One of the fascinating things about kodashim – matters pertaining to the sacrificial service of the Temple, and formerly of the Mishkan – is the power of the mind. Whereas… Read more »
Posts By: Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer
Halachos of Making a Menorah
ParashasTerumah discusses making the vessels for the Mishkan – among them the Menorah.
The Gemara in three places (Rosh Hashanah 24a; Avodah 43a; Menachos 28b) establishes a prohibition of forming vessels that imitate the vessels of the Mikdash – including the Menorah. Specifically, the Gemara states that it is forbidden to form a Menorah of seven branches – but it is permitted to form a Menorah of five, six, or eight branches.
In the present article we will discuss this prohibition and its details. How is the prohibition defined and what is its severity? Is the prohibition restricted to making a seven-branched Menorah, or is it also forbidden to keep and use one? What changes can be made to permit the Menorah?
These questions, among others, are discussed below.
Liability for Expenses Incurred in Legal Proceedings
More often than not, when two parties are involved in a legal dispute of any kind, expenses will be incurred. These expenses can include legal fees (payment to attorneys), loss… Read more »
Covering Hair for Divorcee
Is there any heter for a once married woman to stop covering her hair once she is divorced? Whether married for 1 month or 1 year? Answer: Even after a… Read more »
Moving Shabbos Lamp
Can a Shabbbos lamp be moved in order to better direct the light or one may only slide the cover over the light bulb? Answer: If the light bulb used… Read more »
Shaving Pubic Hair
Is my husband allowed to shave his hair on his lower body if I would like it? (P.s. We’re religious so not looking for heter if not ok) Answer: It… Read more »
“For Bribery Blinds the Wise” – Halachos of Bribes Today
This week’s article deals with the halachic issue of bribery – a prohibition found in this week’s Parashah, which the Torah and Chazal treat with great severity. What king of bribery is prohibited? When does bribery invalidate both judge and judgment? Moreover, does the prohibition apply only to judges, or does it extend to those holding public office? These questions, and more, are discussed in this week’s article.
Damage By a Car in Torah Law
Parashas Mishpatim presents us with an opportunity to discuss Torah monetary law, the basis for which is found chiefly in thus parashah. Specifically, we wish to discuss the Torah laws of damages (tort) – a central part Jewish civil law, which occupies a large part of Maseches Bava Kama.
A question, that was recently raised, will serve as the springboard for our discussion. Driving down a narrow street, Levi inadvertently brushed the side of a parked car, causing a small dent. Yaakov, the owner of the damaged car, was amicable enough, and it was agreed that the damage issues will be settled between them in Beis Din.
What are Levi’s obligations towards Yaakov? How are a damages by a car classified in Torah law? Does Jewish law recognize an obligation to pay for repairs? Does the negligence or otherwise of Levi figure in the question?
These questions, and others, are addressed below.
Abortion in Torah Law
This article discusses the Torah approach to the sensitive issues of abortions. What is the source for the prohibition against abortions, and which particular transactions are involved? When can an abortion be permitted according to Torah law? What is the status of a fetus carrying a genetic disease? These delicate questions, among others, are discussed in the present article.
