Sarah’s Laughter

Posted on: December 8th, 2011

Question: Why did Sarah – one of our four righteous matriarchs – laugh when she heard the angel prophesy that she would give birth to a son? How could she have doubted God?

The Ball Over The Wall

Posted on: December 8th, 2011

Mr. Marx was relaxing in his garden Sunday afternoon, savoring the remaining days of sunshine. At least he was trying to relax. From over the wall of his garden came the steady thump, thump and shouting of the local teenage boys playing basketball in the neighbor's back yard.

Daf Yomi

Posted on: December 7th, 2011

Not Necessarily Good For The Goose, Gander Or Any Fowl ‘On The Festival, Plucking The Wool Is Permitted Because…’ (Bechoros 25a)

Resolving Halachic Dilemmas

Posted on: December 4th, 2011

Question: Who should resolve halachic dilemmas?

Jack Of All Trades, Master Of None (Bechorot 29 a)

Posted on: December 4th, 2011

There are no problems in life, only expenses. The compensation for performing a mitzvah is the opportunity to perform another mitzvah. These two truisms often conflict because, like most everything else in life, the performance of mitzvot often requires funding.

Forgotten Fill-Up

Posted on: November 24th, 2011

"We are pleased to announce we have been donated a car for communal use," read the sign in Kollel Mishpat. "Members of the Kollel can use the car g'mach, as available, in coordination with Dani."

Anim Z’mirot (Part II)

Posted on: November 24th, 2011

Question: May Anim Z’mirot be said without a minyan?

Tax Evasion And Tax Avoidance: Bechorot 34a; Berachot 35b; Sanhedrin 5a; Gittin 81a.

Posted on: November 24th, 2011

There is nothing as certain as death and taxes, so the saying goes. Almost equally certain is the phenomenon of the living trying to avoid or evade taxes.

Anim Z’mirot (Part l)

Posted on: November 17th, 2011

Question: May Anim Z’mirot be recited without a minyan?

Hating Immorality

Posted on: November 12th, 2011

Question: Is a pious Jew allowed to desire the forbidden (as long, of course, as he doesn’t act on the desire)?

Daf Yomi

Posted on: November 12th, 2011

Remember The Sabbath Day… 'Shiluach HaKen Applies In Temple Times And After' (Chullin 138)

Damaged Value

Posted on: November 12th, 2011

The beis medrash of Yeshiva Toras Mishpat was packed. The sound of Torah resonated through the beis medrash as the students and avreichim argued over the pages of Gemara and Shulchan Aruch.

Donating Money For Aliyot

Posted on: November 2nd, 2011

Question: Is it proper for a synagogue to establish a policy that no one is to donate money for receiving an aliyah to the Torah?

‘Forget About It!’

Posted on: October 26th, 2011

Yanky was going through difficult times. "My company merged over a year ago and I got laid off," he poured his heart out to Moish, a neighbor. "I've been trying everywhere to get a job, but nothing's available."

Kashering Meat

Posted on: October 26th, 2011

Strolling around an antique shop in Pennsylvania’s Dutch Country, I was reunited with many of the items that inhabited my mother’s kitchen. There was a scrubbing board and a metal oval-shaped tub with which one would scrub and wash clothes and a ringer through which one would dry them. I also saw a charred metal grate that reminded me of the one my mother used to kasher pieces of liver.

Which Nusach Should One Use?

Posted on: October 26th, 2011

Question: What should a person who davens nusach ashkenaz do during kedushah in a shul that davens nusach sefard? Should he use his own nusach or that of the shul he’s in?

Does Borrowing Pay?

Posted on: March 11th, 2010

"Pesach is just around the corner," was Mrs. Adler's motto. She began planning right after Tu B'Shevat, started cleaning after Purim, and limited food to the kitchen from Rosh Chodesh Nisan.

Fruit Of The Land

Posted on: January 27th, 2010

"This week is Tu B'Shevat," announced Rabbi Dayan. "We celebrate the 'New Year' of trees with produce of Eretz Yisrael. However, the Israeli Rabbinate does not take full responsibility for Terumos and Ma'asros to export produce. So, unless the produce is marked as tithed, it is proper to take Terumos and Ma'asros yourself."

A Shoe, Handkerchief, and Pen

Posted on: June 17th, 2009

What do a shoe, handkerchief, and pen have in common? For English buffs, they all contain an "e." Let's try in Hebrew: What do na'al, sudar, andeit have in common? They all begin in alphabetical order: Nun, Samach, and Ayin. OK, but better.... in Choshen Mishpat, these are the classic items for "Kinyan Chalipin." Let's try in Hebrew: What do na'al, sudar, andeit have in common? They all begin in alphabetical order: Nun, Samach, and Ayin. OK, but better.... in Choshen Mishpat, these are the classic items for "Kinyan Chalipin."