Judaism

Shulchan Aruch, following Rashi and Rif, rules that the creditor cannot collect at all from sold property based on the invalid document, but he can still collect based on it from the debtor, who is not believed to contradict it.

Question: Whenever an activity is prohibited because of kavod hatzibbur [namely, the dignity of the congregation], may a kehilla decide that such activity, in their view, does not infringe upon the stature or dignity of the congregation? In my synagogue there are many people who do not wear jackets during services. What of a jacketless ba’al tefillah at Mincha or Ma’ariv, in a synagogue where the custom is such that the shaliach tzibbur does not wear a tallit for these services? Menachem Via Email

Generalizing from judges to general ethical advice, the Lubavitcher Rebbe suggests that getting another’s perspective is essential for self-improvement. We tend to have self-serving biases in either positive or negative directions that distort our self-assessment.

An Egyptian whose ancestors committed genocide against our people may be accepted as a convert after three generations, but a Moabite and Amonite – who never gave us bread and water, they may never be accepted?

Moshe knows he’s running out of time, he wants to make his final request of Hashem.

A leader who fails to work for change is not a leader. But a leader who attempts too much change in too short a time will fail.

Even those less academic and studious can master the Torah and even those less disciplined have the capacity to fulfill all of their mitzvot.

How could we err and think, like the Jews of Hungary did, that the nations of the world will protect us during times of tribulation? When the inhumane policies of the evil Hitler, yemach shemo, had already affected most of the countries in Europe after four years, people still paid no attention.

The successful relationship between husband and wife makes the home into a sanctuary as it says, Ish v’isha shalom beineihem, Shechina shruyah beineihem – A husband and wife, if there is peace between them, then the divine Presence dwells between them.

If we seek to live our lives based on our own abilities and means, we are very limited. However, if we live with the awareness that it’s Hashem’s world, and we are merely trying to play our part in the divine plan, then we tap into the infinitude of the divine.

We are each endowed with our own unique potential, and everything in our life – down to the smallest detail – is here to help us fulfill our unique role.

Before you call me an apikores, no proof is good if it isn’t subject to honest evaluation and criticism.

Many poskim hold that since the music at a baseball game is incidental, one may attend a baseball game during the Three Weeks.

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17th of Tammuz: Beginning 3 weeks of mourning for the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

The Jewish national period of mourning.

Although I sincerely asked for mechila on every subsequent visit, she refused to accept my money or my apology. Instead she unequivocally announced, I don’t want to talk to you! and proceeded to ignore me.

Within His Grasp ‘Title…Is Established In Three Years [Of Occupancy] From Day To Day’ (Bava Basra 28a)

What is the biblical source for not causing pain to animals?

In the human experience, there’s no guarantee of a safe and successful landing and return. What is critical is not the ultimate destination, but the values we bring to the journey of life.

My son recently stopped wearing a necktie and lace-up shoes on the Sabbath. He explained that otherwise he fears transgressing the prohibition against tying knots on the Sabbath. Is he correct in this matter? A Mother in Israel Via E-mail

When you feel that the world is going mad, it is important to return to our sources. Our Torah portion this week reminds us that what we are experiencing today has occurred before.

How important are failed plans and plots, such that the Torah needs to mention any of them at all?

Part of what makes each of us so important is that we are all unique... Hashem created us this way because we each have unique missions in this world.

Parashat Balak is a very interesting parasha in that it relates an incident that none of Am Yisrael observed directly.

Balak realized that the land of the Amorites, including the strip of land between the Arnon River and the Yabbok river which formerly belonged to Moav, was eventually destined to be taken over by the Jews in accordance with G-d’s promise to Avraham.

Ignorance, the root and stem of all evil. -Plato

Bilaam’s hope is to reduce the power of Israel by carving away at our fighting men through spiritual means, so that they will be removed from the army as they are condemned to perdition for their transgressions.

These are important fights, good fights, whose outcome will affect more than Jews.

Not only is our disposition and attitude critical in disquieting circumstances, but every word we utter during challenging times is significant.