Rabbi Triebitz gave shiur about the minhag in Chutz la’Aretz of saying Baruch Hashem Le-Olam, Yiru Eineinu and half kaddish (the last one is also said in Israel) between the blessings of Shema and the Amida. He discusses a historical overview of the evolution of this minhag, based on Tosefot 4b ‘de-Amar Rabbi Yochanan’, Rosh and Talmidei Rabbeinu Yonah (in the back of the Gemara).

It seems that this minhag arose in the time of the Gaonim, and seemingly contradicts the Talmud. Rabbi Triebitz discusses the authority of the Talmud, and how minhag interacts with Chazal.

Please contact me if you would like to attend the shiurim in person. They are held in Jerusalem on Mondays from 5:30-6:30. Please e-mail me to find out where the secret location is.

You can watch and download the shiurim below. As always please send any comments, thoughts, ideas or criticisms to admin at hashkafacircle.com

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Video of shiur 7

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In this shiur Rabbi Meir Triebitz focusses on Tosefot Berachos 4b which discusses the prohibition of eating before saying Shema or davening Maariv.

Magen Avraham on Orech Chaim 235 says that this prohibition only applies to eating a meal, but having a snack is permitted.

Rabbi Akiva Eiger (commentary on Mishna Berachos 1:1) claims that Tosefot prohibit any kind of eating before davening Maariv.

Rabbi Triebitz quotes Rabbi Elezer Moshe HaLevi Horowitz (printed in the end of the Talmud) who asks one of Rabbi Akiva Eiger’s questions and gives a different answer, which permits eating a snack before Maariv.

Rabbi Triebitz concludes with p’sak halacha l’maaseh based on Mahari Weil cited in Magen Avraham Orech Chaim 232:8

[Next week Rabbi Triebitz will speak about the minhag in Chutz la’Aretz of saying Baruch Hashem Le-Olam between the blessings of Shema and the Amida. Also the custom of saying a half kaddish in Israel. If you want to prepare for the shiur look at Tosefot 4b ‘de-Amar Rabbi Yochanan’, Rosh and Rabbeinu Yonah].

Please contact me if you would like to attend the shiurim in person. They are held in Jerusalem on Mondays from 5:30-6:30. Please e-mail me to find out where the secret location is.

You can watch and download the shiurim below. As always please send any comments, thoughts, ideas or criticisms to admin at hashkafacircle.com

[flv:/sources/soh_06.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 6

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Sources of Halacha 06
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Source of Halacha 06

Rabbi Triebitz moves on to the next part of the Talmud Berachos 2a, and Rabban Gamliel’s children. Do Chachamim agree with Rabban Gamliel, or disagree? Is there a Rabbinic prohibition to read Shema after midnight, or is the fence only l’chatichila?

Rambam Hilchos Kerias Shema 1:10 is quoted by the Shulchan Aruch. The Vilna Gaon in his commentary on Shulchan Aruch claims that the source of Rambam is the Yerushalmi. Rabbi Triebitz shows that this cannot be the case, and finds the real source of Rambam’s halacha.

Please contact me if you would like to attend the shiurim in person. They are held in Jerusalem on Mondays from 5:30-6:30. Please e-mail me to find out where the secret location is.

You can watch and download the shiurim below. As always please send any comments, thoughts, ideas or criticisms to admin at hashkafacircle.com

[flv:/sources/soh_05.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 5

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Sources of Halacha 05
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Source of Halacha 05

Rabbi Triebitz learns through the opinions of Rav Hai Gaon (in the Rosh) and Rabbeinu Yonah. He then looks at how Rav Yosef Karo learns the sources in the Beis Yosef (Orech Chaim 235). He then looks at the Shulchan Aruch (Orech Chaim 235) and the commentaries there.

Rav Triebitz discusses the commentary of the Vilna Gaon on Shulchan Aruch (ibid), which locates the source of the Shulchan Aruch in Chazal. He has a unique way of learning the sources that we have looked at so far.

Finally, there is a book of the customs and halachos of the Vilna Gaon called Maaseh Rav (in siman 65) which shows the Gaon’s opinion l’maaseh.

Please contact me if you would like to attend the shiurim in person. They are held in Jerusalem on Mondays from 5:30-6:30. Please e-mail me to find out where the secret location is.

You can watch and download the shiurim below. As always please send any comments, thoughts, ideas or criticisms to admin at hashkafacircle.com

[flv:/sources/soh_04.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 4

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Sources of Halacha 04
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Source of Halacha 04