Halakhah
Jewish law — codes, responsa, and practical rulings for daily life.
195 questions answered
Why do we need to light Shabbat candles?
Lighting Shabbat candles is a rabbinic obligation (chiyuv m'divrei sofrim) rooted in the principle of oneg Shabbat (Shabbat delight) and shalom bayit (domestic
When did the Jewish community start fasting for tammuz
The fast of the 17th of Tammuz (Shiva Asar b'Tammuz) has its roots going back to the Biblical era, with formal rabbinic codification during or after the Se...
Is fish considered meat in the 9s?
The prohibition of eating meat during the Nine Days (the first nine days of Av) does not apply to fish. Fish is permitted throughout the Nine Days, including du
Addiction in Jewish Thought and Halacha
Addiction in Jewish Thought and Halacha Addiction is a profound human struggle that Torah tradition addresses through multiple lenses — the nature of free will,
Do you know the name of any of רבי עקיבא's original 24000 תלמידים
What a fascinating question! The Talmud does preserve the names of several of Rabbi Akiva's students, though the famous 24,000 who died during the Sefirat HaOme
What is the minimum amount of kiddish I need to drink at night and by day
The minimum amount of wine required for Kiddush (sanctification over wine) is melo lugmav (מְלֹא לוּגְמָיו) — a cheekful — both at night and by day. This is typ
The Eternal Covenant (*Brit Olam*): Comprehensive Torah & Talmud Sources
The Eternal Covenant (Brit Olam): Comprehensive Torah & Talmud Sources The Tanakh contains dozens of direct references to God's eternal covenant with Israel, sp
What is hayom yom chabad?
What is Hayom Yom (Chabad)? Hayom Yom ("Today is the day" / "From Day to Day") is a small but beloved Chassidic calendar-book compiled by Rabbi Menachem Me...
What is the Jewish prayer for deceased parents?
The primary Jewish prayers recited for deceased parents are Kaddish (Kaddish Yatom — the Mourner's Kaddish) and Yizkor (the memorial prayer). Kaddish is re...
What is chabad psalm 27?
Psalm 27 (Tehillim, chapter 27) is recited twice daily — morning and evening — throughout the months of Elul and Tishrei, from Rosh Chodesh Elul through Ho...
Can you feed your kids hot dogs on Tisha B'Av?
The question of feeding children on Tisha B'Av touches on the halachic distinction between adults, who are obligated to fast, and minors, who are generally not.
Halacha on settling the land
The mitzvah (commandment) of settling the Land of Israel — known as Yishuv Eretz Yisrael — is one of the most debated topics in halachic literature, touching on
What is rosh chodesh prayer?
Rosh Chodesh Prayer Rosh Chodesh (ראש חודש, "the New Month") is marked by a special set of prayers and liturgical additions that sanctify the beginning of...
Why do we say the pasuk ואברהם זקן on Rosh chodesh?
The verse וְאַבְרָהָם זָקֵן בָּא בַּיָּמִים ("And Abraham was old, advanced in days") [Genesis 24:1] is recited on Rosh Chodesh (the New Month) because the...
What are the rules of keeping kosher?
The Rules of Keeping Kosher (Kashrut) Keeping kosher (kashrut) refers to the system of Jewish dietary laws derived from the Torah and elaborated by the Tal...
What is prayer for tzitzit?
The blessing (bracha) recited over tzitzit (fringes) is "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments a...
Herod
Herod was one of the most complex and morally paradoxical figures in late Second Temple Jewish history. Though remembered as a ruthless, illegitimate ruler who
Can i braid a friendahip bracelet on tisha ba av
Making a friendship bracelet on Tisha B'Av is generally prohibited, both because it constitutes melachah (creative work/labor) and because it conflicts with the
What is jewish davening?
What is Jewish Davening? Davening is the Yiddish term for Jewish prayer (tefillah), referring to the structured practice of communicating with God through...
What is shavuot prayer?
Shavuot has several distinctive prayer elements that set it apart from regular holiday davening. The holiday's liturgy reflects its dual themes of matan To...
What is the meaning of amidah?
The word Amidah (עֲמִידָה) literally means "standing," derived from the Hebrew root amd (עמד), referring to the act of standing in prayer. It is the centra...
If child born Adar 1, and when will be 13 years old, there are 2 Adars, will bar mitzvah be adar 1 OR 2?
A boy born in Adar I of a leap year who reaches his 13th year during another leap year celebrates his bar mitzvah in Adar I — the same month in which he was bor
What is jewish blessing door frame?
The Jewish "blessing on the door frame" refers to the mezuzah (מְזוּזָה), a parchment scroll containing handwritten Torah passages that is affixed to the d...
What is a Tallit (Jewish prayer shawl)?
A tallit (טַלִּית, tallit — Jewish prayer shawl) is a rectangular garment worn during prayer, featuring fringes called tzitzit (צִיצִית) attached to its fo...
What is the earliest recorded sunset in the torah
The Earliest Recorded Sunset in the Torah What a fascinating question! Let me address this from two angles: (1) the concept of sunset as it first appears i...
If a couple is not able to have intimacy where dementia is deposited in the woman in the usually manner, what can a couple do that is within halachic guidelines
The question of marital intimacy when conventional relations are not possible due to medical conditions is a recognized area of halachic inquiry. The funda...
Is gambling and raffles permitted
Gambling and raffles occupy a complex place in Jewish law. While certain limited forms may be technically permitted, mainstream halachic opinion discourage...
Tell me about basar v chalav as it pertains to chicken?
The Torah prohibition of basar b'chalav (meat and milk) applies biblically only to the flesh of kosher land animals cooked in milk — chicken is explicitly exclu
Where does custom of walking back 3 steps in the beginning of shemoneh esrei and waving your hand to people to left and the right come from
The custom of taking three steps forward before the Amidah comes from early rabbinic and halachic tradition, rooted in the idea of approaching a king with...
What is jewish blessing bread?
The Jewish blessing over bread is called HaMotzi, short for the full blessing: "Baruch Atah Hashem Eloheinu Melech HaOlam, HaMotzi Lechem Min HaAretz" — "B...
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