This week we will continue our discussion of a guarantor – the halachic arev. Last week we opened the discussion with an outline of whether or not there is a mitzvah to accept arvus, and discussed when a regular arev needs to pay the debt and whether he can retract his commitment. In the present […]
Author Archives: za.yeheskel
The “Bar Mitzvah Bracha” – baruch shepatrani mei’onsho shel zeh
Sources to the Bracha In the middle of the Bar Mitzvah celebrations, the father makes an unusual bracha which is unlike any other. The bracha relates to the bond of culpability that exists between the father and the son which ceases at the age of Bar Mitzvah. Thus, at this time, the father […]
Devarim-“Like One Person, With One Heart”
Last summer during the war in Gaza an e-mail written by an Israeli soldier detailed all the chesed (Kindness) and unity among Jews that we shared then: “What’s happening here in the area where soldiers prepare to enter Gaza is beyond comprehension, not rationally, not emotionally, and begs the imagination. Almost every hour a […]
Pinchas- All our Deeds are Truly Important
In this week’s parsha Moshe was informed of his imminent passing. The great leader instead of focusing on his own needs, he busied himself with the needs of the Jewish people. The Torah recounts Moshe’s prayer to Hashem that He should appoint a leader to take over the position that he had filled for […]
Good Luck Charms
Is it wrong for a Jew to say “I’m keeping my fingers crossed” for good luck? And if so, is there a Jewish equivalent to crossing fingers? I’m waiting to hear back about a job interview, and need all the luck I can get . . . Answer: Yes, it is wrong for a Jew […]
Cutting Trees for Shavuos during Shmitta
I had seen this past Shavuos in many shuls that not only flowers were hung around the shul but actual branches from trees that were seemingly cut down to put up in shul. What is the heter to cut branches from a tree during Shmitta in order to decorate a shul for Shavuos? Answer: Cutting […]
Rinsing Dishes
I’d like to know if it is permissible on Shabbos to rinse dishes right after use before placing them in the sink to be washed after Shabbos. Thanks for your service. Answer: Giving dishes a short rinse in order to prevent smell and flies from the dishes, and/or to prevent the dirt from becoming caked […]
Dairy Margarine Used with Chicken
We used a margarine that was not Parve to make fried chicken, we did not eat the chicken but later someone told us that it would have been OK to eat it because the margarine was only 1% dairy Is that correct ? Thanks Answer: If it could be verified that there was in fact […]
Court Procedure
When someone gets a heter to go to court, is that person limited in the types of witnesses he can call. For example, under US law many witnesses can be called/deposed, and many documents can be subpoena. Is there a limit on the baal din (who got a heter to go to court) how to […]
Using Broker’s Information
I work in real estate. If a broker who is a goy makes a property known publicly that is for sale and after seeing their advert I want to contact the seller directly which will allow me to avoid paying the goy a brokerage fee, am I allowed to do this? Answer: No, this is […]
Tevillan for Popcorn Machine
Does a popcorn machine need to be tovelled? Answer: In principles, like all machines for preparing food, the part that comes into contact with the corn must be toveled. If this part is detachable, then it alone needs tevillah. For a general approach to immersion of electrical appliances, please see here. Best wishes.
Debts and Maaser
Hi am i aloud to pay up old חובת from מעשר money Thank you Answer: Maaser money is intended for the poor. However, if you cannot afford to pay back debts, then paying debts is an obligation that takes precedence over maaser – like all other obligations. Ensure that you pay off your debts, and […]
Coffee Cup Touching Spout
Hi, I was using a dairy coffee mug that was washed and clean (although, it still has those coffee stains inside it, and it was used in the last 24 hours for coffee with milk) and so I put the pareve coffee mix inside the mug and fill it up with hot water from the […]
Shopping in Nine Days
Can I shop online if the item will probably only arrive after Tishah Be’Av? Anslo, can iI shop in stores if i wont get any enjoyment from it now and there are sales now which I don’t know how long they will last? I am off from work now and i will be very busy […]
Carrying on Sukkos
I have a question referring to Sukkot: Can you carry on Sukkot? Answer: Like other Yamim Tovim, it is permitted to carry on Sukkos. Yom Tov is different from Shabbos in this respect, for on Shabbos it is forbidden to carry without an eruv, whereas it is permitted to carry on Yom Tov. However, note […]
Alon Hamishpat #45
Piskei Din – Prohibited of גניבת דעת part 4 is the ground-floor tenant require to pay for the use of the elevator food that was placed under the bed – prohibition and obligation to pay
Daf Hayomi – Eruvin 10
Rabbi Shalom Rosner – Eruvin 10 View the Daf – עירובין דף י
Daf Hayomi – Eruvin 8
Rabbi Shalom Rosner – Eruvin 8 View the Daf – עירובין דף ח
Daf Hayomi – Shabbos 120
Rabbi Shalom Rosner – shabbos 120 View the Daf – שבת דף קכ
Daf Hayomi – Shabbos 119
Rabbi Shalom Rosner – shabbos 119 View the Daf – שבת דף קיט
Daf Hayomi – Shabbos 118
Rabbi Shalom Rosner – shabbos 118 View the Daf – שבת דף קיח
Daf Hayomi – Shabbos 117
Rabbi Shalom Rosner – shabbos 117 View the Daf – שבת דף קיז
Using the Jewish and Secular Date
As we approach the month of Nissan, the reading on this Shabbos includes Parashas Ha-Chodesh, the reading of the New Month: “This month is for you the first of months, it is the first, for you, among the months of the year” (Shemos 12:2).
The mitzvah of sanctifying the new month was the first mitzvah given to the Jewish People as a nation, and it preceded their coming forth from Egypt.
In the initial creation of the world, a number of commentaries (including the Sefornu, the Vilna Gaon, and others) note that the creation of time is included in the very first words of the Torah: “In the beginning Elokim created.” In a similar vein, a mitzvah of time – a new time frame that had hitherto not existed – was given to the nation of Israel before its national creation.
Although the mitzvah of setting and sanctifying the month is not practiced today, the interpretation that Ramban gives to the text gives rise to a possible contemporary application of the mitzvah, and to a halachic issue that many authorities have discussed.
In the present article we will discuss the mitzvah of using the Jewish Date in documents. Is there such a mitzvah? Is there a prohibition against using the secular date? What is the significance of the Jewish months commonly used? How should letters and checks be dated? These questions, among others, are addressed below.
VAYISHLACH – ENCOURAGEMENT
The Parsha ends with an account of the genealogy of Esav. This is the birth of Amalek, the progenitor of the nation that would constantly strive to destroy Klal Israel. “And Timna was a concubine to Eliphaz and Eliphaz gave birth to Amalek.. ((Vayishlach, 36:12))” The Gemara in Sanhedrin informs us of the background to […]
Vayakhel #48
This week we take an in-depth look at the laws of the shul, and in particular, the laws derived from the comparison between today’s “small sanctuary” and the original Temple. Is this comparison made on a Torah level, or only on a rabbinic level? What are its ramifications concerning building or destroying a shul? Which […]