Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube

Search Results for: birchas hachama

YWN PRESENTS BIRCHAS HACHAMA 5769 PHOTOS AROUND THE GLOBE

April 20, 2009 2:52 pm 5 Comments

With Pesach behind us, one can honestly say that one of the highlights of the Yom Tov was Birchas Hachama recited on Erev Pesach. To help you all remember this once in 28-years Mitzvah, YWN has created a large photo album with one thousand photos from close to 100 locations around the globe. YWN thanks the hundreds of people who sent us their photos – helping make this the largest gallery of photos available in the world. Below is the list of locations (in alphabetical order). In regards to large gatherings which were not posted, please note that YWN did not exclude any locations – but posted every location which sent to us. Click HERE for the photo gallery. 14th Street Area (Lakewood, NJ) 38th Street & Dahill Rd (Boro Park) Adass Yisroel Kehilla (Melbourne Australia) Agudah Yisroel Snif Zichron Shmuel (Flatbush) Agudas Yisrael of Madison / Rabbi Reisman (Flatbush) Agudas Yisroel of Long Island Agudas Yisroel Toronto Amsterdam, Holland Ateres Yishaya / Rav Simcha Bunim Cohen & Rav Dovid Trenk (Lakewood) Atlanta, Ga Beth Israel & Miami Beach Kollel (Miami, FL) BMG (Lakewood) Bobover Rebbe in 18 Ave Park (BP) Bobover Rebbe on 14th Ave & 49th Street Boca Raton, Florida Bostoner Rebbe Shlita Choral Shul (Moscow) Cong Zera Avrohom (Denver) Darchei Tzedek in Baltimore Detroit Flatbush Birchas Hachama Roundup Freiman in Boro Park Gabicce Mare / Tourman Kosher Hotel (Italy – Rabbi Lieberman, Chief Rabbi of Antwerp) Jewish ROC (Rockville, MD) Kasinski Shul (Budapest) Kavunas Halev (Boro Park) Kehal Zichron Mordechai (Monsey) Kehilas Agudas Achim (Zurich) Kehilas Ahavas Yisroel / Tzemach Tzedek (Baltimore – Rabbi Heber) Kehilas Yaakov in Amsterdam (Rav Evers) Khal Bais Shmiel (Williamsburg) Kiev Kiryat Sefer (With the Rabbonim of the city) Kol Aryeh (Lakewood) Kosel Hamaravi (Yerushalayim) Kosov Rebbe (Boro Park) Leiger Beth Hamedrash (Stamford Hill, London) Los Angeles, CA Monroe, NY Monsey: On the back of a Pickup Truck New Hempstead, NY New Square North Mami Beach (FL) Philadelphia, PA Phoenix AZ Hebrew Academy Pupa Rebbe (Williamsburg) Queens, NYC R’ Meir Leib Goldstein Rabbi Landau Shul (Flatbush) Rabbi Scheinerman (Flatbush) Ramot, Jerusalem Rav Chaim Halpern (Golders Green, UK) Rav Dovid Feinstein (Lower East Side, NYC) Rav Elyashiv & Rav Shmuel Aurbarch (KOSEL) Rav Platnicks Shul (Avenue M & East 18th – Flatbush) Reb Chuna’s (Golders Green, London) Reb Yisroel Dovid Schlesinger (Monsey) Sanz Klausenberg Rebbe in 1981 Satmar Birchas Hachama Satmar Rebbe of Williamsburg Savraaner Rebbe Shlita – Birkas Hachama Slonim (Yerushalayim) South Lake Area of Lakewood Southeast Hebrew Congregation (Silver Spring, Maryland) Stamford Hill (London) Talmudic University in Miami, FL Telshe Yeshiva Cleveland Tifereth Zvi (Cedarhurst) Toronto (Rav Shlomo Miller) Toronto [Snow Delayed Birchas Hachama] Tzefas, Eretz Yisroel Yam Hamelach Yeshiva Ateret Torah (Flatbush) Yeshiva Derech Ayson (Far Rockaway) Yeshiva Ohaley Yaakov (Moscow) Yeshiva Torah Vodaas (Flatbush) Americas: LAKEWOOD: Khal Ateres Yishaya with Rav Simcha Bunim Cohen and Rav Dovid Trenk (Yehuda Boltshauser & Co.) LAKEWOOD: Beis Medrash Govoah (Abraham Todd / Boltshauser Images) BALTIMORE: Kehilas Ahavas Yisroel / Tzemach Tzedek with Rabbi Heber (Avromi Kaufman / Boltshauser Images) LOS ANGELES: Rabbi Rubin’s shul (Elchonon Pheterson / Boltshauser Images) MIAMI: Birchas HaChamah 5769 (Yisroel Bodkins / Boltshauser Images) ATLANTA: Multiple Kehilos (Moshe Kruger via Boltshauser Images) CANADA: Sudbury Sha’ar HaShamayim Shul on Ramsey Lake (Shlomo Shapiro / Boltshauser Images) Israel: KOTEL: General

