Fingernails

We look at our nails during havdalah because: a. In order to make the blessing on the candle, it must be close and bright enough to be able to distinguish different currencies by its light. If we can distinguish between our nails and flesh we know that ...

Question: I have been told that one must never let his nail clipping lying around as they pose danger to fetuses. How does that work? Response: The Talmud Moed Katan 18a; Niddah 17a. tells us that "the righteous burn their nails, the pious bury them, and ...

Wednesday Elul 22 5703 Torah lessons: Chumash: Nitzavim-Vayeilech, Revi'i with Rashi. Tehillim: 106-107. Also 64-66. Tanya: And this is (p. 483) ...will have rest... (p. 485). Chassidic doctrine demands that before reproving another, one must pare his ...

The laws for washing the hands are detailed in the exoteric portion of the Torah. These laws each have their counterpart in man’s spiritual service as taught in the esoteric portion the “soul” of the law. The law is clear when it states that “man is ...

Thursday 20 Adar I 5703 Torah lessons: Chumash: Ki Tissa, Chamishi with Rashi. Tehillim: 97-103. Tanya: Even in the (p. 137)...transgression, and so on. (p. 137). Avoda (translated as "service" and "striving") is not the striving that avoda (service) ...

In the course of Havdalah we sniff at aromatic spices and gaze at a braided candle. What are the reasons for these practices, and how exactly are they done?