In Chutz La’aretz, this week parshas Balak is read, and in Eretz Yisroel, this is one of the rare years when we read parshas Pinchas before the Three Weeks. Since both parshiyos include allusions to tzaar baalei chayim, I present: Tzaar baalei chayim
A young engaged man and his fiancée naturally have very strong feelings for each other. It goes without saying that these will be expressed after the wedding, but what expression, if any, is permitted in the meantime? And while we're on the subject, is the attraction of men and women to each other really a good thing to begin with?
For many, this most basic question will formulate their decision whether to be religious-Zionists or not. Interestingly, the Rambam explains the celebration of Chanuka as thanks to Hashem for 200 years of Israeli Independence, even though the Maccabean Dynasty was not from the tribe of Judah and for most of that period was not religious! Why is it so important to have a Jewish State, even if not the ideal one?
A summary of PIKUACH NEFESH Halachot on Shabbat.
What if I do not now if it is a life threatening emergency? Who should drive? A man or a woman? A Jew or a Non-Jew? and more....
The Jerusalem Talmud relates that the enemies once heard Jews blowing the shofar during morning prayers. They thought it was a war cry and attacked the worshipers. Therefore, the sages instituted that the shofar be blown during the Mussaf prayers.
In the past few years, nations have come upon us and demanded that we relinquish portions of the Land of Israel to strangers. This is one of the calamities concerning which we are supposed to fast and cry out to God about.