Beit Midrash

Some of the Laws of Seudah Shelishis

How Does a Heter Iska Work?

Andy Gross, a businessman who is proud that he is now observing mitzvos, is on time for his appointment. After a brief greeting, I ask him what brings him to my office on this beautiful morning. “I recently learned that even though the Torah prohibits paying or receiving interest, there is something called a heter iska that legalizes it. How can we legitimize something that the Torah expressly prohibits?” Indeed, Andy’s question is both insightful and important, and deserves a thorough explanation. Why don’t you join us by reading the attached article?

Bedeviled by Stirring Events – or Some Insights on the Melacha of Losh

I was recently asked the following question “My daughter was taught that we cannot make deviled eggs on Shabbos because adding mustard and shaping them is considered ‘kneading’ the yolks. But I remember my mother always mixed hard boiled eggs with minced onion and oil on Shabbos morning shortly before the meal. Could my mother have been wrong?”

Women and Reading Megillah

The Great Cottage Cheese Controversy

This week’s parsha includes one of the places where the Torah teaches about mixing milk and meat together

Between Yishtabach and Borchu

Since Az Yashir, which concludes pesukei dezimra, is in parshas Beshalach, this article about the conclusion of Pesukei Dezimra is most appropriate.

Gluten-Free, Sake, and Vegan

This week’s parsha, Bo, teaches about matzoh, which can be made only from the five types of grain that can become chametz (wheat, barley, spelt, rye, and oats). This gives us the opportunity to discuss kashrus issues related to gluten and non-gluten grains.

The Why’s and Whey’s of Gevinas Akum

Animals and interactions between Jews and non-Jews both figure significantly in this week’s Parsha, which I use as my excuse to discuss: Say “Cheese!”

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?

May I Eat before I Daven?

Since the Gemara notes that a source in this week’s parsha teaches that Yaakov introduced the Maariv prayers…

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?

Blended and Synthetic Tzitzis

According to Chazal, as reward for Avraham turning down the king of Sodom’s offer, and declining to take even a chut, a thread, his descendants were rewarded with the mitzvah of tzitzis.

May I Daven in English?

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

Calendar Controversy

When Yamim Nora’im “Fell” on Disputed Days

When Yamim Nora’im “Fell” on Disputed Days

Pruzbul

The mitzvah of Shemittas Kesafim comes into effect this year immediately before Rosh Hashanah. This law cancels all debts that someone is owed, meaning that the creditor cannot force collection.

Otzar Bais Din or Heter Otzar Beis Din

An Otzar Beis Din is literally ‘a storehouse operated by Beis Din.’ Why would Beis Din operate a warehouse?

No Talebearing!

What constitutes talebearing?

This week’s parsha teaches the prohibition against having one witness testify against someone, which is a violation of loshon hora.

Shemittas Kesafim