Monday, September 20, 2010

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Challah Knife and Kosher Salt Shaker for the Shabbat table

Challah Knife and Kosher Salt Shaker for the Shabbat table



Judaica Store, Denver Colorado
Aharon's Jewish Books and Judaica
600 South Holly Street Suite 103
Denver, Colorado 80246
303-322-7345
800-830-8660

Challah Boards and Knives

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Jerusalem Stone Mezuzah Cases

Mezuzah (Heb. מזוזה, literally "doorpost"; pl. mezuzot) refers to one of the 613 commandments in Judaism, which requires that a small parchment (klaf) inscribed with two sections from the Torah's Book of Deuteronomy (6:4-9 and 11:13-21) be affixed to each doorpost and gate in a Jewish home, synagogue, and business. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21 are two of four passages used in Teffilin.

Thus the word mezuzah can refer to any of the following:

Simply a door post of a permanent door, gate, or arch.
The special parchment with the required Hebrew inscriptions.
The small case or box that typically covers the parchment. (The parchment can be affixed directly to the door, though usually a case is used in order to protect it. It is important to be aware, though, that a case without a valid mezuzah scroll inside cannot be used to fulfill this mitzvah.) The case generally features the Hebrew letter shin (ש) inscribed on its upper exterior. Artistic mezuzah cases are often given as gifts for weddings and other special occasions.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Jerusalem Stone Honey Dishes

The Mishna in Tractate Bechorot states: "That which comes from something which is Tameh [non-Kosher] is Tameh, and that which comes of that which is Tahor [Kosher] is Tahor." The product of a non-Kosher animal is not Kosher.
So why is bee honey Kosher?
The Talmud in the same Tractate quotes a Beraita (a Halachic teaching from the time of the Mishna) which says:
"Why did they say that bee-honey is permitted? Because even though they bring it into their bodies, it is not a *product* of their bodies [it is stored there but not produced there]."
All the Sages of the Mishna agree with this ruling. One of them, Rabbi Yaakov, disagrees with the *reasoning*. He claims that bee-honey is Kosher based on his interpretation of Vayikra 11:21. According to him, the verse prohibits one to eat a flying insect, but *not* that which is *excreted* from it.
Maimonides codifies bee-honey as being Kosher, as does the Shulchan Aruch.
You may wonder: How could one even think that bee-honey is not Kosher -- the Torah refers to the Land of Israel as "a Land flowing with milk and honey"! Certainly the Torah would not choose a non-Kosher product as a means for describing the beauty of the Land of Israel! This may come as a surprise, but the honey mentioned in the verse about "milk and honey" is not bee-honey -- rather it is fig-honey. The Talmud in Tractate Berachot tells us that another verse "It is a Land of wheat, barley, grapes, figs and pomegranates -- a Land of olives and *honey*" -- is referring to date-honey.
Sources:
  • Tractate Bechorot, pages 5b, 7b.
  • The Codes of Maimonides, Laws of Forbidden Foods 3:3.
  • Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah, 81:8.
  • Tractate Megillah, page 6a, Rashi.
  • Chumash, Book of Devarim, 8:8.
  • Tractate Berachot, page 41b, Rashi.

See www.jewishrecipes.org

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Jerusalem Store

MileChai Jerusalem Store

Jerusalem Stone Kabbalat Shabbat Candlesticks

Jerusalem Stone
Kabbalat Shabbat Candlesticks

3 Piece Set
Item Numbers     ch1008
      Glass
      laser cut
Candleholders with authentic Jerusalem stone base.
Base features blessing for candle lighting.

Candle Lighting Blessing for Shabbos

ברוך אתה ײ אלהינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו להדליק נר של שבת

Baruch atah Adonai, Elohaynu, melech ha-olam asher keed'shanu b'meetzvotav v'tzeevanu l’had’lik neir shel shabbat