Read More »

PHOTOS: Birchas Hachama Roundup 3 (13 Locations)

April 13, 2009 11:34 pm 1 Comment

From across the globe, YWN has been receiving hundreds of emails with photos of Birchas Hachama. Due to the overwhelming amount of photos still being received, YWN will be posting all further Birchas Hachama photos in batches instead of individual posts. The names of the locations are all hyperlinked, and will take you to the individual album. Birchas Hachama at 38th Street & Dahill Rd Birchas Hachama at Telshe Cleveland Birchas Hachama at Southeast Hebrew Congregation, Silver Spring, Maryland Birchas Hachama in Tzefas Birchas Hachama at Jewish ROC, in Rockville, MD Birchas Hachama in Flatbush Bedford & Ave. K Birchas Hachama in Los Angeles Birchas Hachama in Philadelphia Birchas Hachama North Mami Beach Fl Birchas Hachama in Lakewood at Ateres Yeshaya Birchas Hachama Rabbi Landau Shul in Flatbush Birchas Hachama in Toronto with Rav Shlomo Miller Birchas Hachama in Leiger Beth Hamedrash Stamford Hill London, England

Read More »

PHOTOS: Birchas Hachama Roundup 2 (17 Locations)

April 13, 2009 7:37 am No Comments

From across the globe, YWN has been receiving hundreds of emails with photos of Birchas Hachama. Due to the overwhelming amount of photos still being received, YWN will be posting all further Birchas Hachama photos in batches instead of individual posts.The names of the locations below are all hyperlinked, and will take you to the individual album. Birchas Hachama in Slonim Yerushalayim Birchas Hachama With The Pupa Rebbe In Williamsburg Birchas Hachama At Kavunas Halev in Boro Park Birchas Hachama With Kosov Rebbe Birchas Hachama with Rav Dovid Feinstein in the East Side Birchas HaChamah at Kehilas Ahavas Yisroel / Tzemach Tzedek in Baltimore with Rabbi Heber Birchas HaChamah at Kehilas Agudas Achim in Zurich Birchas Hachama Kehilas Yaakov in Amsterdam with Rav Evers Birchas Hachama in Boca Raton Florida Birchas HaChamah at the Kasinski Shul in Budapest Birchas Hachama at the Kosel Birchas HaChamah at the central park in Kiryat Sefer with the Rabbonim of the city Birchas Hachama in Detroit with Snow! Birchas Hachama Beth Israel & Miami Beach Kollel Birchas Hachama in New Square Birchas Hachama at Darchei Tzedek in Baltimore Birchas HaChamah at the Gabicce Mare / Tourman Kosher Hotel in Italy with Rabbi Lieberman, Chief Rabbi of Antwerp

Read More »

PHOTOS: Birchas Hachama Roundup 1 (15 Locations)

