http://www.chabad.org/search/keyword.asp?kid=12903 Newest articles written by Rochel Chein Copyright 2005, Chabad.org - Chabad-Lubavitch Media Center, all rights reserved. http://www.chabad.org/media/images/50/CtRx507451.gif 130 52 http://www.chabad.org Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=945678 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=945678 This question has troubled many of the biblical commentaries. How could Joseph have allowed his father to mourn him for so long? Why didn't he let Jacob know that he was alive? Egypt is not so far from Canaan, and it was certainly within Joseph's means to dispatch a courier to his father with the good news that he was alive and well. Here are a few of the answers that are given: Nachmanides explains (in his commentary on Genesis 42:9) that Joseph understood that his dreams (detailed in Genesis 37) were actual prophecies and would be fulfilled in their entirety. In Joseph's first dream, his eleven brothers were bowing down to him. In the second, his father was included too. Joseph concluded that the first dream must be realized in its entirety before the second one would be fulfilled. Had he sent a message to Jacob, he certainly would have come to see him immediately—and the second dream would have come true before the first. He therefore waited until after all eleven of his brothers – Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=940485 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=940485 According to the Talmud, Pharaoh's dreams and the release of Joseph from prison occurred on Rosh Hashanah, the first day of the year. On that day, G‑d determines the fate of the world... Thu, 9 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=931633 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=931633 After the flood, G‑d promised Noah that He would never again bring a flood that would destroy the world. A rainbow is a reminder of this covenant that G‑d made with Noah, his descendants, and all living creatures. Therefore, upon seeing a rainbow in the sky, we recite the following blessing: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֶלוֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם זוֹכֵר הַבְּרִית וְנֶאֱמָן בִּבְרִיתוֹ וְקַיָם בְּמַאֲמָרוֹ Baruch ata Ado-nai Elo-heinu melech ha'olam zocher ha'brit v'ne'eman bivrito v'kayam b'ma'amaro. Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who remembers the covenant, and is faithful to His covenant, and keeps His promise. All the best, Rochel Chein for Chabad.org Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=886446 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=886446 Question: Why do some people open their hands during the Ashrei prayer? Answer: According to the Talmud Berachot 4b., this prayer is recited three times every day partly because it contains the verse “You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.” It is while reciting this verse that many people lift their hands to G-d. This custom is common in the Sephardic communities. Rabbi Yosef Chaim of Baghdad (known as the Ben Ish Chai) explains that people lift their open palms heavenward to reflect their spiritual channel above as it receives the divine flow. Ben Ish Chai, Shanah Rishonah, Miketz. Lifting our hands in this fashion has a long history in Jewish tradition. When Moses promised Pharaoh to stop the catastrophic hail falling over Egypt, he said, “I will spread my hands to G-d.” Exodus 9:29. We see the same in the prayers of King Solomon: “As Solomon finished praying all this prayer and supplication to G-d…with his hands spread out toward heaven.” Kings I, 8:54. Mrs Sun, 3 May 2009 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=610029 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=610029 Chanukah is not specifically mentioned, since the story happened after the Torah was written. Nevertheless, G‑d, who is above the limitations of time, included in the Torah allusions to Chanukah. Sun, 21 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=718270 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=718270 I do not know of a recommended age for weaning. There are many factors involved, so one size can't fit all. The American Academy of Pediatrics currently (2005) recommends: "Pediatricians and parents should be aware that exclusive breastfeeding is sufficient to support optimal growth and development for approximately the first 6 months of life and provides continuing protection against diarrhea and respiratory tract infection. Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child." The tradition cited by Rashi is that Isaac, the first baby to be born Jewish, was weaned at 24 months, and that seems to have been the convention through the ages. Nevertheless, according to Jewish law, a healthy child can nurse up to age four, and a sickly child through age five. However, a child older than 24 months who has stopped nursing for 72 hours cannot resume, unless there are health issues involved. Anyone older than this Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=718280 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=718280 Blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) is a mitzvah (a commandment.) Women are not obligated in time-bound positive mitzvot, because of their overriding family responsibilities. However, it is certainly meritorious for a woman to hear the sounds of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah. A woman who hears the shofar being blown every year on Rosh Hashanah is considered to have taken a vow to do so, and should continue hearing it every year. There are some authorities who teach that Jewish women as a whole have accepted this commandment upon themselves. Can a woman blow the shofar? She can certainly blow it for herself. Since her level of obligation in the mitzvah is different than that of a man, she cannot blow for a man. There are various rabbinical opinions on whether a woman can blow for other women. This is all concerning the blowing of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah. A woman can definitely blow the shofar on other occasions during the year. Yours truly, Mrs. Rochel Chein Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=712032 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=712032 The rabbis of the Talmud discuss this question.Bechorot 7b The Mishnah states "that which comes from something which is not kosher is not kosher, and that which comes from something which is kosher is kosher." So, for example, the milk of a camel or the eggs of a vulture are just as unkosher as the camel and the vulture. Why then, since bees are not kosher, is the honey of a bee permitted? Honey consists of nectar, which bees gather, store and transport to their honeycombs. While in the bee, the nectar is broken down and transformed into honey by enzymes in the bee. But it is not actually digested by the bee. So the honey is not a product of the bee itself--as is milk. One hundred percent pure, raw honey is kosher. When purchasing honey, be sure to check that it is certified as kosher by a reliable kosher agency, since non-kosher foods may have been processed on the same equipment, and non-kosher flavorings may have been added. We have an interesting article on honey and its role in Ju Thu, 7 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=702285 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=702285 Yes, mushrooms are kosher. A mushroom is a fungus, and in general, natural fungi are kosher. Since bugs are not kosher, you should make sure that your mushrooms aren't infested with insects before eating them. Rinse the mushrooms and check a few samples to make sure that no creature calls these mushrooms "home." For this reason, the brown area under the top of portabella mushrooms should be removed. If the mushrooms are canned, you should look for a symbol of kosher certification on the label, since non-kosher ingredients may have been used during the process, or the mushrooms may have been on the same production lines as non-kosher foods. The kosher certification agency also ensures that the mushrooms are not infested with insects. Since you asked about mushrooms, I should mention that the sages of the Talmud (Brachot 40b) discuss the blessing to be recited before eating mushrooms. Mushrooms, though they grow on the ground, do not receive their nutrition from the soil as plants do. Th Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=691328 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=691328 Originally, the firstborn sons were to have been the priests of the Jewish nation, who would serve in the Tabernacle and in the Temple and be the spiritual leaders. When G‑d spared the Jewish firstborn during the Plague of the Firstborn in Egypt, He "acquired" them and designated them for this special role. After the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, the Jewish people made and worshipped a golden calf. Click here to read the entire story. The only tribe that did not participate in this shameful act was the tribe of Levi. At this time, the firstborn lost their special status, and it was transferred to the Levites. In the Torah's description of the induction of the Levites as they began their new role (Numbers 8:16-18), G‑d tells Moses: "For they [the Levites] are wholly given over to Me from among the children of Israel; instead of those that open the womb all the firstborn of Israel I have taken them for Myself..." May we soon merit seeing the building of the Third Temple, and the re Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:00:00 EST