בס”ד BS”D or B”H: Starting letters with Awarness of G-d It is not entirely clear when or how the custom of beginning a letter with B”H or BS”D—or, more precisely, their Hebrew equivalents, ב״ה or בס״ד—started. Some point to Rabbi Yehuda HaChassid (Rabbi Judah the Pious, 1150–1217) and his work… Read More »WHAT IS THE MEANING OF BS”D OR B”H
בס”ד Fear and honor G-d Every person, Jews and non-Jews are command to fear, and honor, G-d.1 We see this reflected in the prohibition against blasphemy, which applies to all of humanity. This is stated in Leviticus 24:15 Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin. אִישׁ אִישׁ כִּי-יְקַלֵּל אֱלֹהָיו,… Read More »THE SANCTITY OF G-DS NAME; RULES FOR WRITING, READING AND DISPOSAL
בס”ד What is Emunah? The Hebrew word Emunah is often translated as “faith”. But Emunah is not “blind faith” in the sense of merely believing that there is a G-d, without doing anything about it. Emunah is a deep awareness, an inner knowledge, that there is the One G-d, and… Read More »EMUNAH
בס”ד The Hebrew word “amen” has been adopted by several religions, but is used differently in Judaism than many may be used to. For example, it is not used as a conclusion to a prayer of its own uttered. Below, we’ll explore how and when “amen” is used in Judaism… Read More »AMEN
בס”ד What does it really mean to fear G-d? What does it truly mean to fear G-d? Many interpret it as simply avoiding punishment: “Do what I say, or else you’ll face consequences.” But is this really the essence of fearing G-d? True fear of G-d is not about dreading… Read More »THE FIVE LEVELS OF FEARING G-D
and Observing the Seven Noahide Commandments בס”ד To accept the “yoke of Heaven” The Hebrew term for “accepting the yoke of Heaven” is kabalat ol Malchut Shamayim, where “Malchut” refers to Kingship. This suggests a more positive connotation: accepting the Kingship of G-d. Jews affirm His Kingship three times daily… Read More »FUNDAMENTALS OF THE FAITH 2 – ACCEPTING THE “YOKE OF HEAVEN”
בס”ד Introduction Tisha B’Av is the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av. In 2024, Tisha B’Av falls on August 12-13. On this day, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, Jews observe a complete fast lasting approximately 25 hours and 40 minutes, during which they refrain from eating… Read More »TISHA B’AV – SIGNIFICANCE AND PRACTICES
בס”ד Introduction I regularly ask the Rabbi if he has a question for me to explore. This time, the question was: why did the name Avram change to Avraham and was not used anymore, while the name Jacob is still used even after it was changed to Israel? Avram Becomes… Read More »AVRAM TO AVRAHAM VERSUS JACOB TO ISRAEL
בס”ד Introduction This blog addresses the question of whether Noahides may gather to pray as a group, like Jewish men must gather in a quorum of ten for public prayer. This quorum is called, in Hebrew, a “minyan”. This hebrew word “minyan” (מִנְיָן) comes from Hebrew and literally means “number”… Read More »WHY NOAHIDES DO NOT PRAY IN A MINYAN
בס”ד Tefillin (תְּפִלִּין), also known as phylacteries, are a set of two black leather boxes containing specific Hebrew scripture scrolls. One of these boxes is worn on the head (tefillin shel rosh), and the other is bound to the arm (tefillin shel yad). This practice is an essential part of… Read More »TEFILLIN – WHAT’S IN THE BOX
