יום ראשון, ב׳ תשרי תשפ״זSunday, September 13, 2026
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In some communities, Shalom Aleichem is not recited at all due to the halachic issues regarding addressing or praying to angels.
Creating an atmosphere of respect is more than teaching good manners. It is about transmitting a sense of kavod, honor and dignity within our home.
Is it proper to be overly familiar and casual with one’s parents?
Our lives have constant turbulence causing our internal selves to be constantly shifting. Because our lives are so transient and in flux, being strong in our convictions and beliefs is a formidable challenge.
A person who took several suits or dresses to a dressing room to try on might not even be considered a borrower, but a lesser guardian, since he has no clear intention of buying the item.
As the Shulchan Aruch does not discuss any requirement regarding how one should recite borei nefashot, it might just be that the manner in which one recites it is not important.8
To trigger a requirement for all Jews to fast, it would have to be that the Jewish people as a whole were experiencing shmad, which certainly did not exists in the Ramban’s day.
To our generation Rabbi Akiva might have said...vahavta lachem k'reiacha - love yourself like (you love) your friend.
Is it proper for an adult to change his/her given Hebrew name?
Point Of Ingestion “The size of an egg to satisfy… of a big date to recover…” (Yoma 79b)
Named for my father’s brother who had been taken away by the Nazi’s, I feel as if I am finally able to give my father a small nechama for all the pain he had suffered.
Worming Out Of This One! “On the hem they made pomegranates…twisted scarlet wool” (Yoma 71b)
Women more naturally live with a sense of tomorrow.
The summer wore on, but Rafi never bothered to pick up the book. Most of the course was online, and when he needed the text, he borrowed it from another friend.
Complicating matters even more is the prohibition against beginning a meal within a half-hour before nightfall.
Is it proper to pressure family members of a get refuser?
To Be or Not To Be “Appointed…Designated From The Previous Day” (Yoma 66b)
"I have money saved away, and you are still working," Mrs. Tamar said. "We would own the house jointly." "That arrangement is fine with me," agreed Shimon.
I was speaking about my Bubby and Zeide and referred to their coming to America after the war. One student asked, "Would that be the Civil War, Korea, or Vietnam?"
Contrary to widespread misconception, most authorities permit a husband and wife to accept Shabbat at different times, i.e., one spouse is permitted to make "Early Shabbat" while the other spouse accepts Shabbat "on-time."
Is It Proper To Have A Favorite Child?
The New And The Old “…The Kohen Gadol Due To His Fatigue…” (Yoma 56b)
If they thought that the person should be spared, they would reply, “L’chaim.” If, however, they thought that he deserved to die, they would reply, “L’mita,” – to death.
Is it proper to publicly announce donors' names and contribution amounts in shul?
A Line Of Demarcation ‘Until He Came…Between the Two Curtains’ (Yoma 51b)
Reuven called Mr. Lewis again. "Are you sure we didn't pay?" he asked. "One of the roommates claims we paid when we moved in."
Is it presumptuