Yes, One Is Halachically Obligated To Get The Covid Vaccine
If one perceives that, rather than seeing his own decisions as determinative of his fate, Divine providence is guiding the result, then considering that there’s a halachic mandate to follow professional medical advice (see Taz, YD 336), the conclusion is most clearly in line with the dominant medical consensus.
Daf Yomi
An Essential Agent
‘Set In The Skin Of The Rennet Of Nevelah’
(Avoda Zara 35a)
Investing Tzedakah Money
I’m hesitant, though, to move tzedakah money out of the bank account, said the gabbai. What if we suddenly had a great need for the funds around the Yamim Tovim, or if the market crashes…?
Second Day Yom Tov, Eruvin And Eggs (Beitzah 4)
Whether a month is chaser or maleh makes a crucial difference to our Jewish lives. If, for example, one mistakenly believed the month of Elul was maleh when in fact it was chaser, one might find oneself eating on Yom Kippur and fasting on a weekday. If one mistakenly believed the month of Adar was maleh when in fact it was chaser, one might find oneself eating bread on Pesach.
Is It Proper…? Should an Average Jew Spend A Lot of Money When Buying...
Should an average Jew spend a lot of money when buying an esrog?
Daf Yomi
Honoring A Father’s Wishes
‘ He shall give it to whom he has trespassed.’
(Bava Kamma 40b)
Is It Proper…? Why don’t we fast today for the six million Jews killed...
For hundreds of years, Jews in Poland fasted on the 20th of Sivan to commemorate the tens of thousands of Jews killed in the Chmielnitzky uprising of 1648-49. Yet, we don’t fast today for the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust. Why not?
The Lost Hat
The primary means of hashavas aveidah, returning lost items, is through simanim, identifying features, replied Rabbi Dayan.
Daf Yomi
Futures
‘A Matter As Of Yet Non-Existent’
(Gittin 42b)
Daf Yomi
A Confession
“Payment For Humiliation And Depreciation ...”
(Ketubbot 41a)
The Case Of The Missing Shopping Cart
I didn't mean for it to be taken, said Mr. Fisher. I was just getting it out of the way.
Still, you should have moved it aside to a safe place, replied his wife, not on the curb on pick-up day.
For Prophet
Just as our ancestors didn’t want to hearken to the prophet’s message then, so do many of us not pay much attention to the words of the Prophets in our time.
Which Mask Do You Wear?
Even Queen Esther went to the king, which she was forbidden to do, in disguise. She dressed up. Yes, she was a queen and she dressed up as a queen. However she was Jewish and nobody knew that, so she was dressing up.
Is It Proper…? May one use data derived from unethical research?
May one use data derived from unethical research (an extreme example of which would be data from Nazi research that used human test subjects instead of lab rats and caused unimaginable suffering)?
Tool Liability
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?
Special Place
As we only have a limited amount of space, we must decide what we want to fill our space with. This is not only true about data and stuff, but also about our relationships as well. It’s up to us to show those we care about that they have space in our lives.
The Issue Is The Feelings, Not The Facts
There are specific prohibitions and damnations that befall one who mistreats an orphan. The verse (Shemos 22:21-23) states: You shall not ill-treat any widow or orphan. If you do mistreat them, I will heed their outcry as soon as they cry out to Me and My anger shall blaze forth and I will put you to the sword, and your own wives shall become widows and your children orphans.
Why Didn’t Mordechai Flee?
Question: Why did Mordechai refuse to bow to Haman, thus endangering the entire Jewish people? Couldn’t he have simply fled Shushan?
Illegitimacy And Innocent Lives
The child of a Jewish mother from a union with a non-Jewish father is not a mamzer.
Daf Yomi
No Fault Lines
‘…His Father And Mother Were In Prison…’
(Yevamos 71b)
As Shemita Ebbs Away….
In a number of places, our rabbis tell us that Shemita is the Key to Redemption.
Daf Yomi
For Want Of A Miracle
(Pesachim 17a)
May A Guest Use Non-Toveled Utensils?
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.
What A View!
"You cannot restrain Ari from building a fence on his property," answered Rabbi Dayan.
Bridge Across
Bridges do not remove the massive abyss that separates two bodies of land, but rather create specific points of connection. In a similar vein, sometimes our disagreements with other people or groups are valid, and we may not have the authority to overlook or forgive those differences.
The Real Scoop
A lot of life comes down to one choice – are we committed to things and behaviors that have real, lasting value, or are we ready to give them up for a momentary thrill?
Must Shimon Sell His Share To Yosef?
If I had my way, I'd redeem it tomorrow! responded Shimon. I'm simply not interested in being a partner in the bond!
To The Top
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.
Chametz Credit Card
It's 1 p.m. on Friday, Erev Pesach. The rabbi had already sold the chametz at 10 a.m. But I forgot to sell mine. Now the synagogue office is closed and I can't get hold of the form the rabbi uses to sell the chametz. The Torah requires me to remove all chametz from my house on Pesach. But I just cannot bring myself to throw out that Glenfiddich. Is there a way the whisky can remain in my house during Pesach, and would I be able to drink it after Pesach?
Court Case
Mr. Weiss refused to listen and sued Mr. Cohen in civil court.