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Author Archives: Harav Yehoshua Pfeffer

Financial Liability for Assault in Torah Law

Parashas Ki Tavo includes the instruction to hold, upon entry into the Holy Land, a public ceremony of Covenant, in which the People of Israel declared its allegiance to the word of Hashem and the keeping of His mitzvos. Included also is the acceptance of the eleven arurim (curses). The common denominator of the listed […]

The Rosh Hashanah Partnership

Towards Rosh Hashanah, this week we will discuss the question of the name “Rosh Hashanah.” Unlike other festivals, the title “Rosh Hashanah”, which appears in the Mishnah and writings of Chazal, is not derived from Torah verses–in which we find the names “Yom Teru’ah” and “Yom Hazikaron.” What caused Chazal to “change the name” of this day? And how does this name change reflect on our avodah of the day, on the prayer service, and on the blowing of the shofar? These questions, and more, are discussed in the article.

The Obligation to Support One’s Child

The beginning of Parashas Ki Seitzei notes the severe punishment meted out to the rebellious child – the ben sorer u-moreh who “does not listen to the voice of his father and his mother” (Devarim 21:18). The rebellious child refuses to heed his parents’ instruction, and, “He is a glutton and a drunkard”  (21:20). In […]

Words Will Never Hurt Me – Laws of Onaas Devarim (2)

  As we approach the closing phases of Sefiras Ha-Omer, we dedicate the present article to completing the discussion we began two weeks ago concerning onaas devarim – causing pain and anguish by means of offensive words. In the previous article we saw the gravity of the prohibition against onaas devarim, and discussed some of […]

“Lifnei Iver”: Halachic Stumbling Blocks

The prohibition of “lifnei iver,” or “placing a stumbling block before the blind” (Vayikra 19:14), is understood by Chazal as going far beyond the literal reading of the words. Although it is certainly wrong to actually trip up a blind person, the prohibition is principally understood as forbidding assisting another person to violate Torah law. […]

Purim Charity: Halachos of Matanos La-Evyonim

The verses in Megillas Esther include the rabbinic enactmentsof Purim (9:22): “The days wherein the Jews had rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned for them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into festival; they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and […]

Mikeitz – The Torah Outlook on Jailing and Imprisonment

In this week’s parashah (together with last week’s) we find one of the only occasions where the Torah
mentions a prison sentence. We take the opportunity to investigate the Torah’s outlook on imprisonment.
Does the Torah see jailing and imprisonment as a legitimate form of punishment? Is it permitted to keep
somebody pending trial in jail? Is it permitted to jail somebody on Shabbos. These questions, and more, are
discussed in this week’s article.

Bahaaloscha – “Lights Off” – Lighting Shabbos Candles in a Lit Room

A common Shabbos question of the modern day, which many authorities have addressed, is the question of lighting Shabbos candles in a room, well-lit by electric lighting. In terms of lighting up the room, the effect of Shabbos candles in a room lit by electric lighting is negligible. The question is, therefore, raised: Is such […]

Shavuos Guide – Dairy Foods on Shavuos: How and Why

Just like other yamim tovim, there is a mitzvah of simchah on Shavuos (Orach Chaim 529:3). In fact, the Gemara (Pesachim 68b) writes that although there is a dispute concerning other mo’adim as to whether they are “entirely for Hashem” or “half for you” (meaning also for our pleasure), on Shavuos all agree that the day is “also for you.”

The most basic way in which we have enjoyment and pleasure is by the special foods we prepare in honor of the day. The standard Yom Tov meals include meat and wine (see Biur Halachah 545, s.v. veim), which are considered joy-inducing. Yet on Shavuos, many prepare meals including dairy products, a custom that is cited by many halachic authorities.

This custom does not prevent a person from eating meat, and both dairy foods and a meat meal are generally consumed. Partaking of both meat and milk requires precautions to ensure that they don’t get mixed up.

In the present article we will discuss the issue of eating dairy foods on Shavuos, including both the question of why we do so, and the explanation of how the combination of dairy with meat can be achieved without running into halachic pitfalls.

Lifnei Iver: Halachic Stumbling Block (Part II)

This week we continue the discussion of the prohibition of lifnei iver that we opened last week. Does the prohibition of lifnei iver apply even to possible transgressions, or does it relate specifically to transgressions that are certain? What are the parameters of the prohibition against assisting somebody in a sin, aside from the prohibition […]

Vayigash – Respect Your Grandparents – To Which Extent

In this week’s parashah we find Yaakov Avinu offering sacrifices to the G-d of his father, Yitzcak. The mention of Yitzchak, rather than Avraham, leads Rashi to comment (based on the Midrash) that a person is obligated in the honor of his father to a greater degree than that of his grandfather. We take the opportunity to discuss the concept of honoring one’s grandparents. Is there an obligation to honor one’s grandparents, and what is the extent of the obligation? Does the obligation apply even after a parent’s death? Does it apply equally to paternal and maternal grandparents? These questions, and more, are discussed in this week’s article.

The Obligation to Prolong Life Under All Circumstances?

