The Maimonides Minute

In preparation for Yom Kippur, we’re rereleasing our series on Hilchot Teshuva – the Laws of Repentance – that was first produced last year. We’re consolidating them into five episodes; this is the second. (The Maimonides Minute will also be releasing new episodes this week, as well.)

Jewish law makes a distinction between melacha - forbidden labor - on Shabbat and Yom Kippur, versus other holidays ("yom tov"). Are there any differences between the rules of melacha on Shabbat and on Yom Kippur?

In preparation for Yom Kippur, we're rereleasing our series on Hilchot Teshuva - the Laws of Repentance - that was first produced last year. We're consolidating them into five episodes; this is the first. (The Maimonides Minute will also be releasing new episodes this week, as well.)

In this special edition of the Maimonides Minute Podcast, Rabbi Scott Kahn gives a comprehensive shiur about the laws of Tekiat Shofar.

Shana tova, ketiva v'chatima tova!

Is a sukkah without a roof kosher? What about a round sukkah, or a sukkah built inside a Roman portico?

May you use trees as the walls of a sukkah? Is a sukkah on a boat or wagon acceptable? How about a sukkah that is a treehouse, or on the back of an animal?

How can a sukkah with two parallel walls become kosher if you don't have a full third wall? What if the walls are suspended in the air and don't reach the ground - or are on the ground but don't reach the top?

What are the minimum and maximum dimensions of a sukkah? How many walls does it require?

How should the congregation combine the shofar blasts with the unique berachot of musaf of Rosh Hashanah?

While individuals have an obligation to hear nine shofar blasts on Rosh Hashanah, the congregation must hear the shofar in tandem with the special berachot of the Rosh Hashanah musaf. How is this done? What are the rules for these three unique berachot?