April 12, 2009 2:14 pm No Comments

From across the globe, YWN has been receiving hundreds of emails with photos of Birchas Hachama. Due to the overwhelming amount of photos still being received, YWN will be posting all further Birchas Hachama photos in batches instead of individual posts. The names of the locations are all hyperlinked, and will take you to the individual album. Birchas Hachama by Yeshiva Derech Ayson of Far Rockaway Birchas Hachama At Agudas Yisroel of Long Island Birchas Hachama at Rav Platnicks Shul (Flatbush: Avenue M & 18th) Birchas Hachama in Atlanta, Ga Birchas Hachama at New Hempstead NY Birchas Hachama at Kol Aryeh Lakewood Birchas Hachama at HaGoan HaRav Chaim Halpern, Golders Green Birchas Hachama at Detroit Yeshiva Birchas Hachama at Cong Zera Avrohom, Denver Birchas Hachama at Agudas Yisroel Toronto Birchas Hachama at Talmudic University in Miami, FL Bichas Hachama in Monsey Kehal Zichron Mordechai Birchas Hachama at Agudah Yisroel Snif Zichron Shmuel Birchas Hachama in Monsey on a Pickup Truck Birchas Hachama in Amsterdam Holland

Read More »

PHOTOS & VIDEO: Birchas Hachama in Melbourne Australia

April 7, 2009 9:37 pm 3 Comments

VIDEO & PHOTO LINK BELOW: For the first time in 28 years, Yidden across the globe begin saying Birchas Hachama. One of the first locations in the world to say the Bracha is in Australia. YWN is proud to bring you photos & a video clip of Birchas Hachama being recited on Erev Pesach in Melbourne Australia. The large crowd seen in the photos is at the Adass Yisroel Kehilla, and seen in the video is Rav Beck Shlita making the Brocho of Oseh Maaseh Bireishis. YWN VIDEO & PHOTO LINK: Click HERE for photos, and HERE for a video. Photos from locations worldwide will be uploaded as they become available. Photo & video credits: Yumi Rosenbaum – YWN Australia. (Dov Gordon – YWN)

Read More »

Birchas HaChama – B’rov Am Hadras Melech

April 7, 2009 1:52 pm 5 Comments

On Wednesday, erev Pessach 5769, Am Yisrael around the world will recite Birchas HaChama, a once in 28 year mitzvah. Following is a partial list of some of the major public gatherings that are planned to enhance this special event in Eretz Yisroel. On Strauss Street in Yerushalayim, Chassidei Toldos Avraham Yitzchak will gather in the presence of the Rebbe Shlita, in the garden area behind Ateret Shalom Hall. Tefillos neitz will take place in the Toldos Avraham Beis Medresh in Meah Shearim, and following tefilla, the tzibur will head for the Birchas HaChama area followed by an address by the Rebbe Shlita and the recitation of the bracha at 6:55am. Immediately following, there will be a siyum, a seudas mitzvah for the first born, after which the Rebbe will give his brachos to the chassidim. They tzibur, escorted by the Rebbe Shlita, will then head back to the beis medresh together. TEL AVIV The Tel Aviv Regional Council will be sponsoring the event, at Rabin Square. Police and city officials are making plans to close the area to vehicular traffic to accommodate the large crowd. Leading the event will be Tel Aviv’s Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau Shlita. The Rav will detail the essence of the mitzvah which occurs once in 28 years. Chazan Rav Chaim Adler will recite tehillim as well. BELZER CHASSIDIM The event will take place on the roof of the Belze building on Tel Aviv’s Echad HaAm Street for area residents and talmidim from the Talmud Torah, led by HaGaon Rav Mordechai Orbach Shlita, and HaGaon HaTzaddik Rebbi Avraham Tzvi Direnfeld Shlita. Immediately following shachris, the tzibur will move to the roof and recite the bracha. Rav Direnfeld Shlita will address the tzibur and give his bracha for the yomtov. The event will conclude with a rikud, joyous dancing to thank HaKadosh Baruch Hu for the special mitzvah. KIRYAT GAT The event will be hosted in the Kiryat Chareidit in Kiryat Gat, inviting men, women and children. The event will take place in the street by the Gur girls school, with thousands expected to take part. Shacris will begin at 6:00am, with sunrise, and at 7:15am, the bracha of Birchas HaChama will be recited followed by a siyum for the first born after which light refreshments will be given out. Rabbonim of the city and its institutions will be present to address the tzibur. The event will end with song and dance with musical accompaniment. The information pertaining to the events supplied by the daily HaMevaser. (Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

