Halacha & Hashkafa

A Burning Question? ‘If Said In The Concerned Person’s Presence It’s Not Evil Speech’ (Arachin 15b)

Pidyon ha’ben, like brit milah, is primarily the responsibility of the father. A brit milah must be performed on the eighth day of the child’s birth, unless it would endanger the life of the child. Pidyon ha’ben must be performed on the 31st day of the child’s birth. Neither ceremony may be delayed beyond its prescribed time unless there is some halachic justification to do so.

Question: Are there limitations to the mitzvah of chinuch?

"Yosef, congratulations on your graduation!" said Uncle Sam. "I want to buy you a new bike as a present."

When a Dead Ewe Gave Birth to a Live Lamb ‘We Do Not Wait For Her To Give Birth’ (Arachin 7a)

A son who is not himself a kohen or a Levi, firstborn to a Jewish mother who is not the daughter of a kohen...

Question: Are there limitations to the mitzvah of chinuch?

Lulav or Shofar on Shabbos ‘It Refers To Tithing In Our Days’ (Bechoros 61a)

Lingua Franca ‘The Jordan Is Only From Jericho And Below’ (Bechoros 55a)

"Do you realize that it's Shaindy's 30th birthday in a month?" Sara asked Penina. "It's amazing how time flies!"

Question: Are there limits to the mitzvah of chinuch?

Question: What should a person do if he brings a relative to the hospital on Shabbat and is asked to sign his name? Can he sign if the hospital will not admit the patient otherwise?

An Eventual Resolution ‘May The Likes Of You Increase Manifold In Israel’ (Bechoros 45b)

He must be a very important person to get such an important mitzvah, I heard them say, as Mr. Loewenstein, the local assemblyman, stepped up to recite the Torah blessing before the reading of the Ten Commandments. And Mr. Kleppish was too embarrassed to tell his wife that he only got third galilah on Shabbat Rosh Chodesh Chanukah.

As Yisrael opened his garage on Friday morning, Eli was already waiting there. "I'm driving to Baltimore for Shabbos," Eli said, "but funny things have been happening with the car recently. Can you check the battery and brakes?"

What Is A Sheep? ‘If It…Does Not Possess Three Vertebrae’ (Bechoros 40b)

Question: Normally one may not eat or drink after Birchat Hamazon of Shalosh Seudot until after Havdalah. What is the halacha, however, if one schedules Sheva Berachot for a Shalosh Seudot meal? Should the groom and bride drink from the wine of Sheva Berachot or not?

In June 1967, even skeptics and agnostics admitted that the people of Israel, who only days before were digging their own graves, were saved by nothing short of a miracle. Over the years, however, however, the miracle, so obvious when it occurred, became camouflaged in a shroud of strategic, military terms.

Beware Big Brother! ‘All The Defects Which Come About By Man…’ (Bechoros 35a-b)

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?

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.

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

Question: Who should resolve halachic dilemmas?

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.

"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."

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

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.

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

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

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