Tchum of a Bris

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld Since we are hopefully going to make a bris for our grandson, I figured we will try to write about Bris. In Vayikra...

WATCH: Let’s Talk Kashrus – Breaking Bread

Breaking Bread: Croutons, Bagel & Pita Chips In this final segment of our Brachos series Rabbi Dovid Heber - Kashrus Administrator at Star-K breaks down the...

Special Bracha During Bris 

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld In the beginning of  Parshas Vayechi, Yaakov Avinu blessed his grandchildren, Ephraim and Menashe. He told them that Yisroel will bless their children to be like Ephraim and Menashe. The posuk uses the words...

Asarah B’Teves on Erev Shabbos 

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld The Bais Yosef in Siman 550 brings in the name of the Avudraham that Asarah B’teves is different than all other fast days since if it would have fallen...

WATCH: Let’s Talk Kashrus – Spiritual Spirits

Can Alcohol Be Avodah Zara? What’s the possible connection between alcohol and avodah zara? From Saké which plays an integral part in Japanese culture to...

Relighting Shabbos Candles 

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld Two young couples went to their parents / in-laws for Shabbos. Only one set of extra candles were prepared in the...

Watch: Let’s Talk Kashrus – Melted Gelt

Melted Gelt: Unwrapping the World of Chocolate Is it true that chocolate factories are sometimes kashered with molten chocolate? Is chocolate labeled dairy-equipment, truly dairy free?...

Chanukas Bayis Shlishi 

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld In Vayikra 10:9 the Torah tells the Kohanim that they are not allowed to drink wine or alcoholic beverages upon entering the Ohel Moed. In Meseches Taanis 17b the Gemara brings down shitas Chachamim that Kohanim are...

Tonight: Vesein Tal Umatar Begins in Chutz La’aretz

At Maariv tonight, residents of chutz la'aretz begin to say Vesein Tal Umatar during the Shemonah Esrei in the bracha of Boreich Aleinu. Residents...

Chanukas Bayis Shlishi 

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld In Vayikra 10:9 the Torah tells the Kohanim that they are not allowed to drink wine or alcoholic beverages upon entering the Ohel Moed. In Meseches Taanis 17b the Gemara brings down shitas Chachamim that Kohanim are...

The Remarkable Torah of Rav Elimelech Wasserman Hy”d

Translated and Annotated by Rabbi Yair Hoffman This article first appeared at Arutz Sheva. This past Thursday, Hamas murderers opened fire at a Givat Shaul bus...

WATCH: Let’s Talk Kashrus – Kosher Menu

Kosher Menu - At A Non-Kosher Venue Have you ever been to a hotel for an event, or for a Shabbos program? Did you ever...

WATCH: Let’s Talk Kashrus – Holy Stoli

Kosher Cocktails Many cocktails use vodka or rum as their base. While these 2 alcoholic drinks are seemingly innocuous, occasionally they can be distilled from...

WATCH: Let’s Talk Kashrus – Blended Blessings

What’s The Main Ingredient? Let’s listen in to Rabbi Dovid Heber - Kashrus Administrator at Star-K as he walks us through the complicated sugyos of...

Rain 

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld In Eretz Yisroel they begin to say “vesen tal umatar” on zayin Cheshvan. In Chutz Le’Aaretz we begin saying “vesen tal umatar” on December 4th or on December 5th the year before...

Bris or Learn – That is the Question

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld If Reuven has a seder kavua of learning in the morning may he be mevatel Torah to attend a bris milah? “Aseh docheh Lo Saseh” is a concept that we...

Taste Stealing 

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld The Gemara in Brachos 5a brings a story about Rav Huna. Rav Huna had four hundred barrels of wine that all turned sour and became vinegar. Reb Yehuda and...

Watch: Let’s Talk Kashrus – A Bowlful of Blessings

Although not directly related to kashrus, the kashrus agencies are the ones who can help us figure out exact ingredients in products. Let’s listen...

Mitzvos Bnei Noach 

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld We see in Sandhedrin 46a that we learn about all of the zayin mitzvos bnei Noach from a posuk in Bereishis 2:15 tes vov that Hashem commanded Adam saying… These are the mitzvos bnei Noach. One...

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