Read More »

Preparations for Birchas HaChama and Pesach Underway at the Kosel

April 6, 2009 10:58 am 2 Comments

Preparations for Pesach are in high gear at the Kosel, as Kosel Rav Shmuel Rabinowitz and his staff are busied preparing for Birchas HaChama, Yomtov and the major Chol Hamoed Birchas Kohanim, realizing tens and tens of thousands of visitors will arrive at the Kosel daily from erev yomtov for Birchas HaChama and during the weeklong yomtov. Work crews are carefully closing down small sections of the wall as they inspect each stone and make repairs where necessary, addressing any signs of compromised integrity that may lead to a dangerous situation chas v’sholom. On erev yomtov, the main neitz minyan will begin at 5:50am, estimating Birchas Kohanim will take place at 6:25am. Kosel officials report Maran Rav Elyashiv Shlita will be present, as well as HaGaon HaRav Usher Weiss Shlita and other Gedolei Torah. The Birchas HaChama text with Rav Elyashiv’s commentary was printed and will also be distributed to mispalalim. After Birchas HaChama a siyum of Maseches Chulin will be held for the firstborns. The siyum will be headed by HaGaon HaRav Weiss Shlita, Av Beis Din and Rosh Yeshiva Darchei Torah.  Following the intervention by chareidi city councilmen, Egged reports there will be increased service to and from the Kosel beginning at 4:30am until 6:00am.  The number 1 bus will run on Jaffe Street since Kikar Shabbos will be closed to accommodate the Toldos Avraham Yitzchak Birchas HaChama. The 2 Alef will run at one minute intervals and the 2 bus from Har Nof will run one every 10 minutes. Direct buses will also be operating from Ramot, Ramat Shlomo, N’vei Yaakov and Bayit Vegan. Because the Old City will be closed to vehicular traffic, the 38 bus to the Jewish Quarter will not operate. Jerusalem police report only public transportation and emergency vehicles will be permitted into the Old City, urging drivers to stay away from the Old City during the predawn hours on erev yomtov. (Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

Read More »

Shiurim on Birchas HaChama

April 6, 2009 10:50 am No Comments

Many shiurim are taking place ahead of Birchas HaChama, this Wednesday, erev Pesach. The Kol HaLoshon network offers many shiurim on the topic, which are accessible by phoning 03-617-1111 or 072-274-1111 or 073-724-1111. Push 1 for Hebrew, 2 for English and 3 for Yiddish. Then one pushes number 3 for halacha and 55 for the special section on Birchas HaChama. Shiurim include Torah from HaGaon Rav Wosner Shlita and HaGaon Rav Zilberstein Shlita, as well as HaGaon Rav Usher Weiss Shlita, HaGaon Rav Gross Shlita, HaGaon Rav Ratzabi Shlita and Rav Pinchas Raz, Rav Novick, Rav Mordechai Ganut and others. (Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

Read More »

