Last month, the ninth grade boys of Magen David Yeshivah High School learned about the most important mitzvah of tzitzit. Rabbi Elinatan Bitton asked one of the students, Joseph Beyda, if his father could send the boys some pairs of his awesome 2xist cotton V-neck tzitzit. The very next day Joseph came in with plenty of tzitzit for the boys in the class. They were all so eager and excited to put them on and commit to wearing them daily!
Rabbi Bitton and his class were so appreciative and thanked Mr. and Mrs. Ralph and Jodi Beyda for their generous mitzvah gift. Of course, they thanked Joseph Beyda as well for bringing them to class!
Historic Release of Dirshu “Sefer Hamafteiach” a Groundbreaking Index on the Entire Mishnah Berurah
The word “historic” is a word that is overused in our times, but in this case, the word historic is truly applicable and is possibly even an understatement. Dirshu’s new Sefer Hamafteiach on the Mishnah Berurah is a historic breakthrough in the world of halacha and will open the Mishnah Berurah to Klal Yisrael in an unprecedented way.
As its name implies, the Sefer Hamafteiach on the Mishnah Berurah is a comprehensive index on the entire six volumes of the Mishnah Berurah, Mahaduras Dirshu. The 700-page sefer contains more than 6,000 categories and exceeds 30,000 subcategories!
When a person needs to find where a certain topic is discussed by the Mishnah Berurah or subsequent poskim brought in the Biurim u’Musafim portion of the Mahaduras Dirshu Mishnah Berurah, all one has to do is open the Sefer Hamafteiach and look for the topic. Topics are listed
in alphabetical order and every topic delineates each time the Mishnah Berurah addresses the topic or cross-references it in all six volumes of the Mishnah Berurah.
The prominent Sephardic posek from Eretz Yisrael, HaGaon Harav Messoud Ben Shimon, shlita, put it most succinctly when he remarked, “As new mutations and plagues are spreading, you’re spreading the Mishnah Berurah! You have no idea how much joy this Sefer Hamafteiach brings me, because it opens up the Mishnah Berurah, a sefer that is the aleph bet for each Jew!”
Indeed, now that the Sefer Hamafteiach is available in seforim stores everywhere, anyone who will pick up the remarkable Sefer Hamafteiach and begins to enjoy the tremendous benefit that it provides will echo the words of HaGaon HaRav Avrohom Ausband, shlita, who could not contain his amazement upon seeing the sefer, “What a to’eles! What a zikui harrabim!”
New Kol Yaakob Hebrew/English Siddur by Sephardic Heritage Foundation
The Kol Yaakob siddur’s clarity, ease of usage, and adherence to our sacred minhagim are just a few reasons why it is one of the most popular siddurs used by Syrian communities worldwide. The Sephardic Heritage Foundation is proud to have had the honor of publishing the Kol Yaakob siddur continuously for the past five decades.
Sephardic Heritage Foundation is proud to announce the publication of a new Hebrew/English version of the Kol Yaakob Siddur. In collaboration with Koren Jerusalem Publishers, they are presenting this beautiful publication to the community. Koren is well known to be one of the leading Judaica publishers in the world, developing top of the line and easy to use publications. Sephardic Heritage Foundation has worked together with Koren on the siddur which highlights the traditional Kol Yaakob nosah with English translation and commentary by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, a”h.
The new siddur is now available in all community bookstores. The retail price is $34.99. For large quantity sales to synagogues, please contact scohen@sephardicheritage.com.