A Beracha on the Mitzva to Write a Sefer Torah
This question, which we have not found discussed directly by the Rishonim, has several suggested answers in the...
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Incomplete Standing for Modim D’Rabbanan and to Honor Talmidei Chachamim
The same actions in the different contexts are based on different sources and apparently on different logic. The...
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Short Haircuts
The similar prohibitions not to “round off” the sides of one’s head (i.e., not to remove peyot) and...
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The Origins and Nuances of Our Nation’s Names
The names Hebrews (Ivrim , in Hebrew) and Israelites are now used almost interchangeably, along with the...
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Origin of the Practice of Men Covering Their Heads
The practice of men covering their heads has evolved toward increased stringency after the times of the Talmud,...
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Refraining from Sitting in a Parent’s Seat
The Torah commands us to show respect (kavod) to our parents and to treat them with awe (mora)....
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Full Body Scans for Security
We will base our answer regarding the situation as it appears to exist at this time (subject to...
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Dealing With the Tensions of a Complex Upbringing
There are, of course, many factors (including subjective ones) that help determine what the best educational and societal...
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Does Hosting Count as Giving Tzedaka?
Let us first distinguish between different cases of hachnasat orchim. If one’s guest is poor enough to deserve...
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Hosting a Difficult Guest
This is a very difficult question to answer, not simply because it is hard to predict the likely...
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Use of Phrase Whose Etymology is from Another Religion
We will omit the specific expression, as we will explain later. In truth, I was unaware of the...
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Terumot and Ma’asrot on Spices
In describing the laws of teruma, the Torah refers only to grains, wine, and olive oil. The Rambam...
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Netilat Yadayim on Paint Stained Hands
The general rule is that whatever is considered a chatzitza for various required tevillot is considered a chatzitza...
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Jewish Attitude Toward Veganism
The scientific consensus seems to agree with your basic premises. However, we lack the expertise to confirm or...
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Drying Hands after Netilat Yadayim with a Hand Dryer
Your assumption that there is a halachic need for niguv (drying of the hands) is basically correct, but...
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Reframing a Transaction to Avoid Ribbit
We praise you for the halachic sophistication of your question. Indeed, there is an apparent prohibition for your...
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Calculating Ma’aser Kesafim
Few classical sources discuss this type of scenario, which is common these days. This can be attributed to...
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Guidelines on Warning People about Forbidden Actions
It is not possible in this context to give more than “some guidelines” in this complex matter. We...
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A Divorced Woman Reverting to Pre-Marriage Minhagim
Let us investigate the reason that a wife takes on the customs and rulings of her husband’s origin,...
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Thanking HaShem after a “False Alarm”
The gemara lists one who recuperates from illness among the four types of people who must thank HaShem....
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Veto Power for Parents on Choice of Spouse?
The basic answer to the question is that he or she need not obey. This is how the...
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Returning a Security Deposit with a Different Currency
A security deposit, classically, is money for safekeeping (pikadon), whose purpose is to protect the landlord’s interests with...
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A Loan/Investment that Requires a Heter Iska after its Inception
If there was a valid heter iska, it is not a problem to be unable to find it....
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Solving a Netilat Yadayim Problem on a Plane
We will start with a brief view of the contemporary machloket regarding “Mezonot rolls,” about which so much...
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A Fence for the Roof of an Apartment Building
There are a few cases in which roofs are not required to have a ma’akeh around them. Regarding...
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Lighting a Candle When the Ner Tamid Is Out
The idea of having a ner tamid is both an ancient practice, first mandated in the Torah for...
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Hatarat Nedarim via Skype
While performance of a general hatarat nedarim within days of Rosh Hashana is just a minhag, it is...
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Different Types of Minhag and their Levels of Flexibility
You lumped together different types of minhagim that have very different characteristics. We will not deal in depth...
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What Type of Torah Study Should One Focus On?
There are several biblical verses that refer to the obligation to study Torah. The Rambam cites “You shall...
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What Can Be Learned from the Silence of the Poskim
Setimat haposkim is a post-Talmudic tool for helping decide halacha. A search of the Bar Ilan Responsa Project...
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