NYPD Holds Annual Pre-Pesach Meeting; Discusses Birchas Hachama

April 1, 2009 5:06 pm 2 Comments

Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly welcomed approximately 200 religious leaders and Jewish community representatives at the NYPD pre-Pesach meeting held Wednesday at Police Headquarters ahead of the Pesach week beginning April 8. The annual event previewed security preparations for the coming Pesach season and Birchas Hachama, or Blessing of the Sun, as well as provided attendees with an intelligence briefing on the status of terrorist groups in the Western world. “We know of no plan to target Jewish sites in New York City, but we remain vigilant,” Commissioner Kelly said. “As in years past, we’ll dedicate additional resources to precincts with large Jewish communities, including foot posts, visits by officers to synagogues, anti-crime units and Community Affairs outreach.” In addition, some houses of worship will be patrolled by NYPD Hercules teams of heavily armed officers deployed specifically to deter terrorist activity. Following a sermon by Chief Chaplain Rabbi Dr. Alan Kass, Director of Intelligence Analysis Mitch Silber presented an NYPD Intelligence Division Terrorist Threat Update. “Al Qaeda still poses a significant threat to the City of New York because its leaders are still around and ideology proliferates on the Internet,” Silber said. “The NYPD is fully aware of other threats, including Hezbollah and Al Qaeda affiliates, and actively considers these as part of ongoing efforts to protect the city.” Last November detectives from the NYPD International Liaison program traveled to Mumbai, India to meet with police officials and study the crime scenes from the multi-target terrorist siege in which two prominent Brooklyn rabbis were among those killed. (Eli Gefen – YWN)

Read More »

Askanei Eida Chareidis – Karta, Meah Shearim Mom & Kever Rashbi

August 26, 2009 8:33 am 15 Comments

The Eida this week has released new pashkavilim, addressing the insult to Gavaad HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss Shlita, seemingly stepping up the battle against Jerusalem City Hall. According to a Chareidim report, the ongoing events in the Eida are in no small part due to the ongoing power struggle between askanim – today manifesting itself primarily on three fronts, renovations at Kever Rashbi in Meron, the Meah Shearim mom case and the Karta parking lot operating on shabbos. While the controversy has been kept inside for the most part, the most recent pashkavilim which appear this week represent a new phase, perhaps a crack in the usual Eida discipline, but now, it appears the underlying issues are surfacing and becoming known to the public, albeit in small measure. Some of the matters being addressed became evident to YWN-Israel in the hours of discussion with prominent rabbonim and gabba’im in Meah Shearim mom case, with some hinted to in reports while other matters omitted. Eida askanim are not in agreement regarding just how Kever Rashbi should look when the work is completed, leading to controversy. The common denominator is the fact the askanim all oppose state control over the kever, realizing the state is seeking to change the kever to a tourist site, a move the Eida strongly opposes. Eida askanim and rabbonim do not wish to see the kever become a tourist attraction, which will result in visits from many non-Jews. Regarding control of Kever Rashbi, many people and organizations involved with the site over the past decades declared they are in charge, compelling the court to hand down a final ultimatum, what is referred to as the Committee of Five, composed of four hekdeshim and a state representative, who in this case is HaRav Shmuel Rabinowitz, rav of the Kosel and holy sites. Accepting the position placed the rav in a difficult position, and he has since been the target of slander and verbal abuse in pashkavilim. Perhaps out of character, the Eida decided to accept the verdict and appoint its representative, despite the reality it will place the Eida in a situation in which it deals directly with a state official and agency.  Rav Mordechai Yitzchak Lichtenstein of ‘Kadmoneinu’ was appointed instead of Yoav Avraham, who was all but certain the Eida would select him. The slander campaigns surrounding the appointments reached new heights, with supporters of R’ Lichtenstein targeting Atra Kadisha official HaGaon HaRav Smeidal, with those in the know explaining it was just a continuation of the ongoing dispute between the organizations surfacing again. Some explain the renewed conflict justified the actions of Gavaad HaGaon HaRav Y.T. Weiss Shlita to break away from the Committee of Five, whose representatives include HaRav Bentzion Kupershtuk, HaRav Avraham Yisrael Freilich (who is viewed as loyal to Rav Smeidal). In time, Freilich became a trusted emissary of the Gavaad and acted on his behalf in numerous public matters. During R’ Lichtenstein’s tenure on the Committee, a storm erupted around the refurbishing of the Ohel Moshe Cave and despite the fact the work was carried out under the watchful eye of a Badatz mashgiach, HaRav Tziper, and under the guidance of HaGaon HaRav Moshe Sternbuch Shlita, buses with protestors were sent from Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh to save the holy

