Discover what others are learning
Curated Torah sources across every topic, from classical texts to contemporary responsa.
Avraham as the Foundational Source of Israel
These sources explore Avraham's role as the originating principle and spiritual foundation of the Jewish people. They examine how his character, covenant, obedience, and initial actions in the land established a pattern that flows through the generations, with later developments rooted in and shaped by this foundational beginning.
כִּ֣י יְדַעְתִּ֗יו לְמַ֩עַן֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְצַוֶּ֜ה אֶת־בָּנָ֤יו וְאֶת־בֵּיתוֹ֙ אַחֲרָ֔יו
Sources for the Yehi Ratzon on Rosh Hashanah Apple
The sources found do not address the specific question of where Sefer HaMinhagim records this custom or what the Lubavitcher Rebbe wrote about it in Igros Kodesh. The passages located discuss the general halakhic practice of eating symbolic foods on Rosh Hashanah night with accompanying yehi ratzon prayers, including various customs regarding apples and their accompanying blessings, as recorded in classical halakhic sources.
יהי רצון שתתחדש עלינו שנה טובה ומתוקה
Rambam and Yerushalmi in Biur HaGra
The verified sources do not contain the specific Biur HaGra citation on Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim where the Gra discusses the Rambam following the Yerushalmi. The sources address biblical exegesis, Zoharic commentary, and Shabbat law, but none include the requested GRA passage.
Prayer at the Graves of the Righteous
Sources explore the biblical and Rabbinic foundations for praying at the graves of righteous individuals, emphasizing invocation of their merit and the spiritual significance of these sacred places while clarifying that petitions are directed to God rather than to the deceased.
בקש עלי רחמים
Tagin on the Letter Beis in Bereishit
Sources discussing the codification and customary forms of the tagin (crowns) placed on specific letters in Torah scrolls, particularly addressing the beis of בראשית. The sources present both classical halachic rulings and their practical application across different communities.
וכעין קו דק הוא כל תג ותג
Messianic Criteria and Sabbatai Zevi
Classical Jewish sources establish criteria for identifying the Messiah through prophecy and rabbinic interpretation. These texts provide the scriptural and halakhic framework against which historical messianic claims, including those surrounding Sabbatai Zevi, were evaluated.
כׇּל הַנְּבִיאִים כּוּלָּן לֹא נִתְנַבְּאוּ אֶלָּא לִימוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ
Bearing Your Fellow's Burden and Kingship
Jewish sources explore how leaders demonstrate true authority by sharing in their people's suffering and assuming collective burdens rather than standing apart. The sources trace this principle from Moses' example through rabbinic and medieval halakhic teachings on royal responsibility.
נוסע b'ol im chavero
Classical Understanding of Teshuva and Return
Jewish sources explore teshuvah as a multifaceted return—to exclusive covenantal dependence on God, from destructive conduct to righteous behavior, and from spiritual distance to closeness with the Divine Presence. The sources emphasize both inward transformation (abandoning sin from thought and intent) and outward reorientation (renewed obedience, confession, and righteous action).
גְּדוֹלָה תְּשׁוּבָה שֶׁמְּקָרֶבֶת אֶת הָאָדָם לַשְּׁכִינָה
The Divine Purpose of Creation
Hasidic sources explore why God created the world, emphasizing the descent of divine light through concealment to establish a dwelling place for the divine presence in the physical realm, and the role of human service in revealing holiness within material existence.
נִתְאַוָּה הַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא לִהְיוֹת לוֹ דִּירָה בַּתַּחְתּוֹנִים
The Latest Time for Mincha Prayer
These sources establish the halakhic parameters for praying Mincha in the afternoon, discussing the distinction between the preferred time before sunset and the permissible endpoint extending toward nightfall. The sources present both the Talmudic debate and the later codified practice regarding communal and individual prayer.
זְמַן מִנְחָה קְטַנָּה מִתֵּשַׁע שָׁעוֹת וּמֶחֱצָה עַד שֶׁיִּשָּׁאֵר מִן הַיּוֹם שָׁעָה וּרְבִיעַ
Signs of Geulah and Messianic Times
Jewish sources describe the defining characteristics of redemption, including the restoration of Jewish sovereignty, ingathering of exiles, and spiritual transformation. The sources also address how to discern whether such signs are present in any given era, balancing messianic expectation with the uncertainties of historical timing.
קוּמִי אוֹרִי כִּי בָא אוֹרֵךְ
The Torah Obligation of Reciting Shema
Sources establish that the recitation of Shema is a Torah-level commandment (deoraisa), based on the biblical passage in Deuteronomy and elaborated through rabbinic interpretation and halakhic codes. The sources address the obligation's timing, the requirement of proper intention, and the consequences of doubt regarding its fulfillment.
קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע הִיא מִן הַתּוֹרָה