This morning the rabbi's short dvar Torah centered around affixing a mezuzah (לקבע מזוזה).
The Ashkenazim do it on a slant.
The Sefardim and Mizrachim do it straight up.
Mostly, but not always.
היקר The important thing is that there is a mezuzah
Likewise the tallit.
Moroccan tradition - and I'm sure others - hold that the blessing on the tallit is recited and then the tallit is let fully out and placed over the head and down the back.
Some men, with a tradition other than Moroccan (not everyone can be so fortunate) fold the tallit in half or thirds, say the blessing and then drape the tallit over their head and shoulders for a moment before allowing it to fall open.
Some tzittzit are tied with 10+5+6+5 knots (representing one HaShem's names); others are tied with different combinations.
היקר - the important thing is that they don the tallit.
Ditto tefillin.
Aside from the Rashi-Tam issue - a Rashi-Tam issue allegedly is the reason the Ashkenazim slant their mezuzot; Rashi followed Sefardi tradition, Tam wanted the mezuzah to be horizontal, so to accommodate both grandfather and grandson, they affix the mezuzah on the slant - there are a multitude of correct ways to "lay" the hand tefillin.
But, היקר, the important thing is that tefillin are worn.
There also is debate about the head tefillin.
Are both hand and head tefillin necessary? Yes, unless for some reason one or the other cannot be worn - as examples, a bandaged head or the tefillin arm in a cast. In either case, whichever tefillin can be worn should be worn.
There is a debate among Sefardi and Mizrachi rabbis about when to say the blessings over the Shabat candles. Hakham Shalom Messas said to light, cover the eyes, then uncover the eyes and bless the Shabat lights. The late R. Ovadia Yosef said bless and then light on the theory that blessings should proceed actions.
היקר that the Shabat candles are lit.
There are supposed to be 613 commandments - things we are to do and things we are to avoid doing. (I've never counted them, but the rabbis say …)
Can anyone comply with all 613 mitzvot (commandments)? Impossible,
Even if you live in Israel it's impossible.
Some commandments are for cohenim (priests) only; some for levi'im only.
Some only can be performed by a man; others only by a woman. (Some can be performed by either in the absence of the other, e.g. Shabat and Hanukah candles.)
היקר - the important thing is that each of us try to perform as many mitzvot as we are able, and when we can, to add to the number.
I have seen a number of Jews who decided to "become religious." In their enthusiasm they try to take on all the mitzvoth at once.
Then they find out that it's too big a load for a novice to handle.
היקר, the important thing is that they start with mitzvot they can manage. Maybe walk to and from services on Shabat morning, but still do other things they did before. It's tough for smokers - I know, I used to be one - but seeing that tobacco can be avoided for 25 hours, after a few Shabatot maybe it can be avoided for two then three then … days in a row until the smoker is a former smoker. (Caveat: That does NOT mean there won't be an occasional desire to smoke, but consider the health and financial benefits gained by not smoking.) Friday night candles and kiddish Friday night and Shabat. Bless the children. No, it doesn't have to be in Hebrew.
For what it's worth, this scrivener thinks Bet Shamai was correct more often than not, but I think even R. Shamai himself would agree that in the end.
היקר, the important thing is to perform the mitzvoth according to your tradition.
היקר
