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Mercury, Mars and More

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Vayishlach-Paying a messenger more than he paid

Question I asked a friend who was learning in E. Y. and returning home for Succos, to buy me an esrog and bring it with him when he comes for Yom Tov. When he brought me the esrog he told me that he spent the equivalent of ninety dollars. I didn’t have ninety dollars […]

Last, But Not Least

Is the first the best, or do we save the best for last? Is the last one really the most cherished one, or is it a hackneyed phrase thrown at the luckless losers to put them at ease? Is there a Torah source for this concept? The first time the concept appears is when […]

Deeper than Technicalities

Vayetsei-Extends interest bearing loans to non-Jews on behalf of Jewish Investors

Question I own a company that finds non-Jewish borrowers for Jewish investors. The investor receives a certificate stating the name of the borrower, the amount of interest that the investor will receive from the borrower and the interest rate in case the borrower pays […]

The Gates of Heave

The heavenly gates mentioned in this week’s parasha are the subject of this week’s article. What are those Divine Gates? Why do we pray facing Jerusalem? What is the thought that goes along with the direction we face in prayer? Is the direction for prayer important only for the Shemone Esrei, or for all […]

Unfolding Uniqueness

Toldos-Sheitel setter paid for a lost sheitel and then found it

Question A lady brought me her almost-new sheitel to style and set. When she came to pick it up, it was not in the place where we keep fixed sheitels. I told her I would look for it and she should come back in a few days. We looked all over and could not […]

Praying with Kavana – Part II

In this week’s parasha we learn (Bereshis 25:21): “And Yitzchak prayed to the Lord opposite his wife because she was barren, and the Lord accepted his prayer, and Rivka his wife conceived.” Only after they prayed was Rivka blessed with children. In this week’s article we will continue the topic of prayer with kavana. […]

Economics

Chaye Soroh-Unforeseen gain from another’s lawsuit

Question The contractor who built our building had an agreement with the municipal authorities to grant them the first floor of the building he erected. He fulfilled his commitment and gave them the first floor. The municipality proceeded to rent the floor to a school for children who had problems (drugs etc.). Since we, […]

Praying With Kavana

In this week’s parasha we learn that Yitzchak went out in the late afternoon to pray in the field. Chazal teach us that at this point Yitzchak instituted the Mincha prayer – one of the three daily prayers. This week’s article will focus on the essence of Tefilla, and attempt to answer the gnawing […]

Vayero-Secondary damages that result from a person’s action

Question When I came to teach one morning I placed a stack of papers on a table in the teachers’ room. By the time I returned in the afternoon to retrieve my papers, a chair had been placed on the edge of the papers. I was in a rush and when I pulled out […]

Visiting the Ill

What is the essence of this mitzva? What’s the difference between the mitzva of visiting the ill and the general mitzva of chessed (love-kindness)? What is the source for the mitzva? Why didn’t Hashem visit Avraham Avinu in the first two days after his bris? Which sick people require visits? Does a person with […]

Kever Rochel

Metzitza B’Peh — Obligation and Performance

This week’s article will discuss the Bris Mila — the mitzva given to Avraham Avinu 3736 years ago. Since then, the mitzva is performed by all Jewish males in full accordance with the Jewish tradition. One of the four steps of the Bris, Metzitza, has been the subject of controversy in the past two […]

Lech Lecho-Damaged a fender which was repaired by another person who also damaged the fender

Question I was careless in pulling out of my parking spot and dented the front fender of the car that was parked behind. When the owner of the car asked for payment, I requested that he send me a picture of the car. When I received the picture I noticed that there were no […]

Tears that Tear

Noach-Store owner wants to give a certificate as a refund for a defective item

Question My wife recently purchased a dress and the very first time she wore it, it tore in a few places. Since obviously it was defective she went back to the store to return it. When she asked for the return of her money the store owner replied that the general practice is to […]

Three Sons, Three Qualities

Honorifics for the Deceased

In the beginning of this week’s parasha the Torah teaches us to praise righteous people after mentioning their name. What is the nature of this obligation? What are its practical implications? Is the opposite – cursing the wicked – also included? Can “of blessed memory” be affixed to the name of a living person, […]

Bereishis-Exchanged Sechach

Question I, and many others in my building, store my succa in the building’s underground shelter. When I was dismantling my succa this year, I noticed that the sechach that I used was not the one I had originally bought. The difference was slight and one could easily overlook the discrepancy but I clearly […]

Determining Shabbos

Determining when Shabbos falls in the Far East and Pacific Ocean is subject to much halachic debate. Where is the International Date Line according to Torah law? Why are there differences in dates in various Far East countries? Several countries, Hawaii for example, are popular vacation destinations but Shabbos may be problematic. Is it […]

Honoring the Torah

The opportunity to fulfill the mitzva of displaying respect for a Sefer Torah presents itself many times over the Yom Tov season. Is standing before a Torah scroll a full obligation or just a recommended practice? How far does the presence of the scroll obligate a display of reverence? The Torah scroll plays a […]

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Fascinating Yom Kippur Facts

