Tashlich on Shabbat
First a little background on the origin of Tashlich, which will also have pertinence to the answer to...
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Blowing shofar on behalf of women
Women are exempt from hearing shofar blowing. Although it is forbidden to blow a shofar on Yom Tov...
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Outlook of one who must eat on Yom Kippur
Someone who, by fasting, would be putting his life in danger is permitted and commanded to eat and/or...
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Children fasting on Yom Kippur
Children below age nine: There are no limitations on these children’s eating on Yom Kippur. There is discussion...
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Why is Simchat Torah celebrated Sukkot time?
Simchat Torah, celebrating the completion of the public reading of the Torah, occurs at the end of Sukkot,...
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Taking a lulav and etrog to the Kotel
It is true that the Torah-level mitzva of netilat lulav applies only on the first day of Sukkot;...
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Buying a separate lulav for boys under bar mitzva
The gemara says that one should not transfer ownership of his lulav to a minor on the first...
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Categories of forbidden work on Chol HaMo’ed
There isn’t a blanket distinction, in regards to Chol HaMo’ed, between Torah and rabbinic prohibitions. In general, there...
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Going to work on Chol HaMo’ed
Two halachot, one permissive and one restrictive, are at the heart of this question, and we must see...
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The validity of artistic chanukiyot
Many people subscribe to an “absolute fact” that the lights of a chanukiya (Chanuka menora) must be in...
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Lighting Chanuka candles away from home
The gemara says that a guest is obligated to light Chanuka candles at his host’s home, but it...
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Does one need a minyan for Megillat Esther?
Both men and women should make all reasonable efforts to fulfill the mitzva of hearing the reading of...
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Giving matanot la’evyonim before Purim
Firstly, it is good to give matanot la’evyonim both locally and from chutz la’aretz to Israel. Besides avoiding...
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Rushing to eat afikoman
It is generally difficult for one to decide whether someone else should be stringent. In this case, the...
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An Ashkenazi eating from pots used for kitniyot
The various questions regarding kitniyot on Pesach seem to have become so divisive recently that one can barely...
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Chametz found on or after Pesach
Although there is a prohibition of possessing chametz on Pesach, you probably have no need to feel guilty...
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Time of selling chametz for a traveler
All things being equal, it is better to sell chametz in the place where the chametz is found...
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Can a chazan who missed a day of sefirat ha’omer recite the beracha?
This matter has been debated by the Acharonim, and it is worthwhile to understand the various, logical arguments...
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Counting sefirat ha’omer in a non-standard base system
From a practical perspective, this does seem like a crazy question, but trying to answer it gives us...
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Getting married on Yom HaAtzma’ut or Yom Yerushalayim
As you know, there is an ancient custom not to marry during the period of sefira, when we...
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Why are there two days of Shavuot?
You make an excellent point. Let’s start with the background necessary to fully appreciate your question. The length...
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Eating new fruit during the Three Weeks
As far as the actual practices of the Three Weeks and the Nine Days are concerned, we prefer...
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How to spend Tisha B’Av
For a few reasons, the answer depends on the individual. As usual, some matters depend on the local...
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Caffeine pills on fast days
Someone who is sick is permitted to swallow medicine (without water or washed down by an inedible, bitter...
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Sleeping on Rosh Hashana
It is difficult to balance the various aspects of Rosh Hashana. It is simultaneously a day of awe...
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Toiling to Blow Shofar for Homebound Women
There are points in this matter that are difficult to quantify or to find clear halachic guidelines for....
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Precautions For Bowing Down on a Stone Floor
The gemara relates that when Rav arrived in Babylonia, he refrained from “falling on his face” during Tachanun...
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Differences in Arba’at Haminim Requirements after the First Day of Sukkot
The gemara comments on the implication of the mishna that each p’sul (disqualification) it lists for a lulav...
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S’chach That Rests on a Pergola
Questions of competing shade between s’chach and different types of trees (including vines) are complicated. If you have...
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Buying Lulav and Etrog after Shemitta
Let’s start with the easiest point. Aravot, which are not food, do not have kedushat shvi’it (sanctity of...
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