I've Always Wondered
When Do We Hear the Aseret Hadibberot? Originally published January 18-19, 2019.

The Aseret Hadibberot (עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת), the Ten Pronouncements (colloquially, the “Ten Commandments” or, from the Greek translation of the Hebrew, the “Decalogue”), appear next week in Exodus Chapter 20, in Parashat Yitro.  And as Am Yisrael stood at the base of Mount Sinai, so we also stand to hear the  Aseret Hadibberot chanted as a […]

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I've Always Wondered
What Is Tu Bishvat? Originally published on January 18-19, 2019

This year the New Year of the Trees, Tu Bishvat (ט"וּ בִּשְׁבָט),  is a celebration of the blossoming of trees.  The fruit of a tree may not be used during the first three years (marked by this date).  In the fourth year the fruit may be used for sacrifices (tithed), but it may not be […]

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