On the posuk “The wise man has his eyes on his head”[1]one can ask an obvious question, is it just the wise man who has eyes on his head?Everyone has eyes on their head, even animals! To understand the meaning behind this cryptic posuk the Zohar explains that a man is not permitted to walk four amos without a head covering since the Shechina, Heavenly Presence rests on the head of every Jew.With this understanding, the Zohar reads the posukThe wise man has his eyes focused on what is onhis head, namely – the Shechina, and by constantly focusing on
We make a meal and celebration when a boy reaches thirteen, honouring the fact that he has become of age to be obligated in mitzvos. The question, however, is why are we making a celebration now - if it’s mitzvos that we are honouring then surely the best time to celebrate would be in a few years time after he has done a significant amount of mitzvos! Why do we celebrate at a time when the child has performed very little mitzvos in his new adult life? There are a few answers here, most of which can be weaved together to form one general approach.
Firstly, the gemarra (Shabbos) notes that any mitzvos which Klal Yisrael accepted with joy are still observed well, whilst mitzvos which were initially accepted heavy-heartedly tend to be discarded as the generations move on. Thus, we make a huge celebration and up the simcha at the start of the bar mitzvah boy’s religious
We all celebrate bar mitzvahs - the source of which is Rav Yosef’s festive seudah in the gemarra Kiddushin 31a when he found out that he was fully obligated in mitzvos. However, what about a bat mitzvah? Does this source apply to bat mitzvahs too? is there any reason to celebrate bat mitzvahs? Is there any reason not to celebrate bat mitzvahs, and do they have the same status as bar mitzvahs? The two principal views on this subject are Rav Moshe Feinstein and Rav Ovadiah Yosef.
In various responsa (Igros Moshe Orach Chaim 1:104, 2:97 and 4:36), Rav Moshe writes that there is no source for a bat mitzvah; boys celebrate their bar mitzvahs for there is a recognisable change when a boy becomes obligated in mitzvos - he can now be called up to the Torah and form part of a minayn. But since there is no
Rabbi Gershenfeld of Machon Shlomo explains that a boy reaching Bar Mitzva (girl reaching Bas Mitzva) acquires D'as - the ability to overcome a natural emotion (the ‘Regesh*’) by focussing on a wider perspective. For example, overcoming the feeling of depression by focussing on one’s positive attributes. Using the example of a Bar Mitzva Party, the Rav explains that a Bar Mitzva boy can always tell his best friend according to who gave him the best gift...
What is the big party for a barmitzvah boy? Though he has become obligated in mitzvos, he has not done many yet - why do we give him a party at the start of the journey? Let's answer with an important concept, via some questions... We have a halacha that tumah (impurity) is allowed when it comes to communal matters (it’s not ideal, but it is allowed). Thus, when certain communal sacrifices become tamei, we allow them to be used based on the above rule. Now, if this is so, why did the Jews
'Why does the Mishnah choose the reading of Sh’ma at night to be the very first halacha to be discussed in Shas?' Tosafos (Shabbos 2a) notes that many masechtos (tractates) are arranged according to the order in which the events of a particular day occur. For example, Massechta Pesachim begins with the laws of bedikas chametz, which is a full day before the festival of Pesach actually begins.
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This website is dedicated to the memories of
Moshe Shlomo ben R'Shmuel | Shlomo ben R'Chaim | Aryeh Leib ben Pinchas Tzvi
