A Look at Liturgy: On the Origin and Evolution of Piyutim

What defines a “dangerous scenario” for which one must recite birkas hagomel? This paper addresses the questions and challenges introduced by air travel, and defines the types of illnesses and levels of recovery that require the gomel blessing.

A minyan of seniors, a common occurrence at old age homes, can be challenging. What does Jewish law say about seniors sleeping during the prayers, or seniors who are unable or unwilling to actively participate in the services?

The Shul generally davens Nusach Ashkenaz and their Chabad Rav has been serving as shliach tzibur for Ne’ilah for over thirty years. Instead of repeating the Yud Gimmel Midos seven times, he only recites them three times, and has done so for over three decades. Has the Rabbi deviated from a well-established norm dating back over a millennium, or is the congregation blissfully unaware of the genesis of this practice? This paper highlights all available original sources on the matter and allows the reader to draw his own conclusion.

The greatest cantorial pieces call for the
repetition of certain words. When is this allowed? What is the issue? And what
role, if any, does the Chazzan play in Chabad philosophy?

The recitation of Kaddish is a central Jewish mourning rite. Mourners recite Kaddish for eleven months following the death of a loved one. What is the meaning of the prayer and the details of its observance? Why is it recited for specifically eleven months?

One of the focal points of the High-Holiday prayers is the recital of the “Thirteen Attributes of Mercy” revealed by G-d to Moshe as key to arousing divine mercy (Shemot 34:6-7).
The Rishonim labored to identify the precise words of the verse that represent each of the thirteen attributes, yielding multiple interpretations.
Understanding the meaning of these attributes according to the Kabbalistic tradition of the Zohar and Arizal provides for a slightly different division of the words in the verse.
This collection provides some background on the significance of the Yud Gimmel Midos HaRachamim and its mystical meaning.