Timer for Hot Plate
Is it permissible to place a cold solid food on a hot plate (controlled by timer) which is switched off, but is due to come on a later time? I… Read more »
Preparations for Shabbos: Laws of Friday
One of the Ten Commandments in Parashas Yisro is Shabbos. The Shabbos imperative to rest reminds us of Hashem’s creating the world in six days, and His resting on the… Read more »
Giving Charity in Geulah
What is the halacha if I am at the Kotel or in Geula and there are many people collecting money, am I obligated to give each one? Does it make… Read more »
Washing Hands After Bathroom and Before Bread
Hi. Whats the proper actions for one to do in a circumstance when one uses the bathroom and must wash his hands right before he also wants to wash for… Read more »
Shoveling Snow on Shabbos
Is one permitted to shovel on Shabbat if there is so much snow that he cant get to shul unless he shovels his way? Thank You Answer: Yes, this is… Read more »
Voting and Elections in Halachah
Parshas Beshalach records the first trials of Moshe’s leadership. Twice in the parashah we find the nation complaining to Moshe – once concerning a lack of food, and once a… Read more »
Bo-Basic Principles of Reading from the Torah
One of the few enactments that Chazal attribute to Moshe Rabbeinu is the requirement to read from the Torah. This basic requirement applies to Monday, Thursday, Shabbos and Yom Tov… Read more »
Mezuzah for Elevator Door
Should or should not put mezuza in elevator lobby on your floor (considering that has 4 x 4 amot and is Jewish only)? Answer: According to many authorities there is… Read more »
Non-Jewish Parents Escorting to Chuppah
Can non-Jewish parents escort their convert child on their son/daughter’s wedding day, considering that they wouldn’t be under the chuppah? Answer: It is permitted for a non-Jewish parent or parents… Read more »
Medicine and Health-Related Activities on Shabbos
One of the most practical halachic issues on Shabbos is using medicine, and performing treatments or other health-related activities on Shabbos. Although the details involved are numerous and we will… Read more »
Appointment of Judges in Halachah
In Parashas Yisro we learn of how the first judicial system in Israel came to be established. Initially, upon the departure of the Jewish People from Egypt, there was no… Read more »
Inviting non-Observant Guests for Shabbos
are we allowed to invite someone to our Friday night shabbat meal if he is Jewish but doesn’t know a lot about shabbat or judaism and may perhaps come in… Read more »
Tearing on Shabbos
Under what conditions can one rip on shabbos? Ex: opening up a box of tissues or an unopened item that is is gift wrapped. Answer: The laws of ripping on… Read more »
Washing until the Knuckles
Kitzur 1:3 says אך בשעת הדחק די עד קשרי אצבעותיו, Could you please clarify which knuckles and if the knuckles themselves shouls be washed> Thank you! Answer: The knuckles are… Read more »
Fridge for Chametz on Pesach
Question: My mother-in-law has a non-Jewish helper. They will both be residing at my sister-in-law during Pesach, this year. The helper brings her own non-kosher (chametz) food with her during… Read more »
Sheva Berachos without Minyan
If there is no minyan do you Sheva brochos and situation if there is no new person. Answer: If there is no minyan, one does not recite all of the… Read more »
Assault in Torah Law
This article deals with the Torah prohibition against assault, an issue we meet in Parashas Shemos in the “two Hebrew men fighting” that Moshe saw. When is it forbidden to hit others, and when does the prohibition not apply? What is the rule concerning smiting the wicked, and how does this halachah match the narrative mentioned in our parashah? What are the parameters of the prohibition against raising one’s hand against another? We will discuss these questions, and more, in the present article.
Assault in Torah Law
In Parashas Shemos we have our first encounter with Dasan and Aviram – two wicked men destined to become painful thorns in the sides of Israel. While quarreling with each… Read more »
Using Baby for Melachah on Shabbos
Hi May i use my 1 and a half year old to be my “shabbos Goy” to turn off lights etc.? Answer: It is not permitted to instruct a child… Read more »
Grandfather Using Maaser for Tuition
Can one use Maaser money in order to pay for the Jewish education of their grandchildren. If so, could you point me in the direction of some sources on the… Read more »
Terumah for Slaves
Can a woman in a priestly family feed her slaves t’rumah? (is she even considered the owner of her own slaves?) Thank you. Answer: Yes, this applies to men and… Read more »
Bringing In Garbage Bin on Shabbos
Can one move their garbage bin from the street curb to their house on shabbos in order to use it? Will it make a difference if the bin is empty?… Read more »
Order of Tachanun / Uva LeTzion / Aleinu
If the Tzibur is saying lamnatzeach mizmor ldovid at the end of shachris, and I fell behind and am still in the middle of or didn’t start yet ashrei (either… Read more »
Workers Losing their Income due to Competition
Somebody wants to open a shop near another equivalent one. He estimates that the other shop will still stay in business just fine but may have to fire a few… Read more »
Eating More Before Benching
Sometimes a person will eat a Kabeiyah of bread at a Sheva abrachos or Shabbos table at the beginning, and then there’s Divrei torah and speakers or talking, etc. for… Read more »
Kissing Sisters and Hearing them Sing
Is it permissible to hear my sister sing? Is it permissible to touch her? Answer: It is customary in many places to permit Kol Isha for sisters. Although some equate a… Read more »
Shaving Pubic Hair
Is it permissible to shave pubic hair? Answer: It is not permitted for a man to shave his pubic hair, unless there is a medical reason for this. Best wishes…. Read more »
Company Air Miles
I own a business and have a silent partner. I own 51% of the business and my partner owns 49%. When I purchase material for the business I typically use… Read more »
Saying Christmas
Is it permitted to say the word “christmas”? Answer: This is permitted. Although it is not permitted to say the name of idols and gods, in this case the reference… Read more »
Kiddush with Disposable Cup
Can one make kiddush using a plastic disposable cup? Also, can one use a shnapps cup with shnapps in it that’s less than reviis to make kiddush? Answer: It is… Read more »
Lending Money for Prohibition
‘My Jewish friend is in business of importing non kosher wine from France. He has found a deal to buy, but he is short in capital. he has asked me… Read more »
Leaning on the Bimah
May one lean on a bimah (used for a Sefer Torah)? Answer: It is permitted to lean on the Bimah, in particular when learning etc. Best wishes. Sources: In general,… Read more »
Asking Forgiveness: How and for What?
