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Curated Torah sources across every topic, from classical texts to contemporary responsa.
Travelers' Yom Tov Observance: One or Two Days
Classical and modern Jewish sources address how residents of the Diaspora should observe festivals when traveling to or from the Land of Israel, with particular attention to whether one's intended place of residence and duration of travel affect the number of Yom Tov days observed. The sources discuss the principle that travelers generally follow the practice of their permanent place of residence or destination community.
בני ארץ ישראל שבאו לחוצה לארץ אסורים לעשות מלאכה ביום טוב שני
The Earth's Disobedience in Creation
The Torah describes God commanding the earth to produce trees whose fruit tastes like the tree itself, yet the earth created only trees bearing fruit. Classical rabbinic sources interpret this textual discrepancy as an act of primordial disobedience, while later commentaries explore whether the earth's failure was willful transgression or inherent limitation of the physical realm.
עָבְרָה עַל הַצִּוּוּי
Employment, Competition, and Starting a Rival Business
Jewish law addresses when an employee may lawfully establish a competing enterprise. The sources examine restrictions on commercial competition, the employee's obligations to the employer, the use of employer property or confidential information, and the distinction between permitted competition and prohibited harmful encroachment or theft.
לא ירד לתוך אומנות חברו
Spiritual Growth Through Torah and Character
Sources explore how spiritual development unfolds through study of Torah, refinement of character traits, avoidance of corrupting influences, and consistent practice. The tradition portrays growth as gradual, organic, and rooted in human freedom and personal responsibility.
הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם
Kiddush Levanah: Blessing the New Moon
Sources on the mitzvah of Kiddush Levanah—the blessing recited upon seeing the new moon—covering its timing, formulation, and practical requirements. The sources range from Talmudic discussions of blessings over celestial phenomena to medieval and early modern codifications and their detailed applications.
הרואה לבנה בחדושה מברך
Shemini Atzeret: God's Difficulty in Parting
Sources explore interpretations of the phrase "kasha alai preidaschem" (it is difficult for Me to part from you) in relation to Shemini Atzeret, examining whether the separation refers to the end of the universal festival cycle, the departure of Israel from God's presence, or the spiritual difficulty of concluding the festival experience.
קשה עלי פרידתכם
Eating in the Sukkah on Shemini Atzeret Outside Israel
Sources discuss the halakhic and customary reasons why many, particularly Hasidic communities, refrain from eating in the sukkah on Shemini Atzeret outside of Israel. The central concerns include the uncertain status of the day, the appearance of adding to the festival's observance, and the distinction between Shemini Atzeret as an independent festival rather than a continuation of Sukkot.
מפני שהוא ספק שביעי ואין מברכין
A Kohen's Attendance at a Convert's Funeral
These sources examine whether a kohen may become ritually impure to attend the funeral of his converted wife, balancing the Torah's prohibition on kohanim defiling themselves with the dead against the exception granted for a wife. The sources trace the issue from Biblical law through Talmudic discussion to medieval and later codifications.
שארו זו אשתו
Eating in the Sukkah on Shemini Atzeret Without a Blessing
Sources address the halakhic practice of eating in the sukkah on Shemini Atzeret while omitting the blessing over sitting in the sukkah. The rulings stem from the day's ambiguous status—whether it retains the character of the seventh day of Sukkot or constitutes an independent eighth day—which creates doubt regarding the obligation and thus avoids reciting a potentially vain blessing.
אוכלין בסוכה מפני שהוא ספק שביעי ואין מברכין על ישיבתה
The Shofar, Isaac, and the Accuser on Rosh Hashanah
Sources explore how the shofar's blasts confound the Satan's prosecution on Rosh Hashanah and explain why Isaac, as the embodiment of divine judgment, summons Esau on that day. The shofar's confused sequence of sounds prevents the accuser from prosecuting effectively, while Isaac's merit and the ram of the Binding work to secure mercy for Israel.
ביום ראש השנה יוצא יצחק בלבדו
Isaac's Judgment on Rosh Hashanah
The Zohar's mystical reading of Isaac's calling to Esau on Rosh Hashanah, understood as a cosmic drama in which the strict attribute of judgment operates alone, summoning the accuser to present the world's transgressions. Various sources explore how Isaac's role in divine judgment relates to the Day of Judgment and the interplay between severity and mercy.
בְּיוֹמָא דר״ה נָפִיק יִצְחָק בִּלְחוֹדוֹי
The Prophetic Institution of Hoshana Rabbah Aravot
Jewish sources examine whether the practice of taking willow branches on the seventh day of Sukkot originated as a prophetic enactment or an ancient custom. The discussions address the distinction between the Temple-era ritual and the post-Temple observance, and explore the spiritual significance of the aravah in the context of Hoshana Rabbah.
עֲרָבָה יְסוֹד נְבִיאִים