Everything you wished someone had explained.

What

A small parchment scroll, handwritten by a trained scribe, containing the first two paragraphs of the Shema (Devarim 6:4–9 and 11:13–21). It is placed on the doorposts of a Jewish home.

Why

“You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Every time you walk through the door, you pass by the words “Hashem is One.”

How

1. Buy a kosher scroll from a reliable seller — the case alone is not the mitzvah.
2. Place it on the right side of the doorway as you walk in.
3. Put it at the bottom of the top third of the doorpost.
4. Ashkenazim tilt the top toward the room; Sephardim hang it straight up.
5. Say the blessing, then attach it.

Say

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who made us holy with His commandments and commanded us to affix a mezuzah.

Tip

Have the scrolls checked by a scribe twice every seven years.

What

The central declaration of Jewish faith, said morning and night, and again at bedtime.

Why

“And you shall speak of them… when you lie down and when you rise up.” It is how a Jew begins and ends the day: by remembering Who is One.

How

1. Cover your eyes with your right hand.
2. Say slowly: “Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.”
3. Then quietly: “Blessed is the name of His glorious kingdom forever and ever.”
4. If you can, continue with the paragraph “And you shall love the Lord your God…”
5. Say it once in the morning and once at night.

Say

Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.

Tip

Any siddur has the full text with an English translation.

What

Two black leather boxes with straps, containing handwritten Torah passages — one worn on the arm facing the heart, one on the head.

Why

“Bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as a reminder between your eyes.” Heart and mind, bound to Hashem at the start of the day.

How

1. Worn by men from bar mitzvah, on weekday mornings (not on Shabbat or major holidays).
2. Arm first: on the weaker arm, on the upper arm facing the heart. Say the blessing and tighten.
3. Wrap the strap seven times around the forearm.
4. Head: the box above the hairline, centered, knot at the back of the head.
5. Finish wrapping the hand strap around the middle finger and hand.
6. Say the Shema while wearing them.

Say

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who made us holy with His commandments and commanded us to put on tefillin.

Tip

Customs differ on the intermediate days of festivals. Any shul or Chabad House will gladly help you put them on the first time.

What

The seventh day — from sunset Friday to nightfall Saturday — set apart from work for rest, family, prayer and Torah.

Why

“Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” Once a week we stop creating and remember Who created.

How

1. Friday before sunset (most light 18 minutes before): light at least two candles, cover your eyes, say the blessing.
2. At dinner, say Kiddush over a cup of wine or grape juice.
3. Wash hands, then bless two loaves of challah.
4. Put the phone away. Eat together, sing, talk.
5. Saturday night, end Shabbat with Havdalah: wine, spices, and a braided candle.

Say

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who made us holy with His commandments and commanded us to light the Shabbat candle.

Tip

Start with one piece — candles, or one phone-free dinner — and add from there.

What

A short sentence of thanks said before eating or drinking, and after a meal.

Why

The Talmud teaches that enjoying this world without a blessing is like taking from something holy. A blessing turns eating into an act of awareness.

How

1. Bread: “…who brings forth bread from the earth.”
2. Cake, pasta and grain foods: “…who creates kinds of nourishment.”
3. Wine and grape juice: “…who creates the fruit of the vine.”
4. Fruit from trees: “…who creates the fruit of the tree.”
5. Vegetables: “…who creates the fruit of the earth.”
6. Everything else: “…by whose word all things came to be.”

Say

Every blessing begins: “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe…”

Tip

Grace after meals is said after eating bread; shorter blessings follow other foods. A siddur has them all.

What

A fixed time every day for Jewish learning — even five or ten minutes.

Why

“This book of the Torah shall not depart from your mouth… day and night.” And from Pirkei Avot 1:15: make your Torah learning a fixed practice.

How

1. Pick one time — with coffee, on the commute, before bed.
2. Pick one thing: the weekly Torah portion, a chapter of Tehillim, or a short section of Tanya.
3. Keep it small enough that you never skip it.
4. Learn with a friend or a spouse when you can.
5. Come on Wednesday nights and bring your questions.

Say

Before learning: “Blessed are You… who commanded us to engage in the words of Torah.”

Tip

Our daily teaching email is built to fit in ten minutes.

What

Giving to people in need and to Torah causes. The word means justice, not charity — it is what we owe.

Why

“Great is tzedakah, for it brings the redemption near.”

How

1. Keep a tzedakah box at home, where you will see it.
2. Put in a coin every weekday morning, and before lighting Shabbat candles.
3. Many give a tenth of their income, a custom called maaser.
4. The Rambam’s highest level: helping someone become self-sufficient (Matnot Aniyim 10:7).
5. Give with a kind face — how you give matters too.

Say

No blessing is said for this one.

Tip

Children love to drop the coin in. Let them.

What

A seven-day festival of living in a sukkah and taking the Four Kinds: an etrog (citron), a palm branch, three myrtle branches and two willow branches.

Why

“You shall take for yourselves on the first day… and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God.” The festival of joy — and of the Water-Drawing in the Temple.

