When Do We Not Make a Beracha on a Fragrance?

Laws for Lefties

How Much May I Charge?

Did Yaakov Avinu bensch gomeil after surviving his encounter with Eisav?

More about Birkas Hagomeil

More about Birkas Hagomeil

The place where Yaakov davened

Hybrid Halacha

Avraham’s Prophecy

Parshas Vayeira begins with Hashem appearing to Avraham. When a Navi, Avraham included, receives a prophecy, he is in a prophetic trance or a dreamlike state, as we will see later in the words of the Rambam regarding prophecy. Yet, the very next Posuk has Avraham seeing travelers, racing out to invite them into his tent, cooking and serving them a meal, and carrying on a conversation with them. How could he do this if he was in the middle of having a prophetic vision?

May a Cohen Go to the Dentist?

Yaakov Avinu blessed his sons with brachos appropriate to their future callings in life. They and their children after them for generations engaged in many different professions, some of them even becoming dentists…

Some Light Chanukah Questions

The Prohibition of Chanufah

According to some opinions, Yaakov may have been guilty of chanufah in his interactions with Eisav in this week’s parsha. What is chanufah and what did Yaakov do?

Conflict of Interest

Are you permitted to judge a case in which a friend of yours is one of the litigants? What about someone who davens in the same shul? Or someone who consistently rubs you the wrong way?

May I Daven in English?

The end of parshas Noach teaches about the beginning of languages…

A Haftarah from Yechezkel

Who chose which haftaros we read? In what ways is the book of Yechezkel unusual? Why is the haftarah on Shabbos seldom from Yechezkel?

Do I Have to Tell the Truth?

May I take credit for something that I did not do myself? Must I make a full disclosure when it may cause a negative outcome? Is it permitted to “add” to the truth?

A Layman's Guide to Marriage

I was told that I should not include quotations from pesukim on my daughter’s wedding invitation. Yet, I see that ‘everyone’ does! Could you please explain the halacha? "I wish someone could walk me through all the halachic steps that we need in planning our daughter's wedding. I am afraid I'll forget to take care of something.

A Sweet Change of Pace

What beracha does one recite over chocolate-covered raisins?

The Torah teaches that the second time the brothers came down to Mitzrayim, Yaakov told them to bring treats from Eretz Yisroel with which to woo Pharoah. Of course, they had no chocolate to bring, but we can discuss a different royal treat that the Aztecs considered a royal beverage.

Did the Brothers have a Right to Sell Yosef?

Do Clothes Make the Man?

When does Mincha Start?

The Seudah of a Bris