The custom is to bind it in three places, corresponding to the three Avos. The highest knot must be at least 8cm below the top of the spine, to allow the leaves to rustle when the lulav is waved.
Category: Articles
Sukkot Guide – Building the Sukkah
Chapter One Building the Sukkah When should one begin to build the sukkah? According to most opinions, one should begin on the day after Yom Kippur. It is praiseworthy to… Read more »
Is one Required to Fence-in a Swimming Pool?
Question I have a swimming pool in my backyard which is surrounded by a low fence. One of my neighbors told me that I have to build a sturdy… Read more »
Asking Forgiveness for Interpersonal Sins
As we approach Yom Kippur, we are confronted by the task of Teshuvah – repenting our misdeeds and turning over a new leaf to better our ways for the… Read more »
Eating Before the Shofar
We spend much of Rosh Hashanah in prayer. Davening is long and intensive, and in many communities people come out of Shul as late as 2 or 3 pm,… Read more »
A House Built with Incorrect Measurements
BS”D Question I recently received my new house from the contractor. The contractor owned the land and he showed me his plans for developing the land. Based on these… Read more »
Turning Darkness Into Light
Rabbi Yehoshua Alt Please send your feedback to yalt3285@gmail.com To join the thousands of recipients and receive these insights free on a weekly email, obtain previous articles, feedback, comments, suggestions, to… Read more »
Respect Your Food! Halachic Principles for Handling Food
As we realize most forcefully on fast days, food is a very central part of our lives. So central, that the very first instruction of Hashem to humankind, given… Read more »
Supporting The Fallen
Rabbi Yehoshua Alt Please send your feedback to yalt3285@gmail.com To join the thousands of recipients and receive these insights free on a weekly email, obtain previous articles, feedback, comments, suggestions, to… Read more »
A “Good Eye”: The Mitzvah of Judging Favorably
The basic character trait of Bilam was ayin hara, an evil eye. It was his negative way of perceiving others that gave his curse potency. The Mishnah thus teaches… Read more »
Bolok (Chukas in Chutz La’aretz): Can One Show Gratitude to a Lender?
Question I recently purchased an apartment and in order for me to avoid taking a mortgage, several of my relatives extended me an interest-free loan. Is there any… Read more »
Chukas (Korach in Chutz Lo’oretz): Using Ma’aser Money to Purchase Raffle Tickets-II
Question Last week we left unanswered the question of whether one may use ma’aser money to purchase tzedoko raffle tickets that were sold at a tzedoko banquet. Answer Since… Read more »
Fighting a War on Shabbos
Parashas Chukas includes the first instance of the nation of Israel conquering another nation’s territory. Immediately following Aharon’s death, the Torah tells us that the Canaanites attacked Israel, and… Read more »
Choose Your Friends
ב’ תמוז תשע”ט פרשת חקת July 5, 2019 6th year, edition 289 To join the thousands of recipients and receive these insights free on a weekly email, obtain previous articles,… Read more »
Korach (Shlach in Chutz La’aretz): Using Ma’aser Money to Pay to Attend a Tzedoko Banquet
BS”D Question I head a tsedoko organization and we have an annual banquet. I want to maximize attendance at the banquet. If I can tell people that they can… Read more »
Ascension After Death
Rabbi Yehoshua Alt To join the thousands of recipients and receive these insights free on a weekly email, obtain previous articles, feedback, comments, suggestions, to support or dedicate this publication… Read more »
Pidyon Haben: Payment or Redemption?
Parashas Korach includes the Torah obligation to redeem firstborn sons: “Every first issue of a womb of any flesh that they offer to Hashem, whether man or beast, shall… Read more »
To Borrow or Not to Borrow? – Borrowing Mitzvah Items
One of the prerequisites for fulfilling the mitzvah of tzitzis is that the garment on which the tzitzis are hung—the tallis we wear in shul, or the tallis katan… Read more »
Shelach (Beha’aloscho in Chutz Lo’oretz) A Rental Property which Became Partly Unusable
BS”D Question I rented a house for a year starting in September that had an outdoor pool in the backyard. During the winter a crack developed in one of the… Read more »
Davening At Gravesites
Rabbi Yehoshua Alt To join the thousands of recipients and receive these insights free on a weekly email, obtain previous articles, feedback, comments, suggestions, to support or dedicate this publication… Read more »
Man And Woman- The Differences
Rabbi Yehoshua Alt To join the thousands of recipients and receive these insights free on a weekly email, obtain previous articles, feedback, comments, suggestions, to support or dedicate this publication… Read more »
Who Owns Fruit that Grows on Branches which Overhang Someone’s Property?
