Torah Tidbits
Aliya-by-Aliyah - Parshat Haazinu
SDT: stands for Short D’var Torah, and is a long-standing feature of Torah Tidbits. Usually interdispersed within the Aliya-by-Aliya Sedra Summary, they make a short point about a single issue in the sedra. Many an SDT have been shared at Shabbat tables throughout Israel (and abroad, via the internet) for many years. Here is one for Parshat Eikev
Continue ReadingSedra Stats - Parshat Haazinu
Ha’azinu STATS
53rd of the 54 sedras; 10th of 11 in D’varim
Written on 92 lines in a Sefer Torah, ranks 51st
3 Parshiyot; all open (extra open!)
Aliya-by-Aliyah - Parshat Nitzavim - Vayelech
SDT: stands for Short D’var Torah, and is a long-standing feature of Torah Tidbits. Usually interdispersed within the Aliya-by-Aliya Sedra Summary, they make a short point about a single issue in the sedra. Many an SDT have been shared at Shabbat tables throughout Israel (and abroad, via the internet) for many years. Here is one for Parshat Eikev
Continue ReadingSedra Stats - Parshat Nitzavim - Vayelech
STATS Nitzavim Vayeilech N & V
of 54 sedras 51st 52nd -
of 11 in D’varim 8th 9th -
lines in a Torah 87 72 159
Rosh Hashana
Do we say these things to lower the awe held for Rosh HaShana? G-d for- bid. Perish the thought.
In fact, the other three times the world is judged are for the whole world - and each of us as an inhabitant thereof. But Rosh HaShana - even with its universal theme, even with a feel for our membership in Klal Yisrael, and our attention to interpersonal mitzvot and relationships - is something we tend to take personally - as we should.
TTriddles for Nitzavim Vayelech
[2] The lonely letter says it ain’t so
[3] STOP, LOOK, LISTEN - which is the odd man out?
[4] Woody, Jack & Jill
Parsha Pix Nitzavim Vayeilech
The family in the upper-left represents the beginning of Nitzavim that describes all who are standing today before G-d. Included are men, women, and children
11 dots above Lanu Ulvaneinu…
Divrei Menachem for Parashat Nitzavim Vayeilech
The Jewish people are about to enter into a Covenant with Hashem that will apply for generations to come. So, naturally, Nitzavim’s opening words address the entire nation - “All of you, from the heads of the tribes… to the drawer of water.”
Continue ReadingMedical Secrets - Treatment for BRCA
In our last article we discussed the complex halachic question of whether a woman is permitted to remove her ovaries if she is found to be a carrier of the BRCA mutation. Since this mutation is associated with ovarian and breast cancer, the removal of the ovaries could be a significant contributor to her health and well-being.
The removal of a woman’s ovaries, however, can have other major medical implications. It could cause a hormonal imbalance and create symptoms similar to menopause - possibly even more extreme - related to cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and changes in other areas of her lifestyle, as well as that of her husband.
Portion from the Portion- Parshat Nitzavim Vayeilech
“Perhaps there is a man or woman… whose heart turns away today from Hashem… perhaps there is a root flourishing with gall and wormwood… Hashem will not be willing to forgive him… Hashem will erase his name from under Heaven.”
Are these words of consolation? They seem more negative consequences. Maybe if we delve into the deeper meaning of these verses we will better understand the consolation meant by them.
Parsha Points to Ponder for Parshat Nitzavim Vayeilech
1) Why does the Torah first describe our settling in Israel as a NACHALA and then, in the same verse describe it as a YERUSHA (26:1)? What is the significance of these terms and this shift?
Continue ReadingCHIZUK and IDUD for Olim & not-yet-Olim respectively
I take this to mean that no matter how far away, geographically, spiritually or generationally, a Jew may have wandered, he will ultimately experience stirrings of Jewish identity and Jewish nationalism, so that in spite of all the distance and alienation, a sense of basic Jewish unity can take root.
Continue ReadingWisdom and Wit - Parashat Nitzavim Vayelech
What do you mean “his”?
Upon finding a Jew in some type of distress, whether physical or emotional in nature, R’ Moshe Leib of Sasov would relate so closely to the other person that he would even feel the other’s pain.
