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 »
Category: Articles
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 »
Coercion: Enforcing Performance of Mitzvot
The book of Vayikra begins with instructions for the korban olah (Elevation Offering): “If one’s offering is an elevation offering from the cattle, he shall offer an unblemished male;… Read more »
Vayikro-The Permissibility and Perils of Keeping a Store Open on Purim
Keeping a Store Open on Purim Question: May I keep my store open on Purim? Answer: This is really two questions: (1) Does the halacha permit working on… Read more »
Electricity on Shabbos: Refrigerators
In last week’s article we discussed the principles underlying the use of electricity on Shabbos. As we saw, the consensus of halachic authorities is to prohibit turning on electrical… Read more »
Pekudei – Inheriting an Interest-Bearing Loan
Question: My father, who was not observant, passed away recently and I inherited from him an interest-bearing loan to another Jew. Do I have to return the interest… Read more »
Electricity on Shabbos: A Halachic Overview
In this week’s parashah we find the Torah injunction to refrain from lighting fires on Shabbos: “You shall not kindle a fire, in all of your dwellings, on the… Read more »
Ki Siso-Driving Away a Car Which Covered Glass
BS”D Question I parked my car in the supermarket parking lot. When I returned I noticed that there was a lot of glass under my parked car. Apparently, while… Read more »
Davening with a Minyan: Laws and Details
The counting of the Jewish People mentioned at the outset of Parashas Ki Tisa recalls the concept of a minyan—a word that refers to a group of ten Jewish… Read more »
Torah from Heaven? Halacha by Revelation
Among the Bigdei Kehunah, the unique garments that Moshe was instructed to fashion for Aharon and his children, we find the Choshen: “You shall place into the Choshen HaMishpat… Read more »
Terumah-Liability for Protruding Feet
Question I was riding on a bus and didn’t notice that a man had his feet sticking out into the aisle. I tripped over his feet and when I… Read more »
When is it Permissible to Go to Court?
In the previous article we discussed the basic prohibition against taking a legal dispute to non-Torah or secular courts of law. As we saw, doing so involves a particularly… Read more »
Going to Court? Better Think Twice
Parashas Mishpatim begins with the words: “And these are the ordinances that you shall set before them” (Shemos 21:1). Based on the Pasuk, the Gemara (Gittin 88b) cites the… Read more »
Parshas Mishpotim-Abruply Vacating a Rental Property
Question For the last ten years I have been renting out an apartment without a contract. Three months ago we finally signed a rental agreement. The contract states… Read more »
Fundamentals of Birkas HaTorah
The giving of the Torah, as detailed in Parashas Yisro, raises the issue of birkas hatorah—the beracha that is recited before engaging in Torah study. As we will see… Read more »
Parshas Yisro-Failure to Return a Damaged Object
Question I recently purchased an electric curler. I brought it home and the very first time I plugged it into the outlet it shut off the electricity. I… Read more »
Parshas Beshalach-Responsibility for a Broken Bottle
BS”D Question: Recently when I was loading my purchases into my car, a bottle of grape juice fell from one my bags and broke on the ground. Am I… Read more »
Birthday Celebrations: A Halachic Appraisal
The day of Yetzias Mitzrayim, our redemption from Egypt, is a birthday: the national birthday of Klal Yisrael. This is stated by the Pasuk in Yechezkel: “And as for… Read more »
Addendum to Last Week’s Article- Bris Cancelled at the Last Moment
We concluded last week’s article that the customer could cancel his order with the caterer since the reason for his cancellation was unforeseen and beyond his control and therefore,… Read more »