In Parashas Vayechi we find that Yosef is asked by his brothers to forgive them for the offenses they committed against him.
The Torah writes (Bereishis 50:15-18): When Yosef’s brothers saw that their father had died, they said, “What if Yosef holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” So they sent word to Yosef, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died… I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you badly.”
The Torah says that Yosef wept upon hearing the words, and then replied: “Do not be afraid – for am I in place of G-d? You intended to harm me, but G-d intended it for the good, to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
What remains unclear from the verses is the question of Yosef’s forgiveness: Did he actually forgive his brothers, or not?
Rabbeinu Bachya (50:17) gives the following answer: “Whoever has hurt another is not forgiven until the victim is appeased, even though he has repented. Now, even though the verses mention that Yosef comforted them and spoke to their hearts, which gives the appearance that Yosef forgave them, we nevertheless do not observe anywhere that in fact he did forgive them and put aside the wrong they had done to him. They thus died with their sin, without Yosef’s forgiveness. It is for this reason that their sin required some type of release, which occurred with the [death of the] Ten Martyrs.”
The passage teaches us the importance of procuring forgiveness from one’s fellow after harming him or causing him hurt, and in the present article we will focus of the halachic aspects pertaining to requesting forgiveness.
For which sins is there an obligation to ask forgiveness from one’s fellow? Is there a concurrent obligation to confess and to repent before Heaven? What is the nature of the request for forgiveness, and is there a need to detail the sins? These questions, among others, are discussed below
Matters of Custody: Best Interest of the Child
In Parashas Shemos we learn of the heroic deeds of the Hebrew maidservants, Shifra and Pu’ah, who decided to refrain from performing the wicked decree of Pharaoh. The king of… Read more »
Shemos: His Name in Israel Shall be…
This week’s parashah, and with it the book of Shemos, begins with a listing of the names of the Children of Israel. Several sources indicate the importance of names in Jewish tradition, and this week’s article is dedicated to matters of naming children. Why should one avoid the names of wicked people? Is it proper to name a child by non-Jewish names? When, in naming a child after somebody, should one be wary of ‘evil omens’? When is it right to change a name? These questions, and more, are discussed in this week’s article.
Hearing Women Singing
Is a man allowed to listen to a women singing? Answer: It is not permitted to listen to a woman singing if the performance is “live.” For recorded voice, there… Read more »
Giving Stam Yeinam Wine to Non-Jews
Stam yainam is d’rabanan, modeled on yayin nesech model. Is there a hanaa issue also? Can I re-gift it to a non Jew? Answer: The status of stam yeinam for… Read more »
Water Before Kiddush
Can I drink water before having made Kiddush Shabbos night/morning? Answer: No, it is not permitted to drink water before Kiddush. It is only permitted to drink water on Shabbos… Read more »
Number of Strings on Gartel
What do the different number of strings represent on a gartel? I’ve heard it has to do with Kabbala? Shalom aleichem. Answer: The idea of a gartel is to make… Read more »
Regulations of Board of Education
I have a Special Degree certification and got an offer for a P3 job-this means that I will work directly with the parents, because they ‘hand me’ the hours to… Read more »
Performing Mitzvos for Personal Benefit
It is very common that people sponsor learning, seforim or perform Mitzvos for Siyata Dishmaya. take challah and the like for:shidduchim, business,or refua of people not desperately ill. It seems… Read more »