Lo nitnah Torah l’malachei hashares (The Torah was not given to the angels), Chazal tell us. Mitzvos and halachos are predicated on being possible and reasonable for human beings…
Lo nitnah Torah l’malachei hashares (The Torah was not given to the angels), Chazal tell us. Mitzvos and halachos are predicated on being possible and reasonable for human beings…
A me’uberes, a woman who is expecting, should focus her energy on making sure that her child grows up in an environment of Torah and kedushah, in a holy…
Shabbos was forecast as a real scorcher, but here in the earlier hours of the day, I’m relaxing on my front porch with a hefty sefer (holy book) and…
OCD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, affects quite a number of people and has a lot of bearing on halachah. Although it is something that is not directly discussed in poskim, there…
There are many possible halachic prohibitions associated with counting according to the secular calendar. Some months of the year are named for types of avodah zarah (idol worship). It…
We may not use Hashem’s holy names for secular purposes. Any descriptions that are unique to Hashem, such as Melech Hakavod (Honored King), or L’eila mikol brachasa v’shirasa ([He is] beyond…
The wheelchair-bound, rachmana litzlan (G-d forbid), who are unable to leave their apartments on their own, are often assisted by non-Jewish aides who naturally wish to transport their charges…
A shadchan, one who arranges a shidduch, match, should be paid for their work. There is a clear halachah in Shulchan Aruch that a shadchan should be paid a…
One is not permitted to say Hashem’s name in vain. This prohibition is derived from the posuk, “Es Hashem Elokeicho tira”, one should fear Hashem. If a person says…
Once upon a time the camel, horse and donkey were the primary means of transport for both men and women. There are guidelines for men: they may not ride…
Close to a thousand years ago Rabbeinu Gershom instituted a cherem, a very strict ruling, which was accepted by Ashkenazi communities worldwide, that a man may not be married…
B’ hashgacha pratis (with special Divine Providence), you encounter someone who is not yet shomer Torah u’mitzvos (Torah and mitzvah observant). You feel that this Jewish neshamah (soul) would…
Dovid Hamelech, who composed much of Sefer Tehillim (the Book of Psalms), asked Hashem that when Yidden (Jewish People) will recite Tehillim He should be consider it ke’ilu oskim…
It’s forbidden for ex-spouses to interact with each other socially (see Article #533 for further details). However, there’s a mitzvah of machzir gerushaso (remarrying one’s divorced spouse)—unless he is…
The Gemara discusses a rainwater pipe that becomes blocked on Shabbos by grass growing inside or getting washed in. It is mutar (permitted) to stomp down on the obstruction…
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…