BS”D Parshas Beha’alosecho (Nosso in Chutz Lo’oretz) Who Owns Fruit that Grows on Branches which Overhang Someone’s Property? Question There are several fruit trees that overhang my property. I didn’t… Read more »
Shabbos Candles in a Room with Other Lights
When the enactment of lighting Shabbos candles was made, the idea was that the Shabbos candles will provide light for the home or room. One of the basic purposes… Read more »
A Caterer Changed the Menu
Parshas Naso (Bamidbar in Chutz Lo’oretz) A Caterer Changed the Menu Question I recently made a chasuna. Long before the chasuna my wife sat down with the caterer and… Read more »
Worth the Effort: Toiling in Torah Study
As Shavuos approaches, a question that often comes to mind is the matter of toiling in Torah study. Many have the custom of learning Torah during the entire night… Read more »
Judgement Day- Of A Different Kind
Rabbi Yehoshua Alt To join the thousands of recipients and receive these insights free on a weekly email, obtain previous articles, feedback, comments, suggestions, to support or dedicate this publication… Read more »
Temimos: Counting a Complete Sefira
The Magen Avraham (beginning of 494) writes an important chiddush concerning the completion of Sefiras HaOmer. Concerning Kiddush on Shavuos night, he states, “On the night of Shavuos one… Read more »
Parshas Bamidbar (Bechukosai in Chutz La’aretz) – Squatter’s Liability
Question I recently went on a trip and planned to stay overnight in Meron. I didn’t make sleeping arrangements because I knew that there are places where one… Read more »
Completing A Sefer
Rabbi Yehoshua Alt To join the thousands of recipients and receive these insights free on a weekly email, obtain previous articles, feedback, comments, suggestions, to support or dedicate this publication… Read more »
The Real Doctor
Rabbi Yehoshua Alt To join the over 2,500 recipients and receive these insights free on a weekly email, obtain previous articles, feedback, comments, suggestions, to support or dedicate this publication… Read more »
Parshas Bechukosai (Behar in Chutz Lo’oretz) – Damage from an Extinguished Lag Bo’omer Bonfire
Question Last year on Lag Bo’omer some of my neighbors made a customary bonfire. When they finished, they poured lots of water on the fire, extinguishing the flames… Read more »
Out of Synch? Resolving the Parasha Discrepancy
This year, the year 5779, gives us an opportunity to reflect on a phenomenon which occurs occasionally, whereby the Torah readings of Israel and the Diaspora are not synchronized… Read more »
Pricing in Torah Law
Most countries in the world today have certain elements of price control—a policy of setting prices (usually a maximum price or price cap) by a government agency or regulatory… Read more »
Behar (Chutz Lo’oretz Emor): A Child Damaged at his Parent’s Behest
BS”D Question I had an issue with my neighbor. As a result, my neighbor decided to get even with me. He told his eleven year old son to throw… Read more »
Making The Most Of Our Time
Rabbi Yehoshua Alt To join the over 2,500 recipients and receive these insights free on a weekly email, obtain previous articles, feedback, comments, suggestions, to support or dedicate this publication… Read more »
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… Read more »
Becoming Human
Rabbi Yehoshua Alt To join the over 2,500 recipients and receive these insights free on a weekly email, obtain previous articles, feedback, comments, suggestions, to support or dedicate this publication… Read more »
Is It Night Or Day?
Rabbi Yehoshua Alt To join the over 2,500 recipients and receive these insights free on a weekly email, obtain previous articles, feedback, comments, suggestions, to support or dedicate this publication… Read more »
Pesach-Is a Rabbi Liable for Forgetting to Sell a Congregant’s Chametz
Question Last year prior to Pesach, I went to the rabbi of our shul and filled out a form empowering the rabbi to sell the chametz that was… Read more »
Metzora-Asking the Authorities to Prevent a Jew from Exercising his Halachic Rights
Question At the end of last week’s article we remained with the question of whether a person may ask the secular authorities to prevent a yeshiva from blocking… Read more »
Kitniyos on Pesach: Stringencies and Leniencies
The difference between Sephardi and Ashkenazi dietary customs on Pesach is testimony to the richness and variety of Jewish tradition. While all Jews refrain from products that have a… Read more »
Tribulations
Rabbi Yehoshua Alt To join the over 2,500 recipients and receive these insights free on a weekly email, obtain previous articles, feedback, comments, suggestions, to support or dedicate this publication… Read more »
Tazria-Blocking a Public Path
Question Opposite my house is a lot which has been vacant for many years. We live on a long block and it is very convenient to cut across… Read more »
Mitzvah Performance: At Which Cost?
Parashas Tazria teaches us to perform Bris Milah on the eighth day of an infant’s life: “On the eighth day you shall circumcise the flesh of his foreskin.” The… Read more »
The Moon, Renewal And Nissan
Rabbi Yehoshua Alt To join the over 2,000 recipients and receive these insights free on a weekly email, obtain previous articles, feedback, comments, suggestions, to support or dedicate this publication… Read more »
Resposibility for Overhanging Branches
BS”D Question: I have a backyard with many trees. The branches of some of my trees overhang my neighbor’s yard and others overhang the pedestrian walkway which is adjacent… Read more »
To Check or Not to Check? Halachos of Bugs in Foods
Parshas Shemini highlights a prohibition that is of special relevance to one of the mitzvos of Seder Night: the prohibition of eating bugs and the concomitant obligation to check… Read more »
Time-Out\Rabbi Yehoshua Alt
Rabbi Yehoshua Alt To join the over 2,000 recipients and receive these insights free on a weekly email, obtain previous articles, feedback, comments, suggestions, to support or dedicate this publication… Read more »
The Purim Seudah: Halacha and Custom
Of all the mitzvos of the day of Purim, the one that perhaps occupies us the most is the mitzvah of se’udas Purim: the Purim feast. The seudah gives… Read more »
Liability for Luggage Checked-In For a Friend
Question I recently flew from the U.S. to Israel. A friend in Israel asked me to bring back a stroller he had in the U.S., and he offered… Read more »