When staying in hotels, there are many halachic concerns that must be addressed beyond the laws of Pesach. These include, for example, issues of Shabbat such as automated lights, electronic sensors, and the use of magnetic key cards. One...
Dear Rabbi and Shira, Thanks for your column. I look forward to reading it each week in The Jewish Vues. Here is my issue. At what point should a person start dating?...
The Gemorah in Berochos states, “when the month of Nissin is upon us, one goes out to recite a beracha on a tree that is starting to bud.” The Shita Mekubetzes says this beracha was instituted because it expresses Hashem’s...
Many times one is faced with different questions as to what requires tevilah. For example, glass, china, stoneware etc. The halachos of how to tovel were dealt with in a previous issue. In this issue we will discuss which...
On my last trip to Eretz Yisrael, I had the immense privilege of spending time with Harav Aharon Bina, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh in Jerusalem’s Old City, just...
The wonderous Haggadah Otzros Pla’os HaTorah writes it was the minhag of the Minchas Elazar, following the opinion of the Darchei Chaim Vhasholom, that after eating the egg at the second Seder, they would sing Eishes Chayil. The...
The first word in Parashas Vayikra is Vayikra, “And [Hashem] called...
On all of your offerings you shall bring salt. Vayikra 2:13 Introduction There is an almost universal Jewish practice to sprinkle salt on the challah at the Shabbos table. Is this a requirement or merely a proper practice?...
What’s that smell? As we begin the chumash of korbanos, we encounter a phrase that appears again and again: “rei’ach nicho’ach laHashem - a pleasing aroma to G-d.” The Torah uses this language repeatedly when describing offerings...
In the opening verse of Parashat Vayikra, G-d calls to Moshe and invites him into the newly constructed Mishkan to hear His commands. The Midrash finds it very significant that Moshe waited to be called before entering the...