Raif Melhado

Oldies but goodies:

This explanation of the author of Kadesh Urhats starts with a very sweet description of Erets Yisraeli Passover family life around the turn of the last century:

Back to the original question: Rabbi Gaguine on the order of the seder plate

Rabbi Gaguine weighs in on using lettuce versus horseradish for Maror. http://www.ketershemtob.com/marorlettucekhreyn.html While he wears his heart on his sleeve, please keep the comments polite :)

The Megillah verses that are read first by the congregation: http://www.ketershemtob.com/congregationalpesukimmegillah.html

Ben Shefter's class on zimun at birkat hamazon (12.03.13) is now available at http://www.ketershemtob.com/classes.html

Keter Shem Tob's remarks on the Mi Khamokha: http://www.ketershemtob.com/purimmizmorim.html...with hakarat hatob to Jonathan Cohen for the explanatory hyperlink!

Here's an "oldie" from a few months ago: breaking through the hype about "Thanksgivukkah" and the year 81056. KST shiur from 11.21.2013http://www.ketershemtob.com/classes.html

Rev. David A. J. Cardozo's short biography of Rabbi Gaguine is now available at

Recording of a class by Yarden Soffer on 11.12.13 -- nefilat apayim with/without a Sefer Torah: http://www.ketershemtob.com/classes.html

Here's section three of Haham Gaguine's "Mabo," which is the last of the parts I did in Detroit. It's an overview of 12 moments in history in which Judaism experienced sectarian divisions:http://www.ketershemtob.com/mabopart3.html

Section two is probably the most "fighting words" part of Haham Gaguine's "Mabo," which I began to translate while stuck in the Detroit airport recently. While he does not dwell on it for more than two paragraphs, he makes his opinion of Reform Judaism quite clear:http://www.ketershemtob.com/mabopart2.htmlSection three is about other Jewish sects in history, while the rest of the Mabo focuses mor...

While stuck in the Detriot airport recently, I began to translate the Preface to volume 3 of Keter Shem Tob, which offers a glimpse into Haham Gaguine's religious philosophy. Since I am pretty short on time this academic year, it could be quite while before I get the whole thing up, but I've started with section 1:

Shalom KSTers!Although I have been a bit swamped lately and haven't edited or posted our recordings, we have been doing a class each week this past zeman. As I play catch-up, I plan to post the recordings over the next few weeks.Next on the docket: Joel Dinin's class from 11.06.13 on the Kedushah, and variant customs for who says what when, and why: http://www.ketershemtob.com/classes.html

HELP ME, FELLOW SEPHARDIM!!I am writing a paper for which I could really use a copy of the following book:"Historical record of the Withington Congregation of Spanish and Portuguese Jews; 5664-5689, 1904-1929." By Joseph Pereira-Mendoza.If anyone could lend, sell, or scan it to me I would be extremely grateful!

Here is Dr. Ben Elton's class on the number of words in Keri'at Shemang and the interesting debate over repeating "ה' אלקיכם אמת" (Class 26 - 10.29.13)

Bidding a very warm welcome to Gabriel Seed, a bright new student at YCT and an enthusiastic addition to the KST Haburah! He taught an interesting class on 10/24/13 about the Psalm 30 and its relatively late presence in the daily Shaharit service.http://www.ketershemtob.com/classes.html

The next Keter Shem Tob class is now available at http://www.ketershemtob.com/classes.htmlTopic: using Tefillin as a launch point to explore conflicts between Talmud and Kabbalah

I have posted our first class of the year taught by Ben Shefter (Session 23 - 10.10.13). All about the Psalm of the Day:http://www.ketershemtob.com/classes.html

Well, it's been just over a year of www.ketershemtob.com So far, we've had over 10,000 page views from 2,300 unique users in 32 countries.With gratitude to God, Haham Gaguine, and the many living people and institutions that have helped me make it happen, I look forward to another year of learning this great work together!!!

Etymology of the word "tefillin," translated in honor of the investiture of Rabbi Richard Hidary, which took place this past Shabbat at Shearith Israel.http://www.ketershemtob.com/tefillinetymology.htmlRabbi Hidary's inaugural talk was about Haham Gaguine's eldest son Rabbi Maurice Gaguine, who was Rabbi Hidary's great-uncle by marriage. He led with the description of Maurice's Yom HaTefillin in V...

Ngi'd say this is a great ngarticle on ngyain:http://forward.com/articles/105938/umuntu-ngumuntu-ngabantu/

Haham Gaguine really "made waves" with this post on Lulab during Hallel:

Divergent views on what to read on Friday night when Kippur falls on Shabbat:

The great debate over the timing of Selihot: