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Articles by Daniel Travis
Strength to the Weary
Posted on November 3, 2026 By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate The morning blessings thank Hashem for many of the kindnesses that He bestows on us each day. Most of these blessings are enumerated in the Gemara, and have been recited for thousands of years. However, there is one that is of latter origin: “…Who gives strength to the weary.” This blessing is not mentioned in the Talmud, and was instituted latter by the Geonim.
Socks and Shoes • Torah.org
Posted on October 27, 2026 By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate Later on we say the two blessings of “Who clothes the naked” and “Who takes care of all of my needs.” Chazal tell us that the blessing of taking care of our needs refers to shoes. If we already thanked Hashem for clothing, why do we need an additional blessing for shoes? Walking around barefoot outside is painful and impractical.
The Meaning is Clear
By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Priceless Integrity | Level: Beginner At first Elokim (The Almighty) created the heavens and the earth. (Bereshith 1:1) God’s name “Elokim” appears in the plural grammatical form, which raises a basic question: does this form imply some sort of plurality about God even though it is a fundamental principle of Jewish faith that there is only one God, and He is a Being of indivisible unity?
Out of Order • Torah.org
Posted on October 20, 2026 By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate Getting out of bed in the morning is generally a two-step process. After we wake up, we stretch out on the bed in order to break the bonds of sleep from our muscles. We thank Hashem for this capability when reciting the blessing matir asurim, “Who frees the imprisoned.” After we have woken up sufficiently to get out of bed, we stand up and straighten ourselves.
Open Water - en eaux profondes [2004]
Prochaine(s) Diffusion(s) à la TV : - lundi 27 juillet 2026 à 15h12 (Ciné+ Frisson) Impatience Bientôt Pour oublier le stress de leur travail et pour enfin se retrouver, Susan et Daniel partent en vacances aux Bahamas. Tous les deux amateurs de plongée sous marine, ils s'inscrivent pour une sortie au large, sur la barrière de corail. Le temps est au beau fixe et le lieu est magnifique.
Nyílt tengeren - Viasat 3 TV műsor 2025. október 26. vasárnap 21:00
8,33 Amerikai kaland dráma horror (2004) Film adatlapja Valódi események ihlették: két búvár egy csoportos túra után véletlenül a cápákkal teli vizek közepén reked, miután a hajójuk már elment. kaland horror thriller dráma 2004 🕓 A Nyílt tengeren kezdéséig még 12 óra 4 perc van hátra. 2025. október 28. kedd 22:55 - 00:40 Nyílt tengerenAmerikai kaland dráma horror (2004) 2025. október 31. péntek 22:50 - 00:40 Nyílt tengerenAmerikai kaland dráma horror (2004) 2025. november 9.
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Purim
By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Priceless Integrity | Level: Beginner Reuven heard and determined to save [Yosef] from their hands. “Don’t spill blood…You can throw him into this pit in the desert and you won’t have to lay a hand on him.” His plan was to rescue [Yosef] and bring him back to his father. (Bereshith 37:21-22) Reuven tried to convince his brothers that he hated Yosef just as they did, and, like them, wanted him killed.
Personal Needs
Posted on August 14, 2024 By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate “It is forbidden for a person to attend to his personal needs before he prays to Hashem, as the verse in Tehillim [85,14] says, Tzedek [tefillah] shall go before him, before he sets forth on his ways'” (Berachos 14a). Why must tefillah precede taking care of one’s other needs? Any action that a person performs makes him susceptible to forgetting that Hashem is the true Source of success.
Burnt Offerings
By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Priceless Integrity | Level: Beginner The Almighty said, “Let us make adam (man) in our image and our likeness.” (Bereshith 1:26) The word “adam” is used again in Vayikra: “When an adam (man) sacrifices one of his animals to God….”1 Man is referred to here as “adam” to teach us that just as the first “adam” offered sacrifices to God only from his own property – for everything belonged to him – so all sacrifices should be taken from property belonging to the...
Taking Care of One's Needs before Tefillah
Posted on July 30, 2024 By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate In the late 1980s a massive monetary fraud took place, whose main perpetrator was Jewish. The news rocked the financial world, and many people were affected. Unfortunately, the actions of this non-observant Jew caused a great chillul Hashem. At about the same time Rav Moshe Feinstein passed away. Seemingly, the Jew involved with the financial scam and Rav Moshe were worlds apart.