Read More »

Petira of Reb Meir Leib Goldstein Z”L, Oldest Resident of Williamsburg – Niftar at 102

June 22, 2009 9:48 pm 7 Comments

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of R’ Meir Leib Goldstein Z”L, the oldest resident in Williamsburg, at the age of 102. R’ Meir Leib was born on March 7th 1907 in Kemetch, a small town in Hungary, and was active until one week before his Petira. His wife and 6 children were killed at the hands of the Nazis YMS, and following the war moved to Montreal where he remarried and started rebuilding his Mishpacha. He was a long-time member of the Satmar Chevra Kaddisha, and would repeat words of Torah that he heard directly from the mouth of the Minchas Elazar in Munkatch. He was Zoche to carry the Aron of the Eitzei Chaim at his Levaya, and family members say he was given a Bracha by Reb Shayela Kirestera – who often placed R’ Meir Leib on his knee – for Arichas Yomim. He was very much Bisimcha this past Erev Pesach when he recited Birchas Hachama for the 4th time in his life – a very rare occurrence. [Photos of this were posted by YWN at the following link http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=70936.] One week ago he caught pneumonia and was Niftar last night on Sunday evening. His Levaya was held in Satmar in Williamsburg, and was buried in the Satmar Bais Hakvaros in Kiryas Yoel.  He leaves behind 7 children, (4 sons & 3 daughters), and dozens of grandchildren & great-grandchildren. Yehi Zichro Boruch. (Yehuda Drudgestein – YWN)

Read More »

Maran Rav Elyashiv Shlita Visits Kosel

June 1, 2009 11:51 pm 3 Comments

Maran Rav Elyashiv Shlita arrived at the Kosel on Monday morning, greeted by Kosel Rav Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz. The Gadol HaDor arrived shortly after 9:00am, his first visit since Birchas HaChama on erev Pesach. The Rav Shlita approached the Kosel and recited a number of Prakei Tehillim before departing. Since the Rav was unable to visit on Shavuos and due to the Shivas Yimei Milu’im, the Rav visited on Monday. (Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

Read More »

Klal Yisroel: Behind The Scenes

April 8, 2009 4:51 pm 2 Comments

Erev Pesach/ Yom Birchas Hachama 5769 Listen to the news and all you will hear is how bad the economy is. Yes, times are tough no question about it. But- you know the old saying “when the going gets tough….” Do you really know just how tough and great Klal Yisroel really is? The market may be down and many are struggling but despite this, or should I say in spite of this- do you really know what’s been going on behind the scenes?  Tzedoka campaigns, job fairs, food drives, food collections and just food and more food for the needy. Kimcha D’pischa, Maos Chitim, gift cards, food cards, appeals, parlor meeting, mailings, food packages, Gmachs, loans and so many projects our network of community resources in this “selfish” generation may yet be the finest in our long history. Prodded and encouraged by our Nishai Chayil, the very best of our generation have stepped up- big time and never more timely. Oh how fortunate we are to have such women of valor whose special compassion and sensitivity urge on our Anshai Maaseh (men of action). And after all of the standing in line, shopping, cooking, baking, cleaning, scrubbing,  cleaning and endless activities required of the Pesach Yom Tov, there they were across the globe- Anashim, Noshim, V’taf, out by the thousands at 6:45 am Erev Yom Tov all to grab the rare Z’chus of Birchas Hachama. . So from time to time you might hear that Klal Yisroel has so many problems and too many social ills to solve and yes maybe things are not as good as they could be, I will remember, and so should you, these last few magical weeks of unparalleled generosity and Chesed that brings honor to our Creator and to our nation. While the outside remains mired in depression and recession we Klal Yisroel, must cherish and nurture our insulated world full of care and compassion. Achdus and benevolence achieved on a grand scale- quietly behind the scenes. Ashraichem, be praised. So my dearest friends and fellow Yidin, look around you and the chances are you probably know one  of the collectors, partners, donors, distributors, drivers, packers, warehousers, organizers, assistants and benefactors that make Klal Yisroel the great nation we are. Be very proud. May we share together the Geulah immediately and may Hakodosh Boruch Hu continue to smile down upon us. Chag kosher V’someach Chaskel Bennett Brooklyn NY

