When choosing a mohel to perform a bris milah, it is vital to ascertain that he is a trained professional, experienced and expert, as well as an observant, G-d-fearing…
When choosing a mohel to perform a bris milah, it is vital to ascertain that he is a trained professional, experienced and expert, as well as an observant, G-d-fearing…
Traveling on a cruise ship brings with it a host of halachic concerns regarding shmiras Shabbos (observing the laws of Shabbos): If the captain and/or the crew are Jewish,…
It is a mitzvas aseh (a positive commandment—one of the 613) to elect a Jewish king. The king’s appointment was originally dependant on the settlement of Jews in Eretz…
The Rema mentions the custom of blessing a person who acquires a new item of clothing: Tivleh u'sechadesh (wear it out and get a new one). There is an…
We are cautioned to refrain from making a shavuah (vow) unnecessarily. The Shitah Mekubetzes (R. Betzalel ben Abraham Ashkenazi, 16th century) states that the expression, “b’emes” (it’s the truth!),…
Backing out from an agreement is Halachically very complicated. In most circumstances, it is forbidden to back out from an agreement to purchase an item, even if one found…
The mitzvah tefillah b’tzibbur (communal prayer) consists of davening (praying) with a minyan (quorum of at least ten men), with the minimum of six participants who are actively davening.…
The halachic z’manim ([earliest and latest] times [for prayer and other time-bound observances]) are largely based on the position of the sun relative to the earth at different times…
Some people have the custom of pouring the wine from Shabbos Kiddush—a kos shel brachah (a cup of blessing)—back into the bottle so that it can be reused for…
If someone is arrested because of theft, either stealing from the government of from private parties, and people are interested in Pidyon Shvuim, there is a debate amongst contemporary Poskim if…
There was a minhag (custom) prevalent in some shuls in pre-war Europe to have a hafsakah (break) after Shacharis (morning prayers) on Shabbos, during which the congregants would go…
If someone experiences a personal nes (miracle) and makes a seudas hoda’ah (a feast of giving thanks to Hashem), that meal is considered a seudas mitzvah (a meal honoring a…
Eid echad ne’eman b’issurin (one witness is believed with regard to prohibited substances); a single adult* is trusted when it comes to the status of toiveled (ritually immersed) dishes,…
The issur (prohibition) of she’ilas shalom (extending a greeting) to an avel (mourner) who lost a sibling, spouse, or child, is in effect until the shloshim (thirty days from the day of burial);…
Hospitals, airports and prisons usually designate a certain area as a “Prayer Room” for people of all faiths. In hospitals and airports, where the place is used only temporarily…
If a treif piece of flatware got mixed in with identical kosher ones, one should ideally kasher all the utensils. However, if the utensils can’t be koshered, or there…
Our elders often caution us not to walk around the house without shoes. Is this just a bubbe meiseh (grandmothers' tale), or does it have a source in halachah?…
A basic criterion for deciding many halachos is the concept of following the rov (majority of circumstances) versus mi’ut (minority). However, mi’d’rabanan (by rabbinic decree), mi’ut hamatzui (a minority…
Rishonim (early halachic authors) mention the custom of giving the aliyah of Maftir (the last of the “going-up” portions of the Torah reading on Shabbos and holidays) to an…
It is a minhag (custom) to sell the various kibbudim (honors) and aliyos (being called up to the Torah)—even the right to pay for maintenance and utilities—to the congregants…
The prevailing custom among chassidim is to immerse in a mikvah every day before davening (with the exception of Yom Kippur and Tish’ah B'av), and especially on Erev Shabbos…
There is a popular myth that one can use a keli, a vessel or utensil, without toiveling it in a Mikvah, without immersing it, the very first time, or…
It is obligatory for aveilim (mourners [within the first seven days]) to sit on very low chairs or on the floor, but they do not have to be sitting…
There is a mitzvas asei in the Torah of “Vekidashto” to sanctify Kohanim, which means to honor them. We fulfill this mitzvah by giving them precedence over others with…
The mitzvah of yeshiva b'sukah, sitting in the sukah, includes other activities besides eating in the sukah, such as learning Torah, spending time there leisurely, etc., which fall under…
