Preparing ourselves to pray

26th of Tebet, 5770

The Amida is the most important prayer. It is said every day, three times a day, morning, afternoon, and evening.
In preparation for the Amida we have to visualize that we are in front of the King of Kings. This is one of the reasons we say the Amida facing Jerusalem. Because it is in Yerushalaim where the divine presence dwells.
The name of this prayer Amida means “standing” because in the Jewish the protocol a servant stands in front of his King, hisfeet firmly together and bowing down his head a little. (For the same reason, some people would also place their hands on the middle of the chest, the right hand holding the left closed fist). Strictly speaking, Amida means: standing at Your service/waiting for Your command.
Normally, you should hold a Siddur in your hands and read the Amida, word by word from it. However, if you know the Amida by heart, you should close your eyes to better concentrate in the words that you're saying.
The Amida is said quietly, so low no one else could hear your words, so loud you could hear your own whispering.

Lending money and paying back (Part 1)

25th of Tebet, 5770

One of the 613 Mitzvot is lending money, without interest, to a fellow Jew who needs it. Helping a needy person through a free loan is the highest form of Tzedaka. However, harassing a needy person into paying back the loan when one knows he/she lacks the money at the moment is a very grave transgression.

ILLUSTRATION: David, knowing that Josh’s business is in the verge of insolvency, offers to lend him the $10k needed to keep afloat. “You’ll pay me when things get better again” said David to Josh.

David has just fulfilled a great Mitzva. Not only did David help a fellow Jew financially, but he did this without affecting Josh’s dignity. In fact, he prevented Josh from getting to the point that he would need to ask for financial help.
As long as David knows that Josh cannot yet repay the loan, he is forbidden from harassing Josh. The Halakha is that David cannot even “inadvertently” pass by Josh’s place in order to remind him of the loan, if David knows that Josh doesn’t yet have the money.
On the other hand, Josh is forbidden from withholding payment longer than necessary. In other words, if Josh does have the money, it is forbidden for him to unduly delay paying back David.

Checking the Mezuzah

15th of Tebet, 5770

A Mezuzah must be examined at least twice every seven years. Temperature and weather changes, as well as age, may cause the ink to fade and crack, thereby invalidating the Mezuzah.

If a mistake is found, the Mezuzah cannot be fixed. In other words, if even one letter is missing, written in the wrong way or corrupted (by humidity, mold, etc) it cannot be added or written back. The Mezuzah needs to be replaced.

If you change your Mezuzah or even affix your old Mezuzah back after it has been examined, you have to say the Berakha again … LIKBOA MEZUZAH.

If you have one or two Mezuzot to check, you could ask your rabbi to check them for you. If you have more than that, it is recommended to send them to a professional scribe.

Recommended Link: http://www.learn613.com/mezuzah.pdf
Watch Checking Mezuzot (0:34) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKXA-ymV-4I