Read More »

YWN Wishes Everyone A Beautiful & Kosher Pesach

April 8, 2009 2:36 pm No Comments

On this beautiful Erev Pesach morning of 5769, YWN would like to thank our devoted readers across the globe for visiting YWN each day, patronizing our advertisers, and making our statistics grow faster than we ever expected. Special thanks to the YWN Israel Bureau, being directed by veteran journalist Yechiel Spira, the entire staff at www.duvys.com – most notably Duvy Perkowski, Rabbi Moishe Dovid Lebovits, who writes the Daily Halacha, and Rav Oizer Alport, who writes the Parsha Potpourri for YWN each week. A debt of gratitude but be given to the dozens of people across the globe who constantly send us breaking news tips, photos, and other valuable information which we then share with YWN readers. A special thanks to the more than 500 people who sent in their beautiful photos of Birchas Hachama. Please be patient as we continue uploading the photos to the album. On that note, YWN Editor would like to thank everyone once again for reading Yeshiva World News, and making this site “THE” largest Frum news website on the Internet. Whether you will be traveling, at home, with family or with friends – I would like to personally wish you all a wonderful Yom Tov! YWN Editor. NOTE: YWN will not be updated until after sundown on Saturday evening of April 11 – after the first days of Pesach are over.

Read More »

Maran Rav Wosner’s Shabbos HaGadol Drasha

April 1, 2009 3:54 pm No Comments

Maran Rav Wosner Shlita will give his Shabbos HaGadol drasha on Thursday, at 8:00pm, in the beis medresh on Volkomirer Street in Bnei Brak. Thousands usually turn out for the event, as is the case with the Rav’s Shabbos Shuva drasha. Due to the growing demand, the decision was made a number of years ago to give the drasha on a weekday before Shabbos Shuva and Shabbos HaGadol, also permitting the use of a microphone PA system to permit more people to benefit from the shiurim. It is being announced that this year’s drasha will begin after the Rav addresses halachos pertaining to Birchas HaChama and the importance of being mindful of the time element on erev Pessach. The sugya of Shabbos HaGadol will be heard on Sunday, 3 Chol Hamoed Pessach at 7:00pm following mincha, the daily HaMevaser reports. (Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

Read More »

Monday Evening News Briefs from Eretz Yisrael

March 30, 2009 6:13 pm No Comments

MK Meir Porush on Monday afternoon visited the Erlau Rebbe in Yerushalayim’s Katamon neighborhood to review all the issues on the table pertaining to Yahadut HaTorah’s inclusion in the coalition government. **Security considerations have compelled Betar Illit officials to change the planned location for erev Pesach’s Birchas HaChama. **IDF soldiers working with Shin Bet agents arrested a wanted terrorist in Dir el-Meshal in the Ramallah area. Taken into custody was Kassam Muhmad Barghouti, who was taken by the Shin Bet for interrogation. **The Torah written in memory of astronaut Ilan Ramon was completed in Yerushalayim on Monday. It will be donated to Mitzpei Ilan, a Galil community dedicated in his memory. **Ichud Leumi MK Dr. Michael Ben-Ari in response to departing remarks from PM Olmert: PM Olmert turned betrayal of Eretz Yisrael and the retreat from Gaza into meritorious leadership decisions. **A firebomb was hurled at a bus east of Kalkilye. No injuries. The bus sustained damage. **In his first act as Knesset speaker, Reuven Rivlin eliminated the ban on entering Knesset with jeans. **Yahadut HaTorah MKs met for hours on Monday to work out coalition agreement after receiving the green light from the Gerre Rebbe Shlita and Maran Rav Elyashiv Shlita. **Premier-designate Netanyahu met on Monday evening with Yaakov Litzman. Reports indicate that a coalition deal may be signed with Yahadut HaTorah during the night. (Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

