It is important for all those who are traveling together to say Tefilas Haderech (the Traveler’s Prayer) simultaneously. In case there are not enough siddurim available, an option is…
It is important for all those who are traveling together to say Tefilas Haderech (the Traveler’s Prayer) simultaneously. In case there are not enough siddurim available, an option is…
The halachah is that once a woman receives her get (bill of divorce), the ex-spouses should refrain from meeting each other and from doing anything that would give the…
Baked goods that has a filling can be considered mezonos if two conditions are met: 1) The filling is the primary ingredient. 2) The filling is sweet. It is…
Wine is considered rosh lechol mashkin (chief of all drinks). When consuming wine, a brachah rishonah (blessing before eating or drinking) of hagafen is recited; if other drinks are…
Chazal teach us,“Yisroel kedoshim hem” (Jews are holy) and are extra-cautious in matters of observance; one of the areas mentioned in poskim that they are extra careful with is…
During a meal containing bread, no brachah is required when drinking water or other beverages—with the exception of wine. Wine is unique because of its chashivus, significance and importance,…
The halachos of mourning that apply on Tishah B’Av apply after chatzos (midday) as well. There are some restrictions, though, that are somewhat relaxed after chatzos, and among them,…
Standing in shul at the hot water urn between Mincha and Maariv, a Styrofoam* cup of tea in my left hand and a clean plastic spoon in my right,…
The Mishnah says, “Al ta’as atzmechah ke’orchei hadayanim.” Do not coach a litigant in a Din Torah on how to present their case [in order to increase their chances…
One of the lesser-known halachos is that cheese is among the food items that must have at least one chosam (seal) if delivered by a non-Jew or a Yisroel…
Halachah states that it is a sakanah (danger) to eat fish with meat, and relates that eating them together can cause tzora’as (leprosy) chas v’shalom. We are careful not…
According to halachah, it is permissible to do work on Rosh Chodesh. However, women have the custom of refraining from work on Rosh Chodesh—and this custom is binding—as a…
There is no Halacha that forbids us from giving presents, including birthday presents, during the Nine Days, with the exception of Tisha Be’Av on which it is forbidden to give a present.…
There is no need to have separate pots for fish and meat. While there is a danger to mix fish and meat together, Plaitas Kelim, the taste that remains…
Halachah speaks of four basic colors: shachor (black); adom (red); lavan (white); and yarok—which can refer to shades from blue to yellow and any combination of them in various…
There are certain foods that are forbidden according to Halacha on the basis of danger. For example, one is not allowed to eat fish that was cooked together with…
The opening phrase of the Tur (the 13th century halachic compendium that forms the basis of the Shulchan Aruch) quotes the Mishnah in Pirkei Avos: “Hevei Az Kanameir” (Be…
If someone in their struggle to quit smoking—or stop abusing drugs—made a neder (vow) to stop, but now wishes to have their neder annulled, should the beis din acquiesce?…
If a person undertakes self-imposed restrictions or obligations and they no longer wish to practice them, they must perform Hatoras Nedarim (The Annulment of Vows). Hatoras Nedarim should be…
If a person made a mental, even non-verbal, commitment to give tzedakah, this is called gomar b'libo, and he is obligated to fulfill that commitment. A common problem that…
If a married woman makes a neder (vow) placing a restriction upon herself, or she commits to a minhag tov (good practice)—which is tantamount to making a neder—the halachah…
Among the ways in which the Navi (Prophet) Yishayahu instructs us to distinguish Shabbos from the rest of the week is: “V’chibad’to mei’asos d’rachecha” (Honor it by [refraining from]…
A woman who is alone at home with a contractor or worker could run into a problem of Yichud, of being alone with a man. The Halacha of Yichud does not apply if Baala Be'Ir, her husband is in…
Regarding fasting on all fast days with the exception of Yom Kippur, the halacha is that a choileh she’ein bo sakana, someone who is not well but there is…
Poskim mention that a baal nefesh (pious individual) should be machmir (stringent) and take on the stringencies of Tisha Be’Av and Yom Kippur on other fast days as well,…
