All posts by armadil

The Role of Angels in Judaism

The Role of Angels in Judaism

This comprehensive article from Chabad.org provides a survey of the Jewish understanding of angels and the role they play within Jewish

Alone Time: Why We Usher the Shabbat Angels Out

Alone Time: Why We Usher the Shabbat Angels Out

In this article from Chabad.org, Rabbi Elly Krimsky explores why we bid farewell to the accompanying angels in Shalom Aleichem, focusing on

A Complete Guide to Eishet Chayil

A Complete Guide to Eishet Chayil

This thorough article offers a complete introduction to the custom of singing Eishet Chayil on Friday night, including the reasons behind

Blessing the Children on Friday Night: Origins and How-To

Blessing the Children on Friday Night: Origins and How-To

This thorough introductory article by Tamar Fox outlines the origins and various family customs for the ritual blessing over the

How to Separate Challah: Sephardic & Ashkenazi Customs

How to Separate Challah: Sephardic & Ashkenazi Customs

This excerpt from “The Secret of Challah” by Shira Wiener & Ayelet Yifrach provides clear and concise directions for both Ashkenazim and

The Mitzvah of Separating Challah

The Mitzvah of Separating Challah

This introductory article by Rabbi Mendy Hecht explains the commandment of ‘Hafrashat Challah’ (‘separating challah’), complete with the English transliteration and

Reform: How to Recite the Blessing Over Children (Audio & Text)

Reform: How to Recite the Blessing Over Children (Audio & Text)

This instructional post provides the Hebrew audio and the Hebrew, English and transliterated text of the blessing over the children according to

Why We ‘Scratch’ the Challah before Bircat HaMotzi

Why We ‘Scratch’ the Challah before Bircat HaMotzi

This article from Chabad.org discusses the halachic (legal) and Kabbalistic (mystical) explanations for ‘scratching’ the Challah before the blessing over the bread on

Aish: How to Make HaMotzi

Aish: How to Make HaMotzi

The following responsum, written by Rabbi Dovid Rosenfeld for Aish.com’s Ask The Rabbi, column, describes how to perform the blessing over the

Modernizing Birkat HaMotzi: A Feminist Spiritual Approach

Modernizing Birkat HaMotzi: A Feminist Spiritual Approach

This excerpt from Marcia Falk’s “The Book of Blessings” discusses both the significance of Birkat HaMotzi (the blessing over the bread) as a