Continuing from last week’s article, we turn this week to the important issue of the obligation to prolong life. As we saw, suicide is among the most heinous of crimes, as indicated by the fact that one does not mourn for a suicide. The cases in which it a person is permitted to take his […]

Parashas Va’eira – Kriyas Shema and Prayer in Audible Tones

“He Cried out to Hashem” – Kriyas Shema and Prayer in Audible Tones The pasuk in our parashah, Parashas Va’eira, describes the prayer of Moshe Rabbeinu to Hashem, after Pharaoh agreed to set the Children of Israel free: “Moshe and Aharon departed from Pharaoh; Moshe shouted to Hashem, concerning the matter of the frogs that […]

Toldos – Truth and Falsehood: A Halachic Perspective

This week’s parashah includes the difficult episode of how Yaakov takes Yitzchak’s blessings, ostensibly by means of deception. This episode, and a number of additional episodes in the life of Yaakov, raise a patent difficulty: How could Yaakov, whose fundamental attribute is Truth, seem to be involved in apparent trickery and falsehood? Discussion of this question leads us to the halachos of truth and falsehood. What, if any, is the prohibition invovled with speaking falsehoods? To what does the Torah instruction of distancing oneself from falsehood apply? When, and under which circumstances, is it permitted (or obligatory) to deviate from the truth? May one do so on a regular basis? These questions, and more, will be discussed in this week’s article.

PARSHA PONDERINGS-VAYERA FAIL?

I CAN’T. BECAUSE I COUNT. BECAUSE I’M BEING COUNTED ON. וישא עיניו וירא והנה שלשה אנשים נצבים עליו, וירא וירץ לקראתם מפתח האהל וישתחו ארצה He [Avraham] lifted his eyes and saw: and behold!, three men were standing upon him, and he saw and ran toward them from the entrance of the tent, and bowed […]

Hilchos Tzedakah, compiled and arranged by Rosh Ha-Kolel Harav Yosef Fleischman

We saw in last week’s halachos that a person should not give all of his maaser money to a single person, at least not on a regular basis. However, according to some opinions, if a person has one poor relative, he may transfer all his funds to him, even on a regular basis (Maharsham 1:32; […]

Ki Teitzei – Weights and Measures in Halachah

The Torah is particularly stringent with regard to matters of weights and measures, prohibiting not only the act of deception,
but even keeping false weights and measures in one’s possession. Today, there is virtually not a home in which several weights
and measures can be found, and their halachic status is not as clear as we might think. Is it permitted to keep an
inaccurate kitchen scale at home? What of bathroom scales, a baby bottle (with volume markings), or a tape measure? This
week’s article deals with these questions, and with related issues of weights and measures.

Parshas Pinchas – Inheriting the Rabbinate

When the concept of inheritance is brought up, we are far more likely to think of money and possessions than of positions of authority. Yet, poskim over many generations have expounded on the question of “rabbinic inheritance”: Does a son inherit his father’s position as rabbi of the community? This, and related issues, are the subject of the present article, which finds an important source in Parshas Pinchas.

Parshas Mishpatim – Taking the Law into Your Own Hands: Permissible or Not?

This week’s Parashah, Parashas Mishpatim, presents the natural and direct continuation from the event of receiving the Torah, of which we read last week. After the Torah was given, Moshe, under instruction from Hashem, began to teach the people the intricate laws of the Torah, and in particular, the civil law that the Torah defines. This week’s article presents a fascinating halachic discussion over whether, and to what extent, a person is permitted to take the law into his own hands. In addition, the article addresses the delicate question of whether it is permitted to hand a Jewish criminal over to the police, where he will be subject to punishments other than those sanctioned by the Torah.

Vayeitzei – The Basics of Ma’aser Kesafim

In this week’s parashah we find the vow made by Yaakov Avinu to tithe everything he receives for the sake of Heaven. In this connection, we dedicate our discussion to the basic laws of maaser kesafim — some of which are actually extracted from the vow made by Yaakov. What is the special virtue of giving maaser? Why is it permitted to ‘test’ Hashem in this matter? What is the nature of the obligation to give maaser, who is obligated in doing so, and to whom may the maaser money be given? These questions, and more, are discussed in this week’s article.

Chayei Sarah – Halachic Aspects of the Shadchan

In line with the theme of this week’s Parashah, which includes the first shidduch recorded by the Torah, this week’s
article is dedicated to the halachos governing shadchanus. What is the principle behind payment of a shadchan, as
commonly practiced among Ashkenazi communities? When must shadchanus gelt be paid, and who is obligated to
make the payment? How are shadchanus fees divided between various parties involved in making the shidduch?
These questions, and more, are discussed in this week’s article.

איסור חבלה בעצמו לצורך – ניתוח קוסמטי – פרשת לך לך

זאת בריתי אשר תשמרו ביני וביניכם ובין זרעך אחריך המול לכם כל זכר (בראשית יז, י) בגמרא (יומא כח ע”ב) מבואר שקיים אברהם אבינו את כל התורה כולה. ולפי יסוד זה הקשו מפרשי התורה במילת אברהם אבינו, שכיון שקיים מעצמו את כל התורה, למה המתין לציווי ה’ יתברך לקיים מצוות מילה, והרי היה לו למול […]

To Drink or Not to Drink

In this week’s Parashah we learn of the potency of wine and the disasterous effects it can have. But what is the halachic status of wine and drunkeness? Does halachah distinguish between different degrees of inebriation? Aside from the question of “permitted or forbidden,” which further ramifications are there of drinking and drunkeness? These questions, and more, are address in this week’s article.

Money in Cash Machine/Maaser for College Education

To whom it may concern, I have a few questions for the Rav, which I’ll label. Is it possible to indicate which Rav answered my questions?: 1) Is it permissible to use ma’aser money for college education? 2) I carpool with another girl and owe her money for gas and tolls, but we’re not always […]