Vowing
By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
In Devarim,30:3 the Torah tells us that one should keep his word and not desecrate his vows. The Shach brings a remez from the words “lo yachel devaro kechol” that teaches...
Chicago Rabbinical Council Top Ten Kashrus Questions for October 2013
Q: Does rice need a hechsher?
A: Plain raw and par boiled rice requiring an extended cooking time do not require a hechsher . Seasoned...
Scream!
By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
I normally do not write political columns. In light of current events, both in the parsha and in our community, we...
War and Teshuva
By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
In Bereishis (18:23) the posuk tells us that Avraham asked Hashem, “Will you kill a tzaddik with a Rasha?” Avraham goes through a whole negotiation with Hashem that maybe there are fifty tzadikim, then he said forty-five,...
Rav Miller: If You Eat Turkey Especially for Thanksgiving, You’re an Oveid Avodah Zarah
Q:
What is your opinion about celebrating the holiday of Thanksgiving tonight with a turkey dinner?
Rav Avigdor Miller zt"l:
Thanksgiving is a holiday that was manufactured...
The Halachos of Chol Hamoed
The Torah uses the term "מקראי קודש" to describe both the regular days of Yom Tov, and the intermediary days of Yom Tov, which...
The Odd Account of the Overnight Onion
By Rabbi Yehuda Spitz
Those of us fortunate to be learning Daf Yomi are approaching the final countdown to the worldwide grand Siyum HaShas,...
Shmira on Shabbos
By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
The Tur in Orach Chaim, siman resh samech zayin tells us that when we daven Maariv on Shabbos we don’t finish the bracha of Hashkiveinu with the words of Shomer amo yisroel lo’ad like we...
The Truth About Metzitza B’Peh
By Daniel S. Berman, M.D.
It has been more than seven years since the reports broke out in the media that the Metzitza bePeh (hereinafter,...
The Gid Hanasheh Incongruity
By Rabbi Yehuda Spitz
In this week's parsha, Parshas Vayishlach, after Yaakov Avinu's epic battle with Eisav's guardian angel1, where he got injured in his...
Bakashos on Shabbos
By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
We learn that one is not allowed to ask personal bakashos on Shabbos in a few places. This is brought down in the Yerushalmi in Perek Tes Vov of Meseches...
Lying for the Sake of Tzedaka
By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
The posuk in Shmos, Perek Chof gimmel, Posuk zayin says, “Midvar Sheker Tirchok.” The Gemara in Meseches Ksubos, daf yud zayin, amud alef teaches us that when the posuk is telling us to...
Watch: Watch: Using Maaser For Yom Tov Costs
{Matzav.com}
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...
Popcorn, Potato Chips, Corn Chips and Pringles: What Bracha?
Rabbi Pinchos Bodner, in his sefer on Brachos, writes (based on the Shulchan Aruch (202)) that in order to make a hoadama on a...
What About Vitamins on Pesach?
By Layah Ornish
Taking vitamins and supplements is a common part of many people's healthful lifestyle today. Kosher ones are easy to obtain, so it...
Taking a Haircut or Shaving on Friday Rosh Chodesh Iyar This Year
By Rabbi Doniel Neustadt
QUESTION: For those who began observing the sefirah restrictions on the second night of Pesach, is there any special dispensation to...
Responsa from Rav Belsky On Shatnez
A] CHECKING FOR SHAATNEZ - Which types of apparel must be checked for shaatnez? When buying clothing from a Jewish store or manufacturer, can...
