http://www.chabad.org/search/keyword.asp?kid=2893 Newest articles written by Mendy Hecht 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 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=756399 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=756399 The Talmud tells us that there are 613 commandments in the Torah; 248 Positive Commandments (do's) and 365 Negative Commandments (do not's). Here's a complete list --as compiled by Maimonides. Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=592186 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=592186 Pennsylvania's Poconos communities occupy one of the fastest growing locales in the United States. The three-year-old Chabad center there has helped fuel the growth of the Jewish community. Fri, 9 Nov 2007 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=507848 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=507848 Kabbalah, psychology, and the real issue behind "gun control vs. people control" Sun, 22 Apr 2007 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=484235 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=484235 A. Because driving, biking, blading, skateboarding or other device-driven means of transportation are prohibited on Shabbat, we walk rather than commute to synagogue. However, even walking on Shabbat has its limits. B. Negative Mitzvah #321 sets the maximum walking range from one’s city to 2,000 cubits (3,049.5 feet, 0.596 miles (960 meters). [However, this measurement starts 70 2/3 cubits (112.24 ft.) from the city limits.] Practically speaking, this means that you may not walk a straight line more than .598 miles (3161.74 ft.) in any direction in the wilds outside your city limits. C. "City limits" are not defined by the map you carry in your glove compartment. Halachah considers all contiguous housing to be part of the same city. Therefore it would be permitted to walk hundreds of miles, from city to city, as long as the whole way is populated. D. Therefore, this Mitzvah is usually not practicable if you live in the suburbs, and certainly if you live in any big city. Why? Because wh Thu, 8 Mar 2007 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=484183 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=484183 A. The pure, simple, unadorned word “Challah” means “a loaf of bread.” However, in Halachic terms, the word Challah has a very specific definition, and colloquially, it came to mean a certain type of bread thousands of years later. B. The Halachic definition of Challah is a reference to Positive Mitzvah #133. It entails separating a section of dough from your kneadings and giving it to the kohen. This piece of dough is called "Challah." Any dough which is made of wheat, barley, spelt, oat or rye is obligated in this Mitzvah. The kohen and his family would eat the Challah while in a state of ritual purity. The Rabbis determined that the the home-baker give 1/24th of the dough to the kohen, while the commercial baker has to donate 1/48th of his dough. C. Biblically speaking, the Mitzvah of Challah is only observed in the land of Israel. Furthermore, according to most Halachic authorities, the Mitzvah of Challah was a requirement only in the times of the Temple. Today, no Temple, no Chall Thu, 8 Mar 2007 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=484184 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=484184 1. Knead your dough 2. Measure your Challah The Mitzvah of hafrashat Challah (separating Challah) divides raw dough into three categories: Small, Medium and Large. A small amount of dough (less than 2 lb. 11 oz. of flour) does not require the Mitzvah. A medium amount of dough (more than 2 lb. 11 oz. but less than 3 lb. 11 oz.) requires the Mitzvah, but without the recitation of the Separating-the-Dough blessing. A large amount of dough (more than 3 lb. 11 oz.) requires the Mitzvah and the Separating-the-Dough blessings. 3. Burn your Challah See that little lump of dough you just cut loose from your main batch? Wrap it in silver foil and over-bake it till it’s black. Then throw it out. Congratulations--you’ve done the Mitzvah. Click here for more on Challah and how to make it. Thu, 8 Mar 2007 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=306097 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=306097 I was at my father's side in the empty prep room. The room was silent; just the two of us. Suddenly - this could only happen in Israel - someone swung open the door and jabbed his head in. "I'm looking for my friend..." Tue, 30 Aug 2005 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=303214 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=303214 Today, Jewish soldiers shatter Jewish hearts (both others' and their own) while Arabs dance in a CNN Special Report from the Gaza Strip Mon, 15 Aug 2005 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=260252 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=260252 A. “Kiddush” (pronounced KID-ish) means “designation”—physically or verbally designating or demarcating a person, place, thing or time for a higher purpose. B. I’ll give ya a f’rinstance: f’rinstance, Positive Mitzvah #155 is to clearly delineate Shabbat as a day different than the days before and after it. This is done by Kiddush—making verbal statements at Shabbat’s start that Shabbat is distinct. But, what does “making verbal statements” mean? To answer this, rabbis established a set text for Kiddush, to be recited on Friday night at the Shabbat table. C. When you say “I’m making Kiddush!” today, the usual response is: “On what?” That’s because Kiddush is recited while holding a cup of wine, grape juice or other alcoholic drink. Wed, 13 Apr 2005 12:00:00 EST http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=257569 http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?aid=257569 a) Leave work early Friday afternoon....j) Pour a cup of kosher wine or grape juice into a special goblet...u) Eat the Third Meal...z) Repeat next week. Wed, 13 Apr 2005 12:00:00 EST