Add a reminder to your calendar to do “Eruv Tavshilin” – tomorrow; Wednesday -8 August
One may not prepare from Yom Tov to Shabbat unless one does Eruv Tavshilin before Yom Tov.
Since Rosh Hashana is on Thursday & Friday, every household needs to do Eruv Tavshilin on Wednesday.
One takes piece of bread and a cooked or baked food [...]

Ktiva Vechatima Tova; wishing you a sweet new year
At the Rosh Hashanah evening meal it’s customary to eat foods that symbolize a Good New Year. The bread from Motzi is dipped in honey and after eating it the Yehi Ratzon is said praying for a sweet new year.
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְפָנֶיךָ שֶתְחַדֵש עָלֵינוּ שָנָה טוֹבָה וּמְתוּקָה
Then [...]

Ktiva Vechatima Tova; wishing you a year with lots of time to learn Torah

The blast of the Shofar should remind us to awaken from our spiritual slumber and start taking our Torah study and Mitzvah observance seriously.
Hearing the Shofar being blown on Rosh Hashanah is a Torah commandment!
This crucial detail should not be forgotten when [...]

Ktiva Vechatima Tova; wishing you a year full of good news
On Sukkot there’s a Mitzvah to shake the four species; a Lulav, 3 Haddasim, 2 Aravot and an Etrog.
Each Haddas is a branch of a myrtle bush, and must be at least 3 Tefachim (24 cm – 10″) long.
Myrtle leaves grow on the stem in [...]

Ktiva Vechatima Tova; wishing you a year with lots of time to learn Torah
Since the Mitzvah of Sukkah is to move out of the house and into the Sukkah for the duration of  Sukkot, one should really sleep in the Sukkah.
People who are meticulous about their Mitzvah observance will not even take a nap outside [...]

On Sukkot there’s a Mitzvah to shake the four species; a Lulav, 3 Haddasim, 2 Aravot and an Etrog.
The Lulav is a palm branch that is still closed. Once the leaves start fanning out, it’s no longer a Lulav.
A Lulav has a spine from which the leaves protrude; this spine needs to be facing you [...]

One does not shake the four species on Shabbat.
The Lulav, Haddasim and Aravot are Muktza on Shabbat.
The Etrog is not Muktza and one may smell it on Shabbat – after making the Bracha of:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֱלקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
הַנּוֹתֵן רֵיחַ טוֹב בַּפֵּרוֹת
On the other days of Sukkot one should not smell the Etrog.
One should not [...]

Ktiva Vechatima Tova; wishing you a year full of good news
On Sukkot there’s a Mitzvah to shake the four species; a Lulav, 3 Haddasim, 2 Aravot and an Etrog.
Each Haddas is a branch of a myrtle bush, and must be at least 3 Tefachim (24 cm – 10″) long.
Myrtle leaves grow on the stem in [...]

Ktiva Vechatima Tova
On Sukkoth there’s a Mitzvah to shake the four species; a Lulav, 3 Haddasim, 2 Aravot and an Etrog.
The Etrog is a citron; Citrus Medica.
It is held in one’s left hand when shaking the four species, with the stem (where it was cut off the tree) facing downwards.
By nature the Etrog tree is [...]

Ktiva Vechatima Tova; with wishes for a Happy New Year
During Elul one gets ready for the upcoming Days of  Judgement (Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur) with a three-pronged approach:
- Teshuva; repenting. Improving ones Mitzva observance
- Tefillah; praying. Asking Hashem for help and praising and thanking Him for being good to us.
- Tzedakah; [...]

Vinegar made from non-Kosher wine or grape juice is not Kosher.
Vinegar made from Kosher wine or grape juice that was not boiled, can still become non-Kosher if a non-Jew touches it, unless it’s so strong that it bubbles when poured onto the ground.
On Shabbat it’s forbidden to add liquids into vinegar with the intent of [...]

Ktiva Vechatima Tova
 Some people have the custom to get their Tefillin and Mezuzot checked yearly during the month of Elul.
At the very least one should check ones Mezuzot twice every 7 years.
Tefillin that are used daily do not need to be checked unless that get wet. However, one should check them every few years since [...]