Halacha & Hashkafa

Mr. Chovel interjected, "But beis din is not halachically authorized nowadays to adjudicate cases of bodily injury!"

What About Ma’ariv? ‘The Bridegroom Is Exempt From Kerias Shema’ (Berachos 16a)

Should a person feel guilty for using an English ArtScroll Gemara (as opposed to struggling with the original Aramaic)?

He had an hour until his next appointment, but there wasn't much he could do meanwhile. It didn't pay to go home. He took out his Gemara and began learning Daf Yomi.

A Night-Day Dilemma ‘When One Reads Shema’ (Berachos 8b)

Should a person lend any significance to his dreams?

"It feels wrong to work all day with non-kosher food," replied Mrs. Fleishman. "Are you sure it's allowed?"

A Glorious Return ‘Tam V’nishlam’ (Niddah 73a)

How should a person regard behavior by a tzaddik that seems very strange (for example, living in solitude for the last 20 years of one’s life as the Kotzker Rebbe apparently did)?

When there is an apparent mistake, there is a mitzvah of hashavas aveidah to alert the store manager or staff to the error.

Sorrow And Joy 'Proclaim Your Troubles So Your Friends Pray For You' (Niddah 66a)

Should a person avoid the company of someone who constantly swears but is otherwise a decent fellow?

Mechilah requires a willingness to forgo and release the other party of liability.

Self-Evident? ‘What Uncleanness Is There In A Nasal Discharge?’ (Niddah 55b-56a)

Is it okay to enjoy Christmas songs like “Jingle Bells” if one happens to hear them playing in a store or on the street?

Some authorities rule that the vast majority of keilim nowadays should be toveled without a berachah since they have never been in the private possession of a non-Jew.

The Rif offers a different rationale. He writes that the agent must share the extra items with the sender because the benefit came about through his money.

Soul Food ‘It Comes to Include a Fragrance’ (Niddah 52a)

Is the desire to be more machmir than one’s father good, bad, or neutral?

You Can’t Have It Both Ways ‘A Minor Who Reaches Maturity’ (Niddah 46a)

"What a waste that I bought the bookcases last week!" he exclaimed. "I could have ordered them now for almost half the price and saved myself $800!"

How important is it to be informed about political and world affairs? Or is it important? Should the average frum Jew read the newspaper (or a news website) every day?

On Shabbos morning, Moshe decided to serve the kiddush food since it would mostly go to waste otherwise.

Rebirth Of Sorts ‘Immersing Impure, Emerging Pure’ (Niddah 42a)

Is it appropriate for men and women to call each other by their first names at work?

If a person incurred expenses on his own initiative to save someone's life, he can ask to be compensated

Prior to the 18th century, no one said Kaddish after Mizmor Shir for the simple reason that that psalm wasn’t recited at all!

The Great Switch ‘These Are The Sons Of Leah’ (Niddah 32)

Is observing Thanksgiving in some manner praiseworthy or wrong (or neither)?

It’s prohibited to destroy even part of G-d's sacred name. Thus, one cannot usually cut between the letters of G-d's name in a siddur or Chumash.