How

1. Hold the palm, myrtles and willows together in your right hand, the etrog in your left, upside down.
2. Say the blessing (and on the first day, “who has kept us alive”).
3. Turn the etrog right side up and bring it next to the others.
4. Shake gently in six directions: forward, right, back, left, up, down.
5. Not on Shabbat. Eat your meals in the sukkah and say its blessing.

Say

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who made us holy with His commandments and commanded us to take the palm branch.

Tip

This year Hoshana Rabbah is Friday, Oct 2; Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah follow, Oct 3–4.

What

A blessing over a cup of wine or grape juice that welcomes Shabbat (and holidays), said Friday night and again at the Shabbat day meal.

Why

“Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” The Sages taught: remember it over wine (Pesachim 106a). We open Shabbat by declaring that Hashem created the world.

How

1. Fill a cup with wine or grape juice — at least about 3.3 oz (a revi’it).
2. Hold it and say the Friday night Kiddush from a siddur (it begins “And the heavens and the earth were finished…”).
3. Say the blessing on the wine, then the blessing of Shabbat.
4. Drink most of a cheekful; pass the rest around.
5. Then wash hands and bless the challah.

Say

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Tip

Customs differ on standing or sitting. Grape juice works perfectly.

What

A short ceremony on Saturday night that separates Shabbat from the new week, with wine, fragrant spices and a braided candle.

Why

The Talmud teaches that the Men of the Great Assembly established Havdalah (Berachot 33a). We end Shabbat the way we began it: with a cup, and with awareness.

How

1. Wait until nightfall Saturday — three stars in the sky (check a local calendar).
2. Light a braided candle (or two wicks held together).
3. Bless the wine, then the spices, and smell them.
4. Bless the fire, and look at the light on your fingernails.
5. Say the final blessing, drink, and put out the candle in a little wine.

Say

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who separates between holy and ordinary.

Tip

Say “Shavua tov” — a good week — to everyone when you finish.

What

Knotted fringes on the corners of a four-cornered garment. Many men wear a small one (tallit katan) all day under or over their shirt.

Why

“You shall see it and remember all the commandments of Hashem and do them.” A string you can see, so you never forget who you are.

How

1. Buy a ready-made tallit katan from a Judaica store — check that the strings are kosher.
2. Put it on in the morning, like a vest.
3. Make sure the four corners hang free.
4. Look at the fringes during the Shema, when we read this passage.

Say

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who made us holy with His commandments and commanded us concerning the mitzvah of tzitzit.

Tip

Customs differ on the blessing and on wearing the strings out. Ask a rabbi which to follow.

What

The Torah’s food laws: which animals may be eaten, how meat is prepared, and keeping meat and dairy apart.

Why

“You shall be holy” (Vayikra 11:44) — said in the chapter on food. Even eating, the most physical thing we do, becomes part of a relationship.

How

1. Start with one step: no pork, no shellfish.
2. Buy packaged food with a reliable kosher symbol.
3. Don’t eat meat and dairy together.
4. After meat, wait before dairy — customs are 1, 3 or 6 hours.
5. Ready for more? A rabbi can help you kosher your kitchen.

Say

No blessing is said for this one.

Tip

Every step counts. Take one at a time.

What

Talking to Hashem — in your own words and in the words of the siddur. The traditional prayers are said morning, afternoon and evening.

Why

“To serve Him with all your heart” — what is service of the heart? It is prayer (Ta’anit 2a). The Rambam counts daily prayer as a commandment (Hilchot Tefillah 1:1).

How

1. First thing in the morning, before you get up: say Modeh Ani.
2. Say the Shema, morning and night.
3. Get a siddur with English and try one page.
4. In any language, at any time: tell Hashem what’s on your heart.
5. When you’re ready, learn the Amidah, the central prayer.

Say

I thank You, living and eternal King, for You have mercifully restored my soul within me. Great is Your faithfulness.

Tip

Modeh Ani takes ten seconds. Put it by your bed.

What

The synagogue: where Jews pray together, read the Torah, and become a community. Some prayers are said only with a minyan of ten.

Why

The Talmud teaches that a person’s prayer is heard in the synagogue (Berachot 6a), and certain prayers require a minyan of ten (Megillah 23b).

How

1. Find a local shul or Chabad House and call or email ahead.
2. Dress modestly; men cover their heads (a kippah is usually there for you).
3. Ask someone to show you the page — people love to help.
4. On Shabbat, phones stay away.
5. Stay for the Kiddush afterward and meet people.

Say

No blessing is said for this one.

Tip

Saturday morning is the easiest first visit. Just come.

What

One of the Ten Commandments: honoring and respecting your father and mother.

Why

“Honor your father and your mother.” The Talmud compares honoring parents to honoring Hashem (Kiddushin 30b–31a).

How

1. Call your parents today — just to talk.
2. Stand when they enter the room.
3. Don’t sit in their regular seat or contradict them harshly.
4. Help with something before they ask.
5. If they have passed away: learn, give tzedakah, or say Kaddish in their memory.

Say

No blessing is said for this one.

Tip

Family situations can be complicated. For hard cases, talk to a rabbi you trust.