Halakhah
Jewish law — codes, responsa, and practical rulings for daily life.
185 questions answered
Can athletic shoes with some leather trim allowed to be worn on tisha b'av?
Athletic shoes with leather trim occupy a debated area in halacha (Jewish law). The core prohibition on Tisha B'Av is wearing leather shoes, and most authoritie
Can I give him a birthday present
Yes, you can give your son a birthday present on Tisha B'Av. Since he is under bar mitzvah age, he is not bound by the restrictions of the day, and receiving a
What are the rules of Shabbat?
The Rules of Shabbat Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest observed from Friday sunset to Saturday nightfall, is one of the most comprehensive and detailed areas...
Did the מן come down on Yom Tov?
The man (manna) did not fall on Yom Tov (Jewish holidays), just as it did not fall on Shabbat. This is derived from the same biblical logic that explains the do
Compare Rebbe Nachman and simcha Bunin for similarities in outlook
Rebbe Nachman of Breslov and Reb Simcha Bunim of Peshischa: A Comparative Study Both Rebbe Nachman of Breslov (1772–1810) and Reb Simcha Bunim of Peshischa (176
Replacing a Broken Tzitzit String on a Tallit
Replacing a Broken Tzitzit String on a Tallit When a complete string (chatit) tears off from one corner of a tallit (four-cornered garment), the question of whe
Could the Yovel law dictating the return to the original distribution be interpreted as favoring those who have become poor over those who have become rich, and if so, how is this consistent with the interpretation of "justice, justice shall you pursue" as saying that one should not in matters of law favor either the rich or the poor.
This is a profound question that cuts to the heart of Torah jurisprudence. The Yovel system does structurally benefit those who have fallen into poverty by rest
I recall, reading in Jewish literature that the physical part of the body the navel is an evil part of the body. Perhaps this is related to the Hebrew or Naval.
The Navel (Tabur) and the Word Naval: Exploring the Connection This is a fascinating question that touches on linguistics, anatomy, Kabbalah, and biblical theol
What are all of the sources that one can wear glasses on Shabbat without an eruv?
The question of wearing glasses on Shabbat without an eruv (a halachic boundary enabling carrying) touches on whether glasses constitute a "burden" (masa) or a
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,
Remind me clearly what are the restrictions on Tisha Baav for adults and anyone under males under 13 though my son's English birthday is on Tisha baav and hebrew next week
Restrictions on Tisha B'Av Tisha B'Av carries five major prohibitions for halachically obligated adults, paralleling Yom Kippur. Children under bar/bat mitzvah
If there are fewer than ten men, what changes in the shacharit service on Monday and Thursday?
When a minyan (quorum of ten Jewish men) is not present, the Torah cannot be read publicly. This means that on Monday and Thursday mornings — days when the Tora
Segun el movimiento masorti es permitido viajar en shabat
El Movimiento Masortí (Conservador) permite el viaje en automóvil el Shabat bajo ciertas condiciones muy específicas — principalmente para asistir a la sinagoga
What does the Baal Shem Tov say about divine unity
The Baal Shem Tov on Divine Unity and "Everything is One" The Baal Shem Tov (Rav Yisrael ben Eliezer, founder of Chassidus, 1698–1760) taught that the fundament
Is there any source that would encourage preparing a dish or food for shabbos that we should refrain from eating on weekdays?
Yes, there is a direct Talmudic and halachic basis for this practice. The principle of Shammai the Elder — saving the best food specifically for Shabbat — is we
What’s the reason for taking off ones tefillin before mussuf on Rosh Chodesh?
The custom of removing tefillin (phylacteries) before Mussaf (the additional prayer) on Rosh Chodesh (the New Month) is rooted in the concept that tefillin are
What is the relationship between the myth of the prodigal son and the Baal tshuvah?
The parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) and the Jewish concept of the ba'al teshuva (penitent/returnee) share extraordinarily deep thematic parallels —
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
Touching the leaves of a small estrog tree on Shabbat
Touching the leaves of an etrog (citron) tree on Shabbat is primarily governed by the laws of muktzeh (items set aside/forbidden to handle on Shabbat) as they a
Did the laws of Yovel accommodate and adjust for the possible different population growth rates of the different tribes? Or was the land allocation to the tribes fixed regardless of changes in population sizes of the different tribes?
The land allocation to the tribes was fixed and did not adjust for population changes — each tribe's portion was permanently assigned and returned to that fixed
Thought experiment: Imagine you are a resident of the World to Come. Speaking exclusively from your perspective in the World to Come, do the lake of fire, Gehenna, and the second death exist or not? Did they ever exist?
What a profound and philosophically rich question! Let me engage with this thought experiment while grounding it in authentic Jewish tradition. --- From th...
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
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
Can you explain according to orthodox sources why people say that a woman isn’t allowed to masturbate because she isn’t spilling seed the same way a man is
This is an important halachic question that deserves a careful, nuanced answer. The short answer is: the claim that women face no prohibition is an oversimplifi
Why does the Torah consider a woman who is divorce from her husband subsequently married to another man and once again divorced or he dies she can’t go back to the first husband the Torah calls this toeuvah. Why
Excellent question — this touches on one of the more challenging chukim (divine statutes) in the Torah, one that has generated significant rabbinic and philosop
What is shabbat?
Shabbat (שַׁבָּת) is the Jewish day of rest, observed every week from Friday at sunset until Saturday night. It is one of the most fundamental institutions in J
When does Rav ovadia Yosef prohibit laundry during three weeks - nine days period
The laws of laundry during the Three Weeks and Nine Days, according to Rav Ovadia Yosef, follow a more lenient Sephardic approach than Ashkenazic practice. Rav
Are eggs a separate kashrut category
Eggs occupy a fascinating intermediate position in Jewish dietary law — they are not an independent kashrut (Jewish dietary law) category in the same way that m
What is the halacha around swimming on Shabbat?
Swimming on Shabbat is rabbinically prohibited as a gezeira (protective decree), originally enacted out of concern that a person might come to build or repair a
Is chicken parve
Chicken is not pareve (neutral) — it is considered fleishig (meat) and may not be eaten together with dairy products. This is the accepted halacha as codified i
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