Can I learn Torah on Christmas day or Nittel Nacht?

Is it better to learn, or not learn Torah (playing chess) on XMS and Nittel Nacht (Yiddish: ניטל נאַכט‎)? There are two opinions (שיטות): It is a mitzvah or it is forbidden. It is a Mitzvah De’oraita It is a mitzvah de’oraita of learning Torah every day and night. After all, what’s more important — a …

What is the Shabbos (Shabbat) Candle Time?

Shabbat begins at sunset on Friday, but the candle-lighting time is about 18 minutes before sunset. Why? Shabbat begins at sundown, and from that time on it is forbidden to perform certain activities (including lighting Shabbat candles). The Shulchan Aruch states that one should “add from the weekday onto Shabbat (Lehosif me’kodesh al chol)” . Mean, addition to …