Why is the Rav’s Watch on his Right Hand?

stories from Father of Israel in English

Why did Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu ZT"L put his watch on his right hand?

Are You Eliyahu Hanavi?

A miraculous story about The Baba Sally and Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu ZT"L

Controlling Flights, Directing Journeys

stories from 'Father of Israel' in English

"So," the director began, "why does a person who asks a rabbi a halachic question have to act according to what the rabbi tells him? Don't rabbis make mistakes sometimes?"

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..."

Parshat Zachor

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.

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.

Twice Scripture, Once Targum

The practice of reading the weekly Torah portion twice in the original Hebrew and once in the Aramaic Targum is not mere good advice, and it is certainly more than just a remedy for good fortune. Rather, it is an obligation that applies to every Jew.

Rabbi Meir Baal HaNes

Iyar 14 is the Hilulah (death anniversary) of Rabbi Meir Baal HaNes. Tradition has it that Rabbi Meir asked to be buried in an upright position so that, when the Messiah comes and the dead are resurrected, he be able to run to greet him with no delay.

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.

Requesting Rain, Mentioning Rain

A person should always familiarize himself with an uncommon prayer before beginning to recite it. Therefore, before Maariv (the evening prayer) on 7 Marcheshvan, one should familiarize himself with the "Barech Alenu" prayer, or read it through.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Shabbat Preparations

Even a person who has many servants should try to prepare personally something for the Sabbath. R' Chisda would mince vegetables; Rabbah and R' Yosef would chop wood. Every person should make them his example, for honoring the Sabbath is a privilege.

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.

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.

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.