Halakhah
Jewish law — codes, responsa, and practical rulings for daily life.
195 questions answered
What is the segnificance of טו באב
Tu B'Av (the 15th of Av) is one of the most joyous days in the Jewish calendar, described by the Mishnah as one of the two greatest days of celebration in all o
What are the Passover food rules?
The Passover food rules center on one primary prohibition: chametz (leavened food) is completely forbidden throughout the seven (or eight) days of Passover...
How does Judaism treat the modern concept of an ensuring power of attorney? Given by someone when they are healthy, but the later, when they are declared unfit, seemingly disagrees with what the appointed attorney decides.
An enduring (durable) power of attorney — where someone designates an agent while competent, with authority continuing even after incapacity — has significant p
What is the meaning of krias shema?
Krias Shema (קריאת שמע, "the reading/recitation of Shema") is one of the most fundamental mitzvot in Judaism — a twice-daily declaration of God's absolute...
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
What is chabad rebbe?
The Chabad Rebbe refers to the dynastic leader (nasi) of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement, one of the largest and most influential Hasidic dynasties i...
If a baby boy is born to a Jewish woman, but the boy isn't circumcised, is he still considered to be jewish?
Yes, an uncircumcised Jewish boy is still fully Jewish. Jewish identity (Jewishness) is determined by birth to a Jewish mother (or conversion), not by circumcis
What are the rules of passover dietary?
Passover Dietary Laws The Torah prohibits eating chametz (leavened products) during Passover and commands eating matzah (unleavened bread) in its place. Th...
What is kippah and tallit?
The kippah (כִּיפָּה, head covering) and tallit (טַלִּית, prayer shawl) are two of the most recognizable Jewish ritual garments. The kippah is a small head...
If I didn’t hear a siyum but was in the building while it happened, can I eat meat in then9 days
Can You Eat Meat During the Nine Days if You Were Present at a Siyum But Didn't Hear It? Being physically present in the building where a siyum (completion of a
Shabbat chazon how to see vision of third temple
Shabbat Chazon and the Vision of the Third Temple Shabbat Chazon (שַׁבַּת חֲזוֹן, "Shabbat of Vision") is the Shabbat immediately before Tisha B'Av, named after
Let’s say someone has to lay down because of medical reasons and can’t sit or get up how would they pray amidst Sephardic bottom line short Halacha clear
A person who is bedridden due to medical reasons may pray lying down — this is fully permitted and their prayer is valid. The Sephardic ruling is that one does
What is hebrew prayer for safe travel?
The Jewish prayer for safe travel is called Tefillat HaDerech (תְּפִלַּת הַדֶּרֶךְ), the "Traveler's Prayer." Its text was established by the Talmud and ha...
What is the Jewish morning prayer (Shacharit)?
Shacharit (שַׁחֲרִית, "morning prayer") is the daily morning prayer service in Judaism, recited each day after dawn. It is one of the three obligatory dail...
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
What is the Traveler's Prayer (Tefilat HaDerech)?
Tefilat HaDerech — The Traveler's Prayer Tefilat HaDerech (תְּפִלַּת הַדֶּרֶךְ), the Traveler's Prayer, is a special blessing recited when embarking on a j...
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
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
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 a whole tzitzit of one corner comes off all the strings and they aren’t there anymore are you allowed to put new string new tzizit there or is it pasul simple Sephardic bottom line Halacha
The garment remains valid (kasher) and you are permitted — and required — to re-attach new tzitzit to that corner. Removing or losing one corner's strings does
What is jewish psalm 121?
Psalm 121 is one of the fifteen Psalms of Ascent (Shir HaMa'alot), a collection of psalms (120–134) traditionally sung by pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem a...
What is the Bedtime Shema prayer?
The Bedtime Shema (Kriat Shema al HaMita — the recitation of Shema upon the bed) is the nightly prayer recited just before going to sleep. It is built arou...
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
In which part of the torah the mitzvah of yibum is stated
The mitzvah of yibum (levirate marriage) is primarily stated in Deuteronomy (Devarim) 25:5–10, where the Torah lays out the full commandment in detail, includin
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
When do you say tefillas haderech
Tefillas HaDerech (the Traveler's Prayer) is recited when departing on a journey beyond the boundary of one's city, after traveling a distance of approximately
What are the halachic considerations of drinking coffee
Coffee is permitted under Jewish law, though several important halachic considerations arise around its preparation and consumption. The core issues involve the
What is the Jewish prayer for the dead?
The primary Jewish prayer associated with mourning and the dead is the Kaddish (Kaddish Yatom — the Mourner's Kaddish). Notably, the Kaddish does not menti...
What is parashat hashavua chabad?
Parashat HaShavua — Chabad Perspective The Parashat HaShavua (פָּרָשַׁת הַשָּׁבוּעַ, literally "the portion of the week") refers to the weekly Torah portio...
What is hafrashat challah prayer?
Hafrashat challah (separation of challah) is a Torah commandment requiring that a portion of dough be separated and given to a kohen (priest), based on Num...
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