Vebbe Rebbe
Question: We have a local goy shel Shabbat (Shabbos goy). I do not know how and when I am supposed to use him for things other than emergencies. Is it sufficient just to hint to him, and then he can do whatever I want?
Continue ReadingTHE CHALLENGE OF MONEY: ELUL
In the Chassidut of P’shischa they taught that preparation for mitzvot is almost as important as the mitzva itself and the parshiot that we read weekly, are often preparation for the chagim. Between Purim and Pesach we have the Four Parashiot detailing the mitzvot connected with them. During the Three Weeks we read Pinchas, Mattot-Masaei and Devarim describing the conquest and tribal allocation of the Land, the t’shuva for the sins that caused the destructions of this period. Now in Elul we had Shoftim and Ki Teitzei with 118 mitzvot dealing the imperatives for a just, moral and merciful society.
Continue ReadingLesson # 532 (part 1) Current Status of the Jurisdiction of Non-Ordained Judges
That is, in addition to being the type of case which occurs frequently, it must also involve a loss of money. It would seem, however, that the reason why in Tractate Gittin the sole test discussed is that of frequency, and no mention is made of money loss, is that Talmudic case is a non-monetary case. The issue raised in it is limited to the question of jurisdiction over a coerced divorce. In a similar manner in a situation of overriding importance,
Continue ReadingWord of the Month - Parshat Nitzavim - Vayelech / Haazinu
A weekly feature of Torah Tidbits to help clarify practical and conceptual aspects of the Jewish Calendar, thereby better fulfilling the mitzva of HaChodesh HaZeh Lachem…
Continue ReadingIn This Issue of Torah Tidbits
- Lead Tidbit
- Candle A Day
- Jewish Law
- Wisdom & Wit
- Aliya-by-Aliya Sedra Summary
- Sedra Stats
- Vebbe Rebbe
- Portion of the Portion
- Parsha Points to Ponder
- ParshaPix Explanations
- TTriddles "Report"
- Person In The Parsha
- Word of the Month
- Praying With Passion
- Ethical Teachings of the Torah
- Chizuk and Idud
- Divrei Menachem
- "From Machon Puah"
Recent Torah Tidbits
- Issue 996 - Parshat Tazri’a - M’tzora (m’vorchim)
- Issue 993 - Parshat Vayakehl/P’kudei - Para
- Issue 986 - Issue 986 - Shabbat Parshat Va’eira (m’vorchim)
- Issue 985 - Issue 985- Shabbat Parshat Sh’mot
- Issue 984 - Issue 984- Shabbat Parshat Vaychi - Chazak
- Issue 983 - Issue 983- Shabbat Parshat Vayigash
- Issue 982 - Issue 982- Shabbat Parshat Mikeitz - m’vorchim
- View All Issue Archives
Candle Lighting and Havdala
Candle Lighting Sponsored By:
Word of the Month
This Shabbat we would be benching Rosh Chodesh Tishrei if we did bench Rosh Chodesh Tishrei. But we don’t. The hidden nature of Rosh HaShana is partly responsible, and “confounding the Satan” gets into the act, as well. But Tishrei still has a molad, which in addition to being part of the Kiddush L’vana timing, is crucial to establishing the day on which Rosh HaShana falls, and in its wake, the way the year’s calendar unfolds. The molad of Tishrei 5771 is WED (Sep 8) 19h 36m 1p (approx. 8:15pm Israel Summer Time)
What we would call Wednesday evening, is considered in halachic terms to be LEIL CHAMISHI, the eve of Thursday. When the molad of Tishrei is anytime from after noon on Tuesday until noon on Thursday (and under specific circumstances, even at an earlier point on Tuesday morning), then RH is fixed for Thursday (and Friday). This year’s example is the simplist: Molad of Tishrei on Thursday = RH on Thursday. Next Tishrei’s molad and the fixing of RH 5772 based on it, helps determine the status of Cheshvan and Kislev, which this year (5771) both have 30 days. The M’uberet-P’shuta pattern determines that 5771 will have 13 months.
5771 has 385 days - the most any Jewish year can have. Approx. 16% of our years have 385 days