16 Lessons
Sukkot stories about Rav Mordechai Eliyahu zt'l
"Rabbi Alnekaveh told a story he heard once from an etrog-seller who used to bring Rav Eliyahu etrogim to check: "It is well-known that Rab Eliyahu could look at an etrog for mere seconds and immediately discern its advantages and defects..."
Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Zt"l | Tishrei 18 5782
Who is Obliged, and Who is Exempt from Chanukah Candles
Fulfilling the Mitzvah in the following cases, according to the Sephardic and Ashkenazi customs: lighting in the Synagogue, travelers, women, single and married children living at home and away from home, Yeshiva students, soldiers, roommates, mourners, and blind persons.
Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Zt"l | 5770
Sleeping in the Sukkah
If a sukkah is built so poorly that it is not possible to sleep in it, some authorities hold that it is not kosher and that one may not even eat in it. However, in practice, we do not follow this view, and such a sukkah is nonetheless kosher.
Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Zt"l | Tishrei 5769
Some Laws Relating to Tu Bishvat
The custom is to eat fruits on both the evening and day of Tu Bishvat, and people try to give preference to those fruits for which the land of Israel is famous. Furthermore, it is preferable to eat fruits that were grown in the land of Israel.
Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Zt"l | 7 Shvat 5768
Some Preparations for Rosh Hashanah
The day before Rosh Hashanah is the last day of the year, and it is the last opportunity to repent before the Day of Judgment. It is a day of reflection on the year gone by, and a day of preparation for the coming year.
Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Zt"l | Sunday, 26 Elul 5767
Days of Divine Favor
The first two forty-day periods of prayer were of no avail, and it was only after an additional forty days that God said to Moses "I have forgiven according to your request." Therefore, we recite selichot during this same last period of forty days.
Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Zt"l | Monday, 20 Elul 5767
Laws of the Month of Elul
Though God accepts the repentance of his children all year long, the forty days between Rosh Chodesh (New Month) Elul and Yom Kippur are more suited for repentance than any other period of the year, for they are days of Divine mercy and favor.
Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Zt"l | Thursday, 9 Elul 5767
Ninth of Av Thoughts
The Talmud says, “Where it is the custom to do work on the ninth of Av, one may work; where it is the custom not to do work, one may not do work.” However, whoever does work on the Ninth of Av will not see a sign of blessing from that work.
Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Zt"l | Menachem Av 5765
Laws Relating to the Three Weeks
If, during the Three Weeks, a person accidentally blessed "boreh pri ha'etz" over a new fruit, some authorities hold that the fruit should not be eaten. Others hold that pronouncing God's name in vain is a greater offense than eating the new fruit.
Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Zt"l
Prayer During the Ten Days of Repentance
Some people have certain prayer customs on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur which are not accurate according to Jewish law. All the same, a person should not hastily renounce a custom which has be handed down from generation to generation.
Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Zt"l | תשס"ד
The Laws of Fast Days
One should not use fast days for leisure or for field trips. One should even refrain from performing permissible acts such as showering or cutting one's hair. If a person spends the fast indifferently, he has not properly fulfilled his obligation.
Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Zt"l | 5765
The Remaining Chanukah Oil
When buying oil for Chanukah, one should not say, “This oil is for Chanukah,” for some authorities hold that by making such a statement one dedicates all of the oil for Chanukah candles alone, including that which remains in the bottle after Chanukah.
Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Zt"l | 5765
The Laws of the Nine Days
When the month of Av arrives, rejoicing should be minimized. A Jew must therefore avoid undertaking construction projects from which pleasure will be derived. Also, transactions should be minimized and one must refrain from consuming meat and wine.
Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Zt"l | 5762
Passover...and Foreign Workers
The people of Bombay inquire of Ben Ish Chai as to whether or not there is a possible violation of Jewish law in the fact that non-Jewish servants bring chametz into the homes of their Jewish employees and eat there in the privacy of their own rooms.
Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Zt"l | 5763
Celebrating During the Counting of the Omer Period
Rabbi Akiva had twelve thousand pairs of pupils spread out all over the country from Gevat to Antipatros and they all died during the period from Passover to Shavuot because they did not treat each other with respect and the world was desolate.
Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Zt"l | Nisan 5763