Halacha & Hashkafa

It depends what type of politics is being discussed. If it is politics that has a direct effect on Jewish interests and has therefore Torah issues involved, then as the Chofetz Chaim was reported to say Hashem also has His politics.

Most Ashkenazic authorities rule leniently in case of need. This is especially true with today’s high-quality household appliances that make very little noise and often cannot even be heard in an adjacent room.

I now opened my eyes that were wet with tears of the past, the present, and the future and saw how beautiful Hashem's world is and how perfect the cycles of life are. How little of the circle we see at a time.

But you lent me the money, and, in the end, it was never returned to you, insisted Levi. I don't want you to be out the money. But it's also not fair to make you pay double, replied Menachem. I took the risk, so it's my loss.

Presumption Of Life? ‘The Husband Was Elderly or Ailing...’ (Gittin 28a)

More recent halachic authorities, however, recognize that hats and jackets are no longer a component of standard dress, especially in warmer climates.

It could well be that their goal in visiting the zoo was not (only) for simple entertainment or leisure, but to be able there to marvel at the wondrous creation of Hashem’s world.

For best result, ensure plenty of good consistency.

Mr. Berger is considered a shomer chinam since he has no gain, even incidental, from guarding the calculator.

Painting Tefillin Straps Black “He May Go Over the Letters With a Pen” (Gittin 20a)

In front of me the story of Am Yisrael came alive. The world may proclaim our end but here we are. One must only kindle the flame. The spark is never extinguished.

It is noted that in past generations there were very few individuals who had semicha, let alone were practicing rabbis, while today everyone seems to have semicha.

The more complicated question is whether we should give our children a smartphone at all or at a young age.

When it comes to both parenting and teaching, we don’t like to watch children make mistakes. We also don’t like having to take the time and energy to enforce the consequences of those mistakes.

At the time of Megillas Rus, the Yovel – Jubilee year – was in force, replied Rabbi Dayan. If a person sold a field that was his sedei achuza – ancestral heritage from when the Land of Israel was first divided – it would return to him in Yovel.

Last Will And Testament “A Deathbed Request Is As Sealed And Delivered” (Gitin 14b)

If a person is wealthy enough to own a field, why would he think that he would be able to keep the corner of the field, which is designated for poor people? Presumably, he would be excluded from the corner of any field, let alone his own!

During the years when the commercial was popular, my Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Berel Wein, quipped, What can you expect from a generation whose slogan is to ‘Be like Mike’?

The popularity and interest in pursuing semicha studies has surged in recent years, and there is even a widespread practice for men to make an effort to receive semicha before marriage. This is true even if one has no intention of serving professionally as a rabbi.

Since the minhag of Klal Yisrael has been to stay up all Shavuos night and learn Torah in preparation for our yearly reacceptance of the Torah, it is definitely proper to fulfill the minhag.

Mr. Eisner arranged to meet with Rabbi Dayan. He showed him the terms-of-use agreement and asked: Are these terms acceptable and binding according to halacha? Do the borrowers need to sign?

Repulsive And Disgraceful “The Holy One … Does Not Cause Mishaps To The Righteous” (Gittin 7a)

Consider the fact that when we pray, we are conversing with the Creator of the universe, the One who holds the key to life and death, the One who can grant our deepest desires. Shouldn’t we be even more focused and mindful during our prayer than during a job interview?

We always have to be striving to climb our personal Har Sinai – a climb to the peak which is not too overwhelming and daunting to the top.

Marriage is a mitzvah. But so is divorce. Marriage is a mitzvah we look forward to fulfilling. Divorce is one of the many mitzvos – like cities of refuge and eglah arufah – that we hope we’ll never have to deal with.

In order to preserve the child’s respect for the institution and its instructors, the parent must exhibit that respect in the child’s presence.

We are taught that addressing one's teachers by their first name is so severe an offense that the Talmud labels one who does so as an apikores – one who has distanced himself from Jewish norms.

We all have the same father, we all have the same goals and purpose, which is to serve the Almighty in the best way possible.

If I had my way, I'd redeem it tomorrow! responded Shimon. I'm simply not interested in being a partner in the bond!

A Wonder Worm “When The Temple Was Destroyed The Shamir…Ceased” (Sotah 48a-b)