5 Lessons
Whose Blessing?
Birkat Kohanim was on “the day that Moshe completed to erect the Mishkan”, which was the 1st of Nisan, which is also called “the eighth day” of the inauguration of the Mishkan. On this day, Aharon lifted his hands and blessed the people.
Rabbi Daniel Mann | Sivan 8 5781
Kabbalat Shabbat of Part of the Community
My community has a small minyan for Kabbalat Shabbat that accepts Shabbat early, and no second minyan (there is a larger minyan for the rest of Shabbat). Must I accept Shabbat at the time the early minyan does, which is sometimes difficult for me?
Rabbi Daniel Mann | Tammuz 9 5777
Blow When You Are Happy
Our parasha lists several uses for the chatzotrot (trumpets) that Bnei Yisrael were commanded to make. They were used in the desert, where all Bnei Yisrael were encamped together, for gathering the people or the leaders and as a sign to travel (Bamidbar 10:2-7). The Torah goes on to list purposes that were used throughout generations when the people were in their own land – to turn to Hashem when war or other trouble appeared (ibid. 9) and to blast joyous sounds on “your happy day (yom simchatchem), your moadim (special days within the year), and your new months … on your burnt offerings and your shelamim offerings” (ibid. 10).
Rabbi Daniel Mann | Sivan 10 5776
Abnormal Normality
Rabbi Daniel Mann | 5774