Eternal Cycles
By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Priceless Integrity | Level: Beginner “And God created the two great lights, the sun to serve during the day and the moon to serve during the night…And God saw that what He created was good (tov).” (Bereshith 1:16, 18) Each month when the new moon first appears we must recite a blessing in which we proclaim that God is true, therefore His actions are true. How does the reappearance of the moon express the truth of God’s actions?
Depending on Hashem
Posted on July 16, 2024 By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate A strong cup of coffee replete with milk and sugar can rejuvenate a person from his morning drowsiness, invigorating him and enabling him to pray much more energetically and with much more concentration. Seemingly there is no greater preparation for prayer, than to drink coffee with milk and sugar beforehand. While this might be very true, it is worth bearing the following thought in mind.
Eternal Truth
By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Priceless Integrity | Level: Beginner God saw that the light was tov. (Bereshith 1:4) Following each stage of creation, the Torah states that God saw that it was “tov.” Although the literal translation of “tov” is “good,” here this word must be understood differently, for it is obvious that God in His omniscience knew, even prior to any creation, that His handiwork would be good. “Tov,” then, does not refer to “good” in its literal sense.
Coffee and Cake
Posted on July 4, 2024 By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate “After you acted with haughtiness by eating and drinking, you then accept the yoke of heaven on yourself!” (Berachos 10b) With these words, the Gemara teaches us that eating beforehand implies arrogance. Accordingly, one may drink water, which is not a sign of haughtiness (Shulchan Aruch 89,3). Many people drink coffee or tea in order to be more alert.
Lashon Hara
By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Priceless Integrity | Level: Beginner Dear Rabbi Travis, I really battle knowing what lashon hara is and what isn’t. If I need to get advice about a problem with another person, I need to inform them of the “bad” for them to be able to help advise, right? The way I’ve understood lashon hara so far is that any negative or positive is not to be said about anyone anytime? I would appreciate any explanation and help on this.
Hungry and Thirsty
Posted on June 17, 2024 By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate “Hunger and thirst are considered sickness. If a person can concentrate on tefillah before he eats, then he should do so. Otherwise he may eat before he prays” (Rambam, Tefillah 5,2). If a person is so hungry or thirsty that he cannot concentrate on his tefillah, his eating is for the sake of enabling him to pray.
Women and Children
Posted on June 4, 2024 By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate Women are obligated in prayer, and therefore are also included in the prohibition not to eat before they have “prayed for their blood.” However, even if they are accustomed to recite Shemoneh Esrei, they are permitted to eat after saying a short prayer that contains praise, request and thanks to Hashem.
Signs of Truth II
By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Priceless Integrity | Level: Beginner To Sarah he said, “I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. Let it be a kesuth einayim for you and for all who are with you, for all that has been done.” (Bereshith 20:16) The commentators search to find a reasonable explanation for the idiom kesuth einayim (literally “a covering for the eyes”). Some interpret its usage as referring to the fact that Avraham had proven that Sarah was indeed his sister.
Small Portions
Posted on May 20, 2024 By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate On Yom Kippur, if a person is sick and must eat, when possible he should have small amounts of food (shiurim). Since he is not consuming a satisfying quantity of food, he is not considered to have completely broken the fast. On other fast days Chazal did not obligate a sick person to consume smaller amounts of food. Some halachic authorities apply this concept to eating before prayer.
Health Reasons
Posted on May 8, 2024 By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate “You will be drawn after your body” (Melachim I 14,9). Chazal explain that the phrase “your body” (go’vechah) can also be read to mean “haughtiness” (ge’echah).
Practicing Sorcery
Posted on April 22, 2024 By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate “You should not eat on blood” (Vayikra 19,26). Rashi explains that this verse alludes to the prohibition of eating sacrifices before their blood has been sprinkled on the altar, as well as eating an animal before it dies (eiver min hachai). Chazal add that the Torah is also teaching us that a person should not eat before he has prayed to Hashem for his blood (Berachos 10b).
Fear Induced Lies
By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Priceless Integrity | Level: Beginner “As we told my lord [Yosef], we have an elderly father and a young [brother] who is a child of his old age. The boy’s brother is dead.” (Bereshith 44:20) Rashi explains that the brothers thought Yosef was alive – so much so that when they first came to Egypt they searched the city to see if they could find him. If so, how could Yehudah, the progenitor of the royal family of Israel, make a statement that was so obviously untrue?
Changing Places
Posted on April 3, 2024 By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate “When Rav Hamnuna would ascend from the river on erev Shabbos, he would lift up his eyes to see the angels of the weekday departing and the angels of Shabbos descending” (Zohar, Terumah 136b). The Arizal infers from this that it is a mitzvah for a man to im¬merse himself in a mikvah on erev Shabbos.
