The Association for the Promotion and Distribution of Tekhelet
Some say that tekhelet, the special blue strings tied in with tzittzit, has been found again! Find out more
Shatnez Testers of America
Learn about the prohibition of shatnez, get shatnez alerts, find a shatnez testing lab, and more.
Naming a Child: Part 2
Naming a Child – Part II Recorded by Rav David Shamula in the name of HaGaon Rav Shmuel Pinchasi Shlita When Sephardi and Ashkenazi Minhagim Conflict An alumnus asks… After reading the Halachot of naming a child (in the Tevet E-Bulletin) I still had a question. The following situation: If the father is Sephardi and […]
Naming a Child: Part 1
Rabbi Shlomo Cohen in “Yevarech Es HaNeorim” What halachic concerns are involved in naming a child? What about minhagim? An alumnus asks… “While being one of the most important and exciting decisions facing new parents, naming a child can also be a difficult challenge due to the wide (and often confusing) range of accepted minhagim. […]
Kohanim Visiting Cemeteries
Why Can’t a Kohen Visit the Cemetery? by Rabbi David Shamula Since the Beit HaMikdash presently doesn’t stand, why can’t Kohanim visit the cemetery? Don’t we all have tumat met anyways? An alumnus asks… I understand why the prohibition preventing Kohanim from marrying divorcees applies today (permanent stigma effecting future generations) but I don’t understand […]
“Kulah Shopping”
by Rabbi Yonathan Kolatch Is it okay to take your She’elot to different Rebbeim until you find the pesak you like? Is okay to follow part of one Rav’s Psak and part of another Rav’s Psak? An alumnus asks… Is one allowed to go to various Rebbeim with She’elot, searching until he finds the desired […]
Who Takes Precedence — Friend or Enemy?
To Whom to Lend? Siftei Tzaddik, quoted in “Piskei Teshuvot” Two people simultaneously request to borrow the same object from you. One of them is a friend. But the other refused to help you when you wanted to borrow something from him. Who takes precedence? Siftei Tzaddik, quoted in Piskei Teshuvot Halakha often deals with […]
Birkot Hatorah over Hearing Torah
Do I Have to Make Birkot Hatorah before Hearing Torah? Hagaon Rav Shlomo Kluger zt”l in “Haelef Lecha Shelomo” Authorities argue about whether one is required to make Birkot Hatorah before thinking about Torah. According to the approach that one must (the Shulchan Arukh OC 47:4 rules this way), is it permissible to listen to […]
Chumrot and Kulot and Hachnasat Orchim
The Guest and His Chumras The Binyan Tzion, Hagaon Rav Yaakov Ettlinger zt”l One person is hosting a guest who is stringent about a certain halakha. The host himself believes that the guest’s chumra (stringency) has no legitimate basis in halakha. Both the host and the guest are halakhically knowledgable. Is it permissible for him […]
Skimping on Expense Accounts
Skimping on Expense Accounts; Skimping on Spouse Support The Teshuva MeiAhava, Hagaon Rav Elazar Flekeles zt”l A husband and wife come to Beit Din, marriage hanging by a thread. They are living separately, so Beit Din instructs the husband to give his wife a stipend while attempting a reconcilliation. But the wife saves the money, […]
