Sephardic Congregation News Today

Sephardic Congregation Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation The numbers are telling. Well-known organizations including the FBI, the Southern Poverty Law

The completition of a new Torah scroll for the fledgling Sephardic Congregation of Hewlett was celebrated on Sunday. After the sefer was completed in the Lawrence home of Eric and Mina Aminoff, …

During a two-day deep dive into OU kosher’s policy to certify “dairy English muffins,” a thoughtful talmid raised a fundamental question: Does Hashem truly care about all these details? Why do we devote so much attention to English muffins? Why the obsession with minutiae? I asked for an evening to prepare a thoughtful response.

One of the reasons that David Tawil has earned the nickname of “director of special projects” at his shul is because he has a knack for connecting with all sorts of people and identifying unique opportunities to do chesed.

Dear Readers, Please enjoy another beautiful article written by Joel Mizrahi of Congregation Shaarei Orah, the Sephardic Congregation of Teaneck.

We the undersigned, Sephardic rabbis representing communities all over the world, stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Israel.

By Rabbi Haim Jachter | May 06, 2021 Nakdimon ben Gurion triggered a fantastic miracle! The Gemara (Ta’anit 19b-20a) describes how Nakdimon cried out to Hashem in desperate times to demonstrate that Hashem still loves the Jewish people. In response, Hashem caused the sun to shine after it had set (translation adapted from Sefaria.org). The Sages taught: Once, all the Jewish people ascended for the pilgrimage Festival to Jerusalem and there was not enough water for them to drink...

By Rabbi Haim Jachter | April 15, 2021 A talmid in his late 30s called and asked me if he is permitted to shave his entire head in what he calls a “preemptive strike” against his increasing baldness. While shaving most of the head is not a problem, shaving the head’s corners runs into the Torah prohibition for a Jewish male to round out the corners, or peyot, of his head (Vayikra 19:27). Fortunately, my older son Binyamin and I have prepared a soon-to-be-released book deali...

By Rabbi Haim Jachter | March 11, 2021 The conundrum is well-known. We are not permitted to eat chametz on Erev Pesach after the fourth halachic hour of the day (please visit myzmanim.com for specific times in your area), and we are not permitted to eat matzah on Erev Pesach. On a day when we have restrictions regarding eating both chametz and matzah, how are we supposed to fulfill our obligation to eat three meals on Shabbat?! Background Information The Mishna (Pesachim 3:6) pre...

Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakai’s Strategy On Choosing a Marriage Partner By Rabbi Haim Jachter | February 24, 2021 Go Down a Level and Marry I recently had an extended conversation with a group of TABC graduates about choosing a marriage partner. One alumnus cited an astounding Gemara (Yevamot 63a) that shockingly advises “go down a level and marry a woman.” Rashi (ad. loc. s.v. Nahit Darga) explains, “Do not marry a woman who is on a higher level than you, les...