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 »
Category: Articles
How Much Must One Pay for Merchandise he Damaged in a Store
BS”D Question I recently purchased wine in a store. The bottles of wine were packed tightly in the box. As I pulled out the bottle I wished to purchase,… Read more »
Oldest Brother: A Mitzvah of Honor?
Many of us—in fact, the great majority of us, certainly in Orthodox Jewish homes—grow up with an older sibling. The presence of an older brother or sister at home… Read more »
Long Construction, Quick Destruction
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 »
Women’s Torah Study: Yesterday and Today
In Parashas Toldos we find Rivkah going to “seek out [the word of] Hashem” concerning the twins that agitated in her womb (Bereishis 25:22). The Torah itself does not… Read more »
Reaching The Peak
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 »
The Secret To Wealth
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 »
It Is Worth The Pain
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 »
NO SMOKING!
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 »
Singing Confessions
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 »
Uprooting a Fruit-Bearing Tree that May Cause Damage- Part 2-Is it Dangerous
Question We live in the U.S. and a fig tree recently started growing in our yard. We didn’t plant it. Apparently, some seeds fell to the ground in our… Read more »
Praying for the wicked
In this week’s Parsha the Torah describes the story of Sedom’s destruction. As the evildoing of Sedom reached its tipping-point, Hashem decides to destroy Sedom. Prior to carrying out this… Read more »
Collective Punishment in Halacha
The story of the flood and the death of, “everything that is on the earth” (Bereishis 6:17), raises the question of the legitimacy of collective punishment. As a result… Read more »
Is one required to build a Ma’ake for a Window
Question You wrote that even though the Torah writes the mitzvah of ma’ake in connection with fencing-in a roof, nevertheless, the mitzvah of ma’ake requires one to construct… Read more »
Eating Before Kiddush and Havdalah
Parashas Bereishis includes Hashem’s sanctification of the Shabbos: “Hashem blessed the day of Shabbos and He sanctified it.” The sanctification of Shabbos is associated with the mitzvos of Kiddush… Read more »
Is One who Rents a House from a Gentile Required to Build a Ma’akeh
Question I rent a house from a gentile and my children play on the roof. There is a two foot high wall around the roof. I understand that… Read more »
All In A Word
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 »
Time for Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum
This week’s article deals with the issue of when to read shnayim mikra ve-echad targum. From when can this weekly mitzvah be performed, and when is the last time for reading shnayim mikra? Are there special halachos concerning the reading of Vezos Haberachah and Bereishis? What are the laws concerning reading at night? These questions, and more, are discussed in this week’s article.
Binding the Arba Minim
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.
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 »
Reclaiming the Rental Agent’s Fee when the Apartment Becomes Unlivable
Question In June, I rented a small apartment for a year, beginning in September, through a rental agent. My agreement with the rental agent was that he would receive… Read more »
Incurring a Major Expense in order to Save a Relative’s Life
Question I have a close relative who is very seriously ill. The doctors say that there is a new but very expensive drug that almost certainly will save his… Read more »
Liability for a Stolen Bike that was Placed on the Street in the Presence of its Owner
Question Many of the children in my building leave their bikes in the stairwell. I understand their reason for doing so: the lack of room in their apartment for… Read more »
Received an Extra Shirt from the Cleaner
Question I gave two shirts to the cleaners. After a few days I received my cleaned shirts back from the cleaners. After paying the delivery boy I opened the… Read more »
Paying a Babysitter who Departs Before your Return
Question Often I hire a babysitter to watch my children until ten o’ clock at night. Even though I plan to return later, since my children sleep well, I… Read more »
Selling Synthetic Diamonds for the Price of Natural Diamonds
Question I sell diamonds retail. Currently, one can manufacture diamonds which look exactly like real diamonds. Is there anything wrong if I sell the manufactured diamonds for the same… Read more »
Does Beis Din Claim on Behalf of one who Does not Make a Possible Claim
Question I plan to take someone to a din Torah. I was thinking about whether I should hire a to’ein rabboni or not. One reason I thought of… Read more »
Matos: Is one Obligated to Pay an Unusually High Price that was Agreed Upon
Question Recently, some of my students who were in Israel for the summer, hailed a cab late Friday afternoon. The cab driver said if they want to go… 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 »