This week’s article addresses the prohibition of hasagas gevul, meaning causing somebody else to lose his income. What are the parameters of the prohibition? How is it applied today? Is… Read more »

This week’s article deals with the laws of lashon hara, and in particular with the tension between the prohibition on the one hand, and the halachic and moral obligation to… Read more »

This week’s article continues to delineate the laws of bedikas chametz, and will deal with a number of important points. What is the correct time for performing the search? Which… Read more »

This week’s article discusses the mitzvah of bedikas chametz. Does searching for chametz involve a Torah mitzvah, or a rabbinic enactment? Does one have to ensure that he possesses chametz… Read more »

This week’s article discusses the timely obligation of bedikas chametz. True, there are still two weeks to go till Pesach, but even now, somebody leaving home might be obligated to… Read more »

This week’s article deals with the subject of electric lighting, a topic that halachic authorities over a number of generations have addressed. Can electric lighting be used for Shabbos candles?… Read more »

This week’s article deals with the issue of the joy of Purim in general, and the mitzvah of the Purim feast in particular. What is the correct time for eating… Read more »

This week’s article discusses the halachos of Parashas Zachor, which is read this week in advance of Purim. Is the reading of Zachor a Torah mitzvah, or a rabbinic enactment?… Read more »

This week’s article discusses the famous statement of Chazal: “When Adar enters, we augment our joy.” Why is the month of Adar singled out from all other months in its… Read more »

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 kind of… Read more »

In this week’s article we discuss the issue of Kiddush, and in particular the question of which beverages can be used for Kiddush. When is it permitted to make Kiddush… Read more »

This week’s article discusses the issue of lechem mishneh, the double-portion of bread that opens our Shabbos meals (commemorating the manna of the wilderness). Is lechem mishneh a full obligation?… Read more »

This week’s article discusses the halachic definition of chatzos: midday and midnight—a concept that appears in this week’s parashah in connection with Yetzias Mitzrayim. How is the time of chatzos… Read more »

This week’s article addresses the issue of prayer in a loud voice. Is the obligation of sounding one’s voice personal, depending on a person’s own hearing ability? What is the… Read more »

This week’s article deals with the Torah prohibition against assault, an issue we meet in this week’s parashah in the “two Hebrew men fighting” that Moshe saw. When is it… Read more »

This week’s article discusses a number of basic questions concerning the prohibitions against taking revenge and bearing a grudge. When are the prohibitions of taking revenge and bearing a grudge… Read more »

This week’s article will discuss the mitzvah of tocheicha – rebuking. When does the mitzvah of offering rebuke apply, and when does it not? What are the principles the lie… Read more »

This week’s article continues to discuss the halachic approach to dreams. Can halachic rulings issued in dreams be relied on? Must one comply with instructions given in a dream? What… Read more »

This week’s article opens a discussion of the issue of dreams. What is the halachic approach to dreams? When do we need to be concerned for things we see in… Read more »

This week’s article discusses an important and pertinent question of the laws of Shabbos: Is it permitted for somebody who is stringent concerning a particular issue to instruct his friend,… Read more »

This week’s article deals with the obligation to honor an older brother. What are the parameters of this obligation? Does it apply to all older brothers, or only to the… Read more »

This week’s article deals with the blessing of baruch sheptarani, the berachah recited by fathers upon their sons reaching Bar-Mitzvah. What is the meaning of the blessing, and why is… Read more »

This week’s article deals with the halachic subject of panim chadashos, a precondition for reciting the Sheva Berachos during the seven days of celebratory wedding meals. What are the parameters… Read more »

This week’s article deals with the issue of receiving gifts. Is it permitted to receive gifts? If not, why not? When is it proper practice to accept a gift? How… Read more »

This week’s article addresses the issue of a postponed Bris. What are the circumstances in which a Bris is postponed, and for how long does one wait? Which takes precedence:… Read more »

This week’s article discusses the issue of using different languages for purposes of Keriyas Shema and for prayer in general. When can English, or other languages, be used? Is it… Read more »

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… Read more »

This week’s article discusses the mitzvah of teshuvah, and in particular the recitation of viduy. In the halachic part of the article we will clarify how viduy is an integral… Read more »

The Power of the Shofar

This week’s article deals with the halachic issue of writing a Sefer Torah. What are the parameters of this mitzvah? Does the mitzvah apply today, and if so, why do… Read more »

This week’s article discusses the prohibition of tzaar baalei chayim, causing pain and suffering to animals. What are the parameters of the prohibition? When is it permitted to cause pain… Read more »

This week’s article continues the discussion of the laws of yichud. From what age does the prohibition apply? What are the parameters and the conditions of the leniency of an… Read more »

This week’s article begins to explore the laws of yichud, the prohibition of seclusion with a woman whose union is prohibited. How is the prohibition of yichud defined, and what… Read more »

This week’s article addresses the timely issue of reciting birkas ha-gomel, and focuses on the question of when the berachah should be recited. Is being saved from any dangerous situation… Read more »

This week’s article discusses the Torah’s instruction, “You shall do the good and the just,” and in particular the related concept of ‘going beyond the letter of the law.’ To… Read more »

The respective roles of Kohanim and Levi’im, which come up in our parashah in the context of Korach’s rebellion, inspire us to discuss a mitzvah that binds the two groups… Read more »

This week’s article discusses the interesting and always contemporary issue of the mitzvah of yishuv eretz yisrael. Is there a mitzvah, even today, of living in the Land of Israel?… Read more »

This special article for Shavuos deals with the custom of eating dairy products on Shavuos, and their proper separation from meaty foods. What is the source for the custom of… Read more »

This week’s article discusses possible disqualifications of Kohanim from participation in birkas kohanim. Although birkas kohanim is not a part of the Temple service, a number of sources indicate that… Read more »

After this week’s event of Lag Ba’Omer, this week’s article deals with the question of visiting the graves of the righteous. Does the pilgrimage to graves constitute a mitzvah? Is… Read more »

This week’s article discusses the issue of toiling in Torah study. What defines the obligation of Torah study? Is the obligation quantifiable? To which parts of Torah should one dedicate… Read more »

This week’s article deals with the prohibition of music during the Omer period. What is the source of the prohibition? Does it apply to all forms of music (even on… Read more »

This week’s article focuses on one aspect of the sefirah mourning: listening to music. Although it is well known that one mustn’t listen to music in the sefirah period, it… Read more »

This week’s article discusses the contemporary question of fulfilling promises—Afikoman promises. Is there a full halachic obligation to honor one’s Afikoman promise of Seder Night? Is there a difference between… Read more »