Read More »

Designated Drivers and L’Havdil – Designated Sleepers

May 29, 2017 8:31 pm 2 Comments

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times Perhaps it could be called, “Friends Don’t Friends Recite Safek Bracha Levatalahs.” The question is, however, how much do these friends have to sleep? Confusing, yes. So let’s start at the beginning: In the seventies and eighties, many people were getting killed by drunk-drivers. In 1986, Hiram Walker and Sons, the alcohol company, decided to create a campaign called the “Designated Driver Program.” The program essentially advertised that one person should remain sober and not drink so that he could drive those who did not remain sober to their homes. Bars gave discounts to drinkers that had a “DD” a designated driver. Mothers Against Drunk Driving supported the idea as did police departments throughout Canada and the United States. The idea soon swept the nation. Harvard University’s Center for Health Communication adopted the project. The US Department of Transportation soon flooded the media with the motto, “Friends don’t let friends drink and drive.” Shavuos presents a situation which lehavdil – perhaps needs a similar solution – not a “designated driver” but a “designated sleeper.” The situation for many people on Shavuos presents four possible problems. On Shavuos, there is a custom to stay up all night and learn. In order to make up for the fact that our ancestors actually had slept the night of the Sinaitic revelation, religious Jews stay up all night and study Torah (Midrash Shir HaShirim Rabbah 1:56). The practice is mentioned in the Zohar (Parshas Emor 98a). There it even describes the reward that awaits one who studies Torah all night. The all-night learner receives no less than seventy divine blessings from above and is crowned with a special celestial crown of the upper heavens. Then they are inscribed in a special Sefer HaZikaron, a book of memory. So what is the issue? There are certain brachos in which there are questions as to whether or not they may be recited by a person who was up all night. These include (1) the bracha of al netilas yadayim, (2) the bracha of Elokai Neshama, (3) the bracha of Hama’avir shainah and (4) birchas HaTorah. People usually make an asher yatzar upon going to the bathroom – so that one we will assume is not a problem. WASHING HANDS IN THE MORNING What is the reason that we wash our hands in the morning? This is actually a four way debate between the Rosh, the Rashba, the Orchos Chaim (Rav Aharon of Narbonne), and the Zohar. The Rosh (Responsa #61) writes that the sages enacted this obligation because our hands invariably touch parts of the body during the night that should be covered, and we must wash our hands before praying. The Rashba (Responsa 1:191) writes that we are renewed every morning based upon the Pasuk in Eichah (3:23). Therefore, the sages enacted that we must wash our hands from a vessel just as the Kohanim wash their hands from the Kior (a vessel) in the Bais HaMikdash. The Orchos Chaim (cited in the Drisha in OC Siman 4) writes that during the nighttime an impure spirit rests upon the hands and does not leave until the hands are washed three times. The Shla (Chulin, Derech Chaim) explains that there are three separate impure forces. Therefore,

Read More »

Popular Posts

Families Publish First Signs Of Life From Hostages Bar Kupershtein, Maxim Herkin

Horrifying: Deaths Of 7 Soldiers Were Caused By Defective Equipment

2 Jewish Youths Planned To Travel To Iran For Training

10 Live Hostages, 18 Bodies In 5 Waves: These Are The Details Of The Impending Deal

MAILBAG: The Cancel Generation – “Kanaim” Are Running Klal Yisroel

Copyright © 2025 | The Yeshiva World. All rights reserved.               Designed and powered by The Jewish Content Network