25 Apr ARE CASINOS KOSHER?
A casino visit can be a fun way to spend your leisure time and money but is it a kosher trip? There is more to discuss than just the greed that energizes many casino goers. We must remember...
18 Apr YOUNGER SIBLING MARRYING FIRST
Is a woman allowed to marry before her older sister? This opens many emotional issues, as the anxiety over marriage grows as a single person ages. Perhaps the younger sister should wait in order to avoid causing her sibling...
02 Apr WHO READS THE HAGGADAH?
I. Three Seder Practices Generally speaking, when it comes to the Pesach Seder, people know the details of their own family’s practices but not those of many other families. From conversation, they might know what different people eat...
28 Mar PESACH AVOIDANCE
I. Avoiding the Korban Pesach We know from tax law the difference between avoidance and evasion. Tax avoidance involves structuring your fi nances to legally minimize your taxes. In contrast, tax evasion is refusing to pay taxes that you...
21 Mar THE QUICK BEDIKAS CHAMETZ
I. Checking for Chametz According to Torah law, we must get rid of all of our chametz, our leavened bread, before Pesach. However, this can be accomplished either by rendering it all ownerless or by disposing of it. Rabbinic law...
14 Mar LASHON HA-RA ON SOCIAL MEDIA
I. Lashon Ha-Ra With Legs The idea that derogatory speech can go viral — a post, video or message can be forwarded thousands of times — should more than ever bring...
08 Mar CAN YOU CALL A RABBI BY HIS NAME?
I. Respecting Your Torah Teacher Calling a Torah scholar by his title is a matter of showing honor to the Torah. You must show respect to your mentor, your rebbe, by, for example, rising when he enters a room...
28 Feb FAMILY AND MISHLO’ACH MANOS
On Purim, we send gifts of food to friends, in fulfillment of the verse “U-mishlo’ach manos ish le-rei’ehu, and of sending portions a man to his fellow” (Esther 9:22). Mishlo’ach manos is one of the mitzvos of Purim. We...
21 Feb WOMEN AND MISHLO’ACH MANOS
On Purim, we send gifts of food to friends, in fulfillment of the verse “U-mishlo’ach manos ish le-rei’ehu, and of sending portions a man to his fellow” (Esther 9:22). Mishlo’ach manos is one of the mitzvos of Purim. We...
14 Feb THE SHABBOS FERRY
I. Ferries on Shabbos There have been times in history when Jewish communities have settled on different sides of a river. The question arose whether people could cross the river on Shabbos. Of course, if there is a...