A straightforward reading of the verse (Devarim 11:13) that we read every day in Krias Shema seems perplexing: “if you continually hearken to My commandments that I command you today, to love HaShem…” Is “to love HaShem” the sum total of what HaShem requires of us?  Aren’t there 613 commandments?
King [...]

“Rabbi Shimon said: When you pray do not make your prayer “set.” Rather pray for mercy and supplicate before HaShem, as it says: “For You are gracious and merciful, patient, and abundant in kindness.’”

Our sages tell us that prayer stands in the “highest heights of Heaven.” Accordingly, when a person prays with sincerity he [...]

Rabbi Zvi Miller is the Dean of  The Salant Foundation, which was created to disseminate the message and methods of  Rabbi Yisrael Salanter  Mussar teachings. Rav Yisrael Salanter offered a formula for spiritual well-being. The method brings a healing spirit to the heart and the soul. The purpose of the Salant Foundation is to provide the [...]

The heart is our spiritual center.  The Torah instructs us to cut away the barrier of your heart (Devarim 10:16). The Ramban explains: “Your hearts should be open to know the truth…and you should not err to think that there is any benefit in serving intermediate forces, i.e.,  angels,  idols,  planets, etc.”
After Klal Yisrael experienced [...]

Smearing non-edibles on Shabbat is forbidden, including wax,  plaster,  tar,  putty,  clay and creams.
One may not put wax or similar into holes on Shabbat, to seal them.
One may not dab a small amount of the above on a book or wall as a placeholder.
One may smear food; butter onto bread for example.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 80:58, [...]

Orlo is the Torah prohibition of eating fruit from tress less than 3 years old, as per Sunday’s halacha.
In the 4th year the fruit is called “Neta Revo’i” and needs to be “redeemed” by transferring its status onto a coin. The coin needs to be worth at least a “Peruta” (0.22 grams of pure silver; [...]

A number of joyous events happened over the years on Tu B’Av.
- It was the day the Generation-of-the-Wilderness realized that the sin of the spies had been forgiven, in the year 2488.
- It was the day that the tribes were allowed to intermarry, including orphaned daughters (as per Bemidbar 36:8) once all those who conquered [...]

For 3 years after planting a tree, one may not eat its fruit, nor derive any benefit from the fruit, peels or pits. This is a Torah prohibition and applies to trees planted anywhere on the planet by anybody.
How to count these 3 years:

Trees planted until Tu B’av (July 26 – 15th of the [...]

A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to wail and a time to dance – Ecclesiastes 3:4
There is a limit set for grieving. Even for a beloved relative the Torah forbids us to prolong our grief beyond the norm. The stages of grief are the initial week known as “shiva,” followed [...]

Usually the Haftara is connected to the weekly Torah Reading. During the 7 weeks following the fast of 9 B’Av we read the Seven Haftarot of  Consolation from Yeshayahu.
This Shabbat is named after the opening words of the first of the Seven Haftarot of Consolation: נַחֲמוּ נַחֲמוּ, עַמִי – Hashem instructs the prophet Yeshayahu to “Console, [...]

Gain access to the full Kitzur Shulchan Aruch in an easy to ready and browse iPhone or iPad application. This iPhone app works natively on the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch allowing you to browse the 221 simanim with the flip of a finger.
You can also perform quick keyword searches for specific Jewish law. The [...]

We mourn and fast on 9 B’Av since the Beit Hamikdash was burned to the ground. The fire was ignited on 9 B’Av in the afternoon and burned throughout the 10th of Av.
Therefore the restrictions of  ”the 9 days” continue until after midday on the 10th of Av (July 21, Wednesday).
The custom [...]