Question: We are doing renovations on our home. As far as leaving an area untouched as a Zecher L'Churban; what is the bare minimum that must be done in…
Question: We are doing renovations on our home. As far as leaving an area untouched as a Zecher L'Churban; what is the bare minimum that must be done in…
Technological development in CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) and internet-based applications such as Skype (a video-conferencing program) allow for remote viewing of a food-production factory, a dairy farm, a private…
There are many facets to the Halachah of Yichud. The issue of Yichud comes up every time a person of one gender is in seclusion with someone of the opposite…
A primary condition of Yichud (halachically proscribed seclusion of male and females) is lack of free access or oversight. Hence, a private home that has pesach pasuach l’reshus harabim (a door that…
A nursing mother with a young baby may wake up multiple times during the night to feed her baby. Must she wash Negel Vasser (the alternating right/left-hand ritual washing upon waking)…
According to Halacha, the Biblical obligation to affix a mezuzah applies only to someone who both owns and resides in the property. A landlord who does not live on…
According to the Rambam a Mezuzah is needed only on a doorway that has a door. The majority of Poskim disagree and rule that a doorway with no door also requires a…
When renting a house or apartment in Chutz La׳aretz (outside of Eretz Yisroel), one is not obligated in the Mitzvah of Mezuzah until 30 days have passed. However, it has become the custom…
When purchasing STAM (Sifrei Torah, Tefilin, Mezuzos, Megilos), we must heed the words of the Shulchan Aruch, “Tzarich lihiyos me’oid yarei Shomayim v’choraid lidvar Hashem hamisasek bekesivas hatefilin v’tikunon.” One involved in writing and fixing STAM must…
Upon awaking in the morning we wash Negel Vasser (ritual washing of the hands in an alternating right/left pattern) to remove the vestiges of impurity acquired while we slept. But…
One should not sleep during the day longer than what is called Sheinas Ha’Sus, the duration of time that a horse sleeps. Daytime is for learning Torah, not for…
There are various reasons a person would undergo genetic testing. For those suffering from certain conditions—both children and adults—the presence of chromosomal mutations may reveal a diagnosis (or prognosis)…
If a person discovers a price or cleaning tag attached to one of their garments on Shabbos, but does not particularly care about it being there and will not even…
Environmentalists may seem to have the monopoly on decrying the use of Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene foam) products, but Poskim debate the issue, too. Many Styrofoam cups are lubricated with a…
Halachah considers Zeiah (steam or vapor) generated by high temperatures to fall under the same category as the food that emits it, whether what’s cooking is solid or liquid: A Fleishig (meat)…
Many poskim have choice words to say about men growing a fringe, long hair in the front, or even long hair in the back. A key problem mentioned by many poskim is that…
A hot water urn that is available for public use in a place of business, work or school cafeteria or an airline kitchen may become Treif (non-kosher) when it comes…
Le’chatchilah (the correct behavior before the fact), a hot milchig (dairy) pot and a hot fleishig (meat) pot should not come into contact with each other. In case they did touch, Be’dieved (after the…
Opening a can on Shabbos involves a host of halachic issues, some of which are subject to serious debate amongst contemporary poskim. The issues include the risk of transgressing…
An issue frequently addressed by poskim is whether disposable utensils require Tevilah. The majority opinion is that since these utensils are not intended to last, and will eventually be disposed of,…
Article #180: Non Kosher Pills There is a heter for a sick person to take non-kosher pills, provided they are 1) swallowed whole, and 2) tasteless. Regarding this halachah,…
The Bimah may not be in the front of the shul. If absolutely necessary, there is room to permit so when there is at least one row of seats…
See here for answer. Sources: מקורות: חסל״א הובא בכה״ח סב, ז. מנחת יהודה הו״ד בשפ״ח שמות ח, ח. הליכות שלמה כב, ד. וראה העמק שאלה שאילתות ואתחנן קמג שהוכיח…
Article: Snow on Shabbos According to some Poskim, snow that falls on Shabbos is Muktzeh, but if it fell before Shabbos, it isn’t. Many Poskim say that we may not…
There is a Halachah in Shulchan Aruch that one should not drink water B’sha’as Hatekufah (four moments throughout the year, the two equinoxes and the two solstices, which mark when…
