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...

Calming Effect 

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld The Torah tells us in Devarim 29:9 “All Yidden are standing here before Hashem…” The Medrash says the reason why Parshas Nitzavim was placed right next to the klalos is because when the Yidden heard the 98...

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...

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...

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,...

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 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...

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,...

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

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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...

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...

Cutting Nails During The Nine Days

With regard to cutting nails during the nine days the Mogen Avrohom (551:11) says that although an Aveil cannot cut his nails, the nine...

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