Raif Melhado

Here is the tweaked link to the Habdalah practices: http://www.ketershemtob.com/representationalhabdalah.htmlAt issue was a very small handful of words that appeared to frame these practices in a negative light. In two of the cases I agreed that more neutral alternatives existed that better reflected Gaguine's intent, and in the other two I stood behind my first attempt and left them unchanged.Th...

Shalom KST Lovers. I recently posted a link to a translation of Gaguine's treatment of some practices at Habdalah, and was very distressed to learn that my English gave the impression of negativity towards those practices. I have taken down the post, and will re-post it when this has been fixed.

Declaring the Hurban after Ekhah:

Enjoy this never-before-published biography of the Gaguine family from an anonymous manuscript (1932):http://www.ketershemtob.com/shemtobgaguinebioanonymous.html

Customs of the Tallet

I really liked guest speaker Rev. Salomon Vaz Dias's class for the Keter Shem Tob group last Thursday! The written version of his presentation is available at http://www.ketershemtob.com/classes.html

Settle a dispute: the feminized version of Hazak Ubarukh is...A. Hizeki UbrukhahB. Hazakah Ubrukhah

Enjoy Ben Shefter's shingur on the Ngabodah of Kippur and its description of the Kohen Gadol emerging from the Holy of Holies http://www.ketershemtob.com/classes.html

From this point on in the year, we have to forge ahead of the holiday cycle in the Keter Shem Tob haburah in order to hit all of the holidays at least once by June.In that spirit, enjoy this post on the mourning practices surrounding the Sefer Torah on the morning of Tishnga BeAb:http://www.ketershemtob.com/tishgnabeabmourningritual.html

Carrying lumps of salt during the Ngomer, and other salt superstitions:

Gaguine on Shabungot: why stay up all night?

Yarden Soffer gave a great class on why we have seder at night as opposed to during the day: http://www.ketershemtob.com/classes.html

Saying Hallel in synagogue on the first two nights of Pesah http://www.ketershemtob.com/pesahhallelnight.html

Taking out two Sefarim for the Pesah Torah reading and on other special occasions: http://www.ketershemtob.com/multiplesefarim.html

We're "sandwiching" two classes into one week! The first, taught yesterday, is on the meaning of Korekh in a post-Bet HaMikdash world.www.ketershemtob.com/classes

Etymology of the word "Haroset"

Where did the Kadesh Urhats poem come from? Why is it there? What about the other versions?http://www.ketershemtob.com/classes.html

Launching the first of four weeks that we'll be spending on Keter Shem Tob's writings about Pesah.Opening salvo - the order of the Seder Plate: http://www.ketershemtob.com/kengarahorder.html

Ben Elton gave a great class today on the mahloket Ashkenaz-Sepharad about whether to say SheHeheyanu for the Megillah reading by day.http://www.ketershemtob.com/classes.html

Traditions of which verses in the Megillah are recited by the congregation, and why:

Ben Shefter taught a great class today on the subject of drinking on Purim!http://www.ketershemtob.com/classes.html

Gaguine clearly seems to have disliked masquerading on Purim:http://www.ketershemtob.com/purimmasquerading.htmlAlso, I'm excited to say that the recorded classes will resume starting tomorrow!

The many faces of Barukh SheAmar

The surprising case of Mishnah Pe'ah 1:1

Gaguine's interesting remarks on the Kedushah of Shabbat Musaf: