Daf Yomi
Beware The Fruit!
‘A Misasek Is Excluded’
(Kereisos 19a)
Is It Proper To Attend A Super Bowl Party?
If you are attending one or you are sponsoring one, make sure that at minimum kosher food is served, and there is no behavior contrary to Jewish modesty.
Storage Sale!
"What about the Jewish clients?" asked Mr. Cohen. "That's a problem; they're keeping their chametz in our warehouse!"
Daf Yomi
Truth Or Consequences
‘Consecrating The Non-Existent’
(Nedarim 85b)
When Drinking Wine Exempts Other Foods From Requiring A Bracha
Not only does wine exempt regular beverages from a blessing, it even exempts watery foods, such as certain yogurts and ice cream, from a blessing, as well.
How Desire Becomes Doctrine
Clothing serves as a metaphor for how a human is cloaked. Just as clothes cover the body, the body itself is a kind of cloak for the soul.
Daf Yomi
Going Public
‘From A Wealthy Roman Lady’
(Nedarim 50a)
Controversial Ruling
However, if the renter has a definitive claim (ba'ree), as in our case, he is in possession since he holds the money.
Brotherly Love
Moses’ mission to convey the terms of redemption to the people also meets with disaster.
Daf Yomi
Must Investments Be Invested?
‘The Parts of the Iska Are Interdependent’
(Bava Metzia 105a)
Chanukah: Public Menorah Lightings
Many halachic authorities opposed the custom of lighting the menorah in the synagogue. The Chatam Sofer would decline the "honor" of lighting the menorah in the synagogue for this reason.
Is It Proper To Avoid Traveling To Israel Because You Are Afraid?
Although Eretz Yisrael finds itself in the midst of a war, most places there do not rise to the level of a makom sakana.
Camels And Cactus
Because the Talmud pointed out that thorns are not necessarily destructive but may even be worth maintaining with human intervention, like pre-Industrial Revolution gas stations, we now have two additional reasons to be thankful on Thanksgiving and on every other day of the year – for the cacti and for the camels.
How Drawing From Mesorah Can Support Israeli Soldiers
In this column, I focus on one aspect of the war most commonly experienced by soldiers and other military service members, namely the perpetration of an act that, in the soldier’s perception, violates his moral code and inappropriately caused or contributed to the harm or death of an undeserving victim.
Three’s A Crowd
"I'll deal with Levi later," said Reuven. "I'll explain to him that my brother needs it."
Finish The Job!
"I don't accept this," said Mr. Zummer. "I want you to finish! You're not allowed to just stop in the middle!"
Jelly Jars
Suddenly, she heard the clatter of shattering glass. Mrs. Friedman quickly turned around and saw Malka swiping at the jars of jelly.
Daf Yomi
Must Investments Be Invested?
‘The Parts of The Iska Are Interdependent’
(Bava Metzia 105a)
Canceled Event: Must The Caterer Be Paid?
The following evening, the mohel came by. "Unfortunately, the baby is still yellow," he said. "We have to delay the bris.”
Benefiting From A Non-Jew’s Work On Shabbat
If you yourself may not perform a melachah, you may not ask a non-Jew to perform it for you. This is true both for biblically prohibited acts, melachot de’oreita, and rabinically prohibited acts, melachot de’rabbanan. This applies even if the non-Jew was instructed before Shabbat to perform the melachah on Shabbat.
To Each, His Appropriate Blessing
Intellectually we appreciate that everyone is different. But in our daily interactions we lump our children, our students, even entire communities together as if they are a single entity.
Is It Proper For Children To Eat In Front Of Adults On Yom Kippur?
It is obvious that when one is fasting watching someone else eat can be very distracting and cause one to be reminded of their hunger.
Daf Yomi
The Majority Rule
‘If The Majority Are Israelites…’
(Bava Metzia 24a-b)
The Psychology And Ethics Of Legal Loopholes
Law helps society, even if certain individuals do not benefit, or even suffer.
Covering A Sefer Torah Between Aliyot
Question: Should a Sefer Torah be covered between aliyot?
Are Israelis Rude?
To answer the question, we need to look at the opposite end of the spectrum and ask if we Americans are too sensitive and wimpy.
Daf Yomi
Normal Consumption
‘Leave Aside Babylonian Kutach’
(Nazir 36b)
The Halacha Of Purchasing Me’aras HaMachpela
Mishneh L’melech understands that also regarding a purchase from a non-Jew, both parties can retract until the document is written because there isn’t full intent for purchase without the document.
More On Temurah (Temurah 2,3 and 9)
The act of temurah, consecrating another animal in place of an already consecrated animal, incurs the punishment of malkot - lashes. This is somewhat surprising. There is a halachic rule that a prohibition that does not involve an overt act does not incur the punishment of malkot – “lav she’einbBo ma’aseh, ein lokin alav.” Why then does a person incur malkot?
Is It Proper…? Is it appropriate to look for, and publicize, gematrias and Torah...
Is it appropriate to look for, and publicize, gematrias and Torah codes related to the current coronavirus pandemic?