Hospitality
By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Priceless Integrity | Level: Beginner When Yaakov heard that there was food in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you put on an appearance [of being well stocked with provisions]?” (Bereshith 42:1) Yaakov rebuked his sons because their actions revealed to the evil children of Esav and Yishmael that they had ample provisions.1 Since Esav and Yishmael were their relatives, Yaakov feared that they would come ask him for food.
Taking a Shower
Posted on March 25, 2024 By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate In the times of the Gemara bathing was a major undertaking, and one could get heavily involved with it and miss the time of praying. As a result of this possibility, Chazal decreed that it was forbidden to enter a bathhouse before Minchah. However, bathing before the designated time for Shacharis was permitted (Shulchan Aruch 89,7).
Defamation
By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Priceless Integrity | Level: Beginner These are the chronicles of Yaakov: Yosef was 17 years old. As a lad, he would tend the sheep with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. Since his brothers [the sons of Leah] would make fun of them [the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah], Yosef brought his father a bad report about them [the children of Leah]. (Bereshith 37:2) Yosef would report to his father whatever shortcomings he saw in the sons of Leah.
Wash Your Mouth
Posted on March 8, 2024 By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate While sleeping at night bacteria develop in the mouth, which generally results in bad breath. Most people find bad breath particularly offensive, and in numerous places throughout the Gemara, Chazal warn us about eating foods that cause it.
Sales Talk
By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Priceless Integrity | Level: Beginner These [animals] he gave to his servant, each herd by itself.
Clean Feet
Posted on February 20, 2024 By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate The Rambam writes that a person should wash his face and his feet every day before prayer (Hilchos Tefillah 4,3). As with the halachah of washing one’s face, the Shulchan Aruch does not cite this ruling.
How's He Doing?
By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Priceless Integrity | Level: Beginner “Do you know Nachor’s grandson Lavan?” asked Yaakov. “We know him,” they replied. “HaShalom lo?” retorted Yaakov. “Shalom!” they responded, “and here is his daughter Rachel coming with the sheep.” (Bereshith 29:5-6) Although this appears to be merely an innocent conversation, much was happening behind the scenes in this dialogue.
A Sparkling Countenance
Posted on February 5, 2024 By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate During Shemoneh Esrei we come face to face with Hashem, and in respect to His grandeur, we should take every precaution that our presence is befitting while speaking to Him. A person’s face is literally the interface between himself and Hashem, and one should make sure that his appearance is fitting for this conversation.
Obviously False
By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Priceless Integrity | Level: Beginner Perhaps my father will touch me…. (Bereshith 27:12) It seems logical that Yaakov would not have wanted his father to touch him and so to discover his true identity, but the words of the verse do not support this supposition. If Yaakov did not wish to be caught lying, he should have used the word “pen” meaning lest [my father will touch me].
Washing before Prayer
Posted on January 23, 2024 By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate Before meeting with someone of great importance, a person will take every precaution to make sure that he is presentable. When there is even the slightest possibility of appearing offensive to the distinguished person they are speaking to, they will make sure to remedy that issue beforehand.
Washing for Bread
Posted on December 1, 2023 By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate The halachos of washing for bread are more stringent than washing netilas yadayim in the morning. When washing for bread, one must use a utensil and the person must pour the water on his hands (ko’ach gavra). Although one is not obligated to follow these practices for netilas yadayim in the morning, it is praiseworthy to do so (Rema 4,7).
For the Sake of Peace II
By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Priceless Integrity | Level: Beginner God said to Avraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I indeed have a child when I am so old?'” (Bereshith 18:13) As pointed out in the previous article, from this verse we derive that it is permitted to deviate from the facts for the sake of peace.1 Certainly if one can bring about peace in a different way, he is obligated to do so.
For the Sake of Peace
By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Priceless Integrity | Level: Beginner God said to Avraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I indeed have a child when I am so old?'” (Bereshith 18:13) In fact these were not Sarah’s words at all. She actually said, “My husband is old,” yet when God “quoted” her to Avraham, He told him that Sarah had said it was she who was old. Rashi explains that this teaches us that it is permissible to deviate somewhat from the facts in order to avoid harming relationships.
Kindness and Justice
Posted on September 4, 2023 By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate The halachah rules that one should wash his right hand first. The Zohar explains the deeper meaning of this practice. “A person should wash his right hand with his left, in order that the right [representing kindness] should overpower the left [representing justice]” (Vayeshev 184b).
