Today the 6th of Shevat , Jan. 13 in Jewish History

On this day, the 6th of Shevat, following a massacre of Jews in 1393, at Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain, an edict was issued guaranteeing the Jews protection. In just a few short years the protective decree was forgotten and in 1413 persecution of the Jews began again. By 1435, the Jewish community had been completely destroyed, with many Jews forcibly converted to Christianity. These forced converts retained Jewish practice in private, but they publicly boiled pork lard in large pots, as a way to appear non-Jewish.

A number of well-known rabbis and scholars from Catalonia and Provence dwelt on the island of Majorca. Among them were: Shem-Tov Falcon, who instituted there a number of ritual observances; Aaron ha-Kohen, who wrote his ritual code, "Orchot Chaim," at Majorca; Joseph Caspi, a well-known writer; Isaac ben Nathan, diligent translator from the Arabic; and the physicians Moses Rimos and Eleazar Ardot, the latter of whom was born on Majorca, as was also Simon ben Tsemach Duran.

Kosher Corner

People many times feel that in order to get really healthy Kosher Food, there is a need to compromise on the Kosher Standards. Now more than ever before this is not true, many Kosher and Healthy foods are available today, from cereals, honey, pasta and much more. Browse around online or in brick and mortar Health Food Stores and you will be surprised on how many Kosher Food products are available.

Judaica corner

More than any other Judaica product, when purchasing a Tallit one will find many different styles meeting many different budgets. We will go about and discover some of the many different Tallit options on the Judaica market.

We will start first with the more expensive Tallit brands and proceed down to the more cheaper Tallit brands. The Talitot by Yair Emanuel is known to be the most exquisite Tallit in the Tallit industry. Originating from Israel, this Yair Emanuel Tallit features cotton brands, silk brands and wool. People purchasing this Yair Emanuel Tallit are more from the Modern Orthodox Jewish people. The Ultra Orthodox Jewish people will purchase one of the more traditional Tallitot.

On the more traditional Tallit styles, we will inform our readers in tomorrows addition.