Keter Shem Tob
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Selections from Keter Shem Tob on this Site

In academic year 2012 - 2013, we will post selected readings from Gaguine's work once a week as a support for our classes.  The idea is to touch upon something from each of the holidays throughout the Jewish year, as well as some material from Shabbat, weekdays, and lifecycles.

The Hebrew side of each page is a verbatim quote of the original text, with the only exception being that some punctuation has been altered at the end of paragraphs because of the limitations of our web software.  Rabbi Gaguine's contemporary corrigenda to Vols. I and II are hyperlinked to the corrigenda page, while original errors that do not appear there have been left as-is.

The English side is a modern translation by our webmaster, Raif Melhado.  His philosophy of translation is to follow the Hebrew vocabulary and syntax as a general rule, but to use English phraseology, idioms, transition words, etc. when an overly literal translation would impede comprehension.  Minor contextual additions that bring out Gaguine's obvious intent appear without bracketing, while major additions of this nature appear [in square brackets].


Shabbat

  • Saying Kiddush in Synagogue
  • Blessing the congregation before reading Torah
  • Poem for remembering the Seder Haparashiyot
  • Reading Haftarot from printed texts versus Kelaf
  • The Kedushah of Keter at Musaf
  • Special verses at Minha on Shabbat in the London tradition
  • Representational practices at Habdala

Weekdays

  • Customs of Tallet in London and Amsterdam
  • Etymology of the word "Tefillin"
  • The surprising case of Mishna Pe'a 1:1
  • Liturgical variants of Barukh She'amar
  • Covering the Torah text during the first blessing

Lifecycles

  • Customs of Bar Mitsva, especially with regard to Tefillin
  • When to read the Ketubba at weddings
  • Changing the name of a very sick person

Rosh Hashana

  • Public urging to repent
  • Selihot at Ngarbit during Elul
  • Azharot on the Shabbat before Rosh Hashana
  • Sending portions to the poor on Ngereb Rosh Hashana
  • Rosh Hashana, Kippur, and Yetsi'at Mitsrayim


Kippur

  • Asking forgiveness on Ngereb Kippur
  • Kabbalat Shabbat when Kippur falls on Shabbat
  • Blessing the Hatanim at Kal Nidre

Sukkot

  • Decorating the Sukka with wall hangings and fruits
  • The number and location of the wavings at Hallel
  • Sealing our Judgement: Kippur vs. Hoshangana Rabba

Hanukka

  • The text of the Hanukka blessings
  • Lighting the Hanukka in synagogue
  • Torah reading on the first day of Hanukka

Purim

  • Mizmorim for Purim and Shabbat Zakhor
  • Masquerading on Purim
  • Megilla verses recited by the congregation

Pesah

  • Order of the Seder Plate
  • Family fun with the Kadesh Urhats, and the poem's author
  • Variant texts of Ha Lahma
  • Etymology of the word "Haroset"
  • Vegetables that count as Maror
  • Taking out multiple Sifre Torah on special occasions
  • Reading Hallel in synagogue on the first nights of Pesah

Ngomer and Shabungot

  • Salt superstitions from the Ngomer and beyond
  • Abstaining from weddings and haircuts during the Ngomer
  • Staying up on the night of Shabungot
  • Bedecking the synagogue with flowers

Tishnga Be'ab

  • Manner of Sitting on Tishnga Be'ab
  • Traditions of mourning: from the Sefer and beyond
  • Kaddish Dehu Ngatid
  • Declaring the Hurban
  • Blowing the Sofar on Motsa'e Tishnga Be'ab