Post-Shmitta Halachos

The year of Shmitta has ended. Farmers are back on their fields, sowing seeds and plowing the earth. Can the field or garden be tended as usual? Which prohibitions remain although Shmitta has ended? What is the status of produce harvested from now on and to the produce in the warehouses? Are fruits different […]

Vayelech-A Chosson’s Obligation to pay his Shadchan

Question Four years ago someone asked me to try to find a shidduch for his son. After much investigative work I found a girl who I thought would be very suitable for his son and Baruch Hashem the shidduch was successful. When they got engaged the father of the kallah paid me immediately for […]

Booking Moshiach

Nitsavim-Writing a Pruzbul for one who can’t come to Beis Din

Question I am a widow and need to make a pruzbul since there are both private individuals and banks that owe me money. My late husband used to do it for us in shul on Erev Rosh Hashana but I can’t do that. What can I do since I do not want to […]

Practical Pruzbul Questions

This week’s article focuses on practical questions pertaining to the upcoming mitzva of Shmitas Kesafim and subsequently, the Pruzbul. How can the mitzva be fulfilled despite the Pruzbul? Is there any point in doing so? How can family and friends of an unconscious person assure that his debts remain redeemable? And what about an […]

Most Miraculous Miracle

Ki Sovo-Bought an item cheaply knowing that the sticker price was incorrect

Question Last week when I was shopping for Shabbos at the local Jewish-owned supermarket, I noticed boxes of imported kiwis marked ten shekels. I buy kiwis often for Shabbos and knew that for the last two months they and the other local stores have been selling these boxes for twenty shekels a box. I […]

Pruzbul and Shmitas Kesafim

The infrequent mitzva of shmitas kesafim will be applicable at the end of this year, the Shmitta year of 5782. Is the mitzva basically a loaner’s amnesty? What is the Pruzbul, and how does it work? Is there anything practical we have to do for it? Does the Pruzbul have to be made out […]

Sufficient Sleep

Safeguarding Our Rooftops – Erecting A Fence On Public Buildings

This week’s parasha teaches of the mitzva of installing a fence on rooftops. Who is obligated to erect it – the owner of the property or the actual user? Is there a difference if the fence requires a professional to install, or not? If both the owner and the user wish to perform the […]

Ki Seitsei-Paid under Duress for Giving a False Guarantee

Question We recently had the following sheilo in our beis din and I would like to hear your opinion. A was interested in developing and marketing a new product. In order to raise funds he turned to his wealthy neighborhood acquaintance B to invest in his product. He told B that his product was […]

The Priestly Gifts: The Foreleg, Cheeks, and Abomasum

The Torah obligates the shochet to give the foreleg, cheeks, and abomasum of every kosher four-legged animal to a kohen. Which cuts of meat are they? Are we permitted to purchase the relevant cuts in the supermarket, or does so involve theft of priestly gifts? Why is this mitzva not performed nowadays in commercial […]

Shoftim-The obligation to promptly pay a worker who was hired by an agent

Question We are six neighbors in a building and we recently had a clogged sewer pipe. On behalf of all the neighbors, I hired someone to unclog the pipe. In order to pay I needed to collect the money from the neighbors and for various reasons I couldn’t get money from all of the […]

Car Accidents

Serendipitous Surprise

The War Against Shechita

In this week’s parasha we learn of the obligation to slaughter animals in order to make them fit for Jewish consumption. Shechita has come under attack by many organizations, primarily those aiming to end all use of animals, from meat to shoes, under the premise of animal rights. The Torah’s concept of tza’ar ba’alei […]

Re’eh- Deducting mortgage Payments from Income when calculating Ma’aseir

Question I bought a house as an investment in order to supplement my income. I took a mortgage from the bank which I repay using all the income from the rent. Am I supposed to give ma’aseir on the rental income or, since I use all the rent money to pay off the mortgage, […]

Perusing Pain

Lots in Halacha – Part III

This week’s article will complete our series on lots in halacha. Are Jews permitted to buy lottery tickets? Play Poker? Gamble? Why? When is a lot a halachically permissible system for determining results and when is it not legitimate? Can a lot be cast on Shabbos? Many Avos U’bonim learning sessions on Shabbos afternoons […]

Eikev-Signed a contract that did not reflect the Verbal Agreement

Question I signed a contract to purchase an apartment. The apartment had an extension that had been built illegally. I discussed with the seller my desire to have the extension legalized. In order to do so one has to file plans with the city planning commission and get them approved, which is not a […]

Paragon of Passion

Vo’eschanan-Installed Air Conditioners in a Rented Apartment

Question When I moved into the apartment that I rented three years ago, the landlord agreed that I could install air conditioners. However, he stipulated that when I leave I must return the apartment to its original state. Now that I am preparing to leave, he decided that he would like me to leave […]

Use of Lots in Halachah

This week’s article is the second instalment on utilizing lots in halachah. Can lots be used, upon joint agreement, as a tool for determining division of an estate, or is it a halachically forbidden form of “rolling the dice”? Can one of the parties change his mind once the results are in? Can the […]