Archives for August 2023

Probably the single most characteristically mekori'ist position is that modern tefilin, mezuzot and sifrei Torah are no good, or at the very least extremely inferior, because the klaf they are made from isn't properly tanned with afaztim (gall nuts), indeed hasn't been tanned at all. Modern klaf is actually parchment and thus doesn't meet the gemara's strict requirements, which are הלכה למשה מסיני. One reason this position is considered such a no-brainer for the Jewish Originalist is that …

[Read more...] about Reactionary arguments for normie tefillin

In previous posts, I have argued that (i) not only is it impossible to arbitrate disagreements about what constitutes the perfect version of Nusah Eretz Yisrael, there is no need to attempt to do so, since each congregation can make use of modern digital tools and printing facilities to create 'good enough' texts for specific days that can be shared and modified by others, and (ii) that the priority for improving communal prayer is neither finding the ideal combination of words nor per se making …

[Read more...] about A prototype modular NEY Siddur

Why go to schul? According to Rambam, the answer is obvious: תְּפִלַּת הַצִּבּוּר נִשְׁמַעַת תָּמִיד וַאֲפִלּוּ הָיוּ בָּהֶן חוֹטְאִים אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מוֹאֵס בִּתְפִלָּתָן שֶׁל רַבִּים. לְפִיכָךְ צָרִיךְ אָדָם לְשַׁתֵּף עַצְמוֹ עִם הַצִּבּוּר. וְלֹא יִתְפַּלֵּל בְּיָחִיד כָּל זְמַן שֶׁיָּכוֹל לְהִתְפַּלֵּל עִם הַצִּבּוּר. וּלְעוֹלָם יַשְׁכִּים אָדָם וְיַעֲרִיב לְבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת שֶׁאֵין תְּפִלָּתוֹ נִשְׁמַעַת בְּכָל עֵת אֶלָּא בְּבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת. וְכָל מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ בֵּית …

[Read more...] about Making schul good: A roadmap to תפילה בציבור