, Meiri, Bach, Mateh Efraim, Chovas Hadar, Lubavitcher Rebbe.

Many people place the gartel (sash, belt) of the Torah Scroll on the upper half of the scroll when doing gelilah. Chabad places it towards the bottom. Explore the sources for the differences in practice.

Kabbalistic teachings from R. Levi Yitzchak Schneerson.

There is a custom to remove a knife from the table before benching. Explore the reasons behind this practice. Sources include Rokeach, Shibolei HaLeket, Beis Yosef, Shulchan Aruch, Aruch Hashulchan, Kaf HaChaim, Mishna Berurah, Alter Rebbe.

Hint: it ain’t in Italy.

Hint: it’s not in some building in Italy.

Rambam writes that when the Kohanim did a walk through of the Beis HaMikdash they carried torches, except on Shabbos. But why not? Carrying a torch on Shabbos is a rabbinic prohibition , and such laws don’t apply in the Beis HaMikdash. Halachic discussion and Chassidic explanation.

Discussion of Rambam and mitzvah to guard the Beis HaMikdash

What did the Rebbe write to the venerable Chassid who didn’t want to eat before davening, despite doctors orders? Sources: Igros Kodesh, Shulchan Aruch, Shulchan Aruch HaRav, Pri Chodosh as quoted in Machatzis HaShekel, Taz on YD 117. This shiur was an unplanned continuation of the April 24 shiur.

What did the Rebbe say about the daring 1976 rescue in Entebbe? Explore a letter in Igros Kodesh and excerpts from the 12 & 13 Tammuz Farbrengens just a week after the events.

Continuing last week’s class. Sources: Aruch hashulchan, alter rebbe, Mishnah Berurah, sefer Chassidim, Lubavitcher Rebbe.