Separating two leben containers which were connected since production is forbidden on Shabbos for two reasons: the melachah of mechatech (the prohibited act of cutting something down to a desired size), and primarily…
Separating two leben containers which were connected since production is forbidden on Shabbos for two reasons: the melachah of mechatech (the prohibited act of cutting something down to a desired size), and primarily…
We are required, as a show of respect to Kohanim, to grant them precedence for all honors, including the first aliyah of krias haTorah (portion of the Torah reading).…
The general rule is that dishes and portable surfaces that come into contact with food require tevilah (immersion in a mikvah) prior to use. This raises the question of…
I received a beautiful glass platter piled with gourmet chocolates as a Mishloach Manos gift from a dear student (with a note that she had toiveled it). Just before Pesach, my family polished…
A ring that a woman removes occasionally, such as when she kneads dough, is considered a chatzitzah (barrier) for netilas yadayim (ritual hand washing), since it prevents the water…
In most matters of halachah anything pachos mi’shaveh perutah (less than the value of a perutah coin—the smallest unit of currency in ancient times) has no bearing. For example,…
Tefilas haderech should be recited if a person travels at least a parsah (approximately 2.4 miles) past iburah shel ir (the outskirts of the city). Iburah shel ir is…
Building is forbidden on Shabbos, as it is one of the 39 melachos, the melachah of boneh. Building blocks, Lego, Magna Tiles, and other similar building toys, are of…
The Gemara says, “Haragil b’zeisim kasheh l’shikchah” (one who eats olives regularly is at risk of forgetting their learning), indicating that one shouldn’t eat them regularly. However, in practice…
It‘s forbidden to separate on Shabbos two pages of a sefer (book) that have been attached to each other since production, because doing so would be transgressing the melachah…
The halachah is that a residence or business that is co-owned by a Jew and a non-Jew requires mezuzos—but they should be affixed without a blessing. The reason for…
A beis ha’otzar (a storage room) requires a mezuzah. According to most opinions, a brachah is recited when affixing amezuzah on a beis ha’otzar of requisite size. A garage—where…
For various halachic reasons, the date we begin asking for rain by saying “V’sein tal umatar” in the brachah of Mevarech Hashanim in Shemoneh Esrei depends on our location: Those in Eretz Yisroel begin on the eve…
One may not color one’s face on Shabbos or Yom Tov due to the melachah of tzoveia (coloring) or memareiach (smoothing), as well as other possible melachos which are…
The appointment of governmental officials is preordained, as the Gemara states, “Afilu reish gargusa mishamaya ka mukma lei” (even the head of the well-diggers is positioned by Heaven). On…
We’ve all heard of cases where airlines accidentally offered flights for ridiculously low fares. Similarly, we might encounter mistakenly underpriced items in other venues, such as in a local…
Guarding one’s health, according to the Rambam, is midarchei avodas Hashem (a part of our Divine service). It’s a mitzvah to look after one’s health, and in some respects…
It is written in Shulchan Aruch, “Lo teilachna bnos Yisroel pru’os rosh b’shuk, achas penuyah v’achas eishes ish,” Jewish daughters should not go in the street with their hair…
One method to halachically purge a knife is neitzah b’karka eser pe’amim (sticking its blade into the ground ten times). This method may be used, for example, when the…
A kosher consumer walks into a hotel lobby and orders a cold, non-alcoholic, kosher drink at the non-kosher bar. Though the glass used to serve the drink may be treif,…
A person who is present in shul while a minyan (halachic prayer quorum) is in session should be careful not to disturb the davening. While the tefillos (prayers) of…
Traditionally, only one side of retzuos (tefillin straps), the outer side, is painted black. However, many sofrim (scribes) and Judaica stores have lately begun selling retzuos painted black on…
The halachah is that “Lo maskinan bishmayhu” of reshaim (one may not name someone after a wicked person), since the fate they deserve is that their name be forgotten. Often,…
Aside from the issues regarding non-Jewish help in our homes on Shabbos, there are a host of issues that confront us during the week as well, such as: The isur of yichud: the…
The prohibition of mesirah, informing secular authorities about the behavior of another Jew, is quite severe and constitutes a grave offense. Nonetheless, if a person is aware that someone is,…
