Question #1: My shoes tore on Yom Tov. May I have them repaired on Chol HaMoed? Question #2: The supermarket has something on sale on Chol HaMoed that I need right after Yom Tov. May I purchase it? Question #3: I am visiting my parents in Chutz La’aretz for Yom Tov. I know that I must keep two days of Yom Tov while visiting them, but does that permit me to cook on Chol HaMoed for their Acharon shel Pesach? Question #4: Someone told me that Chol HaMoed is sometimes stricter than Shabbos. How can that be? Answering these shaylos provides an opportunity to discuss the important and complicated ha ..read more

The beginning of Parshas Tazria includes references to parent-child relationships… Question #1: My Daughter, the Surgeon “I specifically want my daughter to perform my upcoming operation. Is this permitted?” Question #2: My Son, the Medic “May my son, a trained medic, give me my daily shot?” Foreword One of the many mitzvos mentioned in parshas Mishpatim is capital punishment for someone, male or female, who strikes his or her parent. As we all know, the aseres hadibros include a mitzvah of kibud av ve’eim, honoring parents, and the Torah also has another mitzvah of yiras av ve’eim, treating p ..read more

Question #1: Gentile Goulash Can a non-Jew determine if the cholent or the goulash is kosher? Question #2: Expert Witness Does halacha recognize the concept of an “expert witness?” Question #3: It Tastes Bad! Does whether something tastes good or bad affect halacha? Foreword: This article will discuss what happens if a small amount of something non-kosher falls into kosher food. Because of the limitations inherent in writing articles, at times I will need to omit significant details. As a result, please do not use this as a source for any halachic ruling. Refer a personal question to a rav. Wh ..read more

In common years, Parshas Tzav falls on Shabbos Hagadol, and the piyutim (and perhaps the drosha) of the day teach about kashering for Pesach. Although this year is a leap year and Shabbos Hagadol is a month from now… Question #1: Tevilas keilim Why is glass the only material other than metal for which Chazal required immersion? Question #2: Non-Kosher May I use a non-kosher drinking glass for a hot cup of tea? Question #3: Chicken soup and milk After serving chicken soup in a glass, may I pour hot milk into the same glass? Question #4: Kashering for Pesach How do I kasher my chometz-dik glass ..read more

Question #1: Birchos haTorah min haTorah Is birchos haTorah min haTorah? Question #2: Parshas Zachor Should a second parshas Zachor reading have a minyan? Question #3: America, America Is there an American angle to this halachic discussion? Foreword The halachic authorities dispute whether women are obligated to hear parshas Zachor, the Sefer Hachinuch (Mitzvah #603) ruling that they are exempt, whereas Rav Yaakov Ettlinger (author of Aruch Laneir and posek hador of western and central Europe during his lifetime), obligates them (Shu”t Binyan Tzion 2:8). A third opinion is that, although women ..read more

Question #1: Getting Rid of those Bugs! “May I trap or kill mosquitoes, bees, or wasps on Shabbos?” Question #2: Hanging from the Lowest Tree “I forgot to hang the flypaper before Shabbos. May I do it on Shabbos?” Question #3: A Charming Shabbos “May a snake charmer work on Shabbos?” Answer: Catching or dispatching We have all been in the following uncomfortable situation: Sometime during Shabbos, a mosquito appears in our vicinity seeking to earn its living. Although we realize that this creature requires its sustenance, we are not eager that we, our children or our guests should become mosq ..read more

Introduction One of the 39 melachos on Shabbos is netilas neshamah, literally, taking a life. Although we may not want to consider this to be a constructive activity, we recognize that the animal world was placed under our control to use it responsibly and respectfully. This article will discuss some of the details of the halachos of Shabbos that are included in this melacha. When listing the melachos, the Mishnah, refers to it as hashocheit, meaning he who slaughters. (Later in the article, I will discuss why the Mishnah refers to it in this manner, rather than the more technically accurate h ..read more

Question #1: Camp sisters “My sister’s family and ours are each spending Shavuos at nearby campsites. We were told that we could get together at a third spot between our two places for a Yom Tov barbecue. If we return on Yom Tov with the leftovers to our separate campsites, must we keep track of who brought which food?” Question #2: Bungalow bar mitzvah “A friend is making a bar mitzvah in a nearby bungalow colony. How far away can the colony still be within my techum Shabbos?” Question #3: Eruv Techumin “A lecturer will be speaking in the mountains not far from where I will be spending Shabbo ..read more

Question #1: Why then? “After sunset on a Friday evening, may I ask a non-Jewish person to turn on the lights?” Question #2: Until when? “May I toivel dishes, glasses and silverware during the same twilight period?” Question #3: Challah “May I separate challah during bein hashemashos?” Introduction: Twilight laws As we are all aware, the halachic day begins and ends at nightfall. But at what exact moment does one day march off into history and its successor arrive with its banner unfurled? Is it before sunset, at sunset, when the stars appear, or dependent on some other factor? And, if a day b ..read more

Question #1: Beis din What is the role of beis din in Jewish life? Question #2: Police protection In a community that is run completely according to halacha, who is in charge of appointing and overseeing the police force? Introduction: Parshas Mishpatim is the primary parsha regarding halachic civil law, and Parshas Shoftim begins with a mitzvah to appoint shoftim, judges, or as we usually call them dayanim (singular dayan), and shoterim (singular shoteir), enforcement officers, bailiffs or police. The Torah states that you must appoint judges and police in all your “gates,” meaning in all you ..read more