Life Or Death II
By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Priceless Integrity | Level: Beginner “…That it will go well with me for your sake, and through your efforts my life will be spared.” (Bereshith 12:13) Here Avraham is requesting of Sarah that she claim to be his sister. The words “it will go well with me,” refer to nothing less than the saving of Avraham’s life, for one is not required to tell the truth if it could cause death (1).
Mitzvah or Aveirah
Posted on August 7, 2023 By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate In the previous section, we discussed the Zohar’s warnings of the great danger in leaving impurity on one’s hands. Therefore, one should try to wash off the impurity as quickly as possible. For this reason some people prepare water near their bedside.
Life Or Death
By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Priceless Integrity | Level: Beginner If you would say you are my sister… (Bereshith 12:13) The wording of this request is somewhat confusing. Avraham is asking Sarah to cooperate with him for safety’s sake; he seems to be coaching her regarding how she should respond to the Egyptian border guards.
Netilas Yadayim According to the Zohar
Posted on July 17, 2023 By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate The Zohar elucidates more on the nature of the impurity that rests on one’s hands each morning: “The secret of the mitzvah of netilas yadayim is as follows: There isn’t a person in this world who does not experience the taste of death each night. While a person is sleeping, his neshamah leaves his body, and a spirit of impurity rests on him.
Council
By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Priceless Integrity | Level: Beginner The Almighty said, “Let us make adam (man) in our image and our likeness.” (Bereshith 1:26) God said, “Let us make man” while consulting with His Heavenly Court.1 In fact, every Divine decision follows the same protocol. God will not declare a decision to be “emeth” until it has first been discussed with His Heavenly Court.2 God’s omniscience renders any advice useless. What can He be told that He does not already know?
Destroying Impurity
Posted on June 12, 2023 By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate Rav Avraham ben Avraham was born to a family of gentile aristocracy, yet he decided to relinquish his status and become a righteous convert. His family, who were very devout in their religious beliefs, ordered him to renounce his Jewish faith or be burned at the stake. Rav Avraham refused to compromise and chose to die al kiddush Hashem (sanctifying Hashem’s Name).
Accepting the Blame
By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Priceless Integrity | Level: Beginner God asked, “Who told you that you are naked? Did you eat from the tree which I commanded you not to eat?” Adam replied, “The woman that you gave to be with me – she gave me what I ate from the tree.” (Bereshith 3:11, 12) Instead of trying to cover up his guilt, Adam should have tried to repent by admitting his misdeed.
Barefoot before Hashem
Posted on May 22, 2023 By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate “Take your shoes off of your feet” (Shemos 3,5). Hashem commanded Moshe Rabbeinu to remove his footwear when he stood before the Shechinah. Similarly, we find that the kohanim served in the Beis Hamikdash with their feet uncovered. On the other hand, Chazal tell us, “It is disrespectful to uncover one’s feet in front of his master” (Chagigah 13b).
Praying in Pajamas
Posted on April 26, 2023 (5783) By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate During prayer a person stands before the King of kings and should be dressed appropriately for the occasion. In this vein, the halachah states that a person should not pray wearing pajamas. Even if one’s sleeping attire covers his entire body, addressing Hashem in pajamas is not appropriate (Mishnah Berurah 91,11). Someone who is sick in bed may pray wearing pajamas.
Insider Trading
By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Priceless Integrity | Level: Beginner “Remove every lamb that is spotted or streaked, and every sheep that has dark markings. Also remove every goat that is streaked or spotted, and they will serve as my pay.” …Yaakov took wands of fresh poplar, almond, and plane. He peeled white stripes in them by uncovering the white layer under the wands’ bark…The animals mated in the presence of the wands and the young they bore were ringed, spotted and streaked.
Petty Larceny
By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Priceless Integrity | Level: Beginner God said to Noach, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; the world is filled with crime because of them. I am going to destroy them with the earth.” (Bereshith 6:13) The Great Flood destroyed almost all life on earth because of theft. The items people stole were worth less than the value of a prutah – a very small sum of money indeed. They were items of such little value that a beith din would not even deal with their theft.
A Shatz Wearing Shorts
Posted on April 14, 2023 By Rabbi Daniel Travis | Series: Tefilah: Praying With Joy | Level: Intermediate I was once praying in an Ashkenazi shul in the United States. That morning, the person who had been chosen to be the shaliach tzibbur was wearing knee-length khaki shorts. The congregants in that particular shul were very liberal and accepting, and no one seemed to have a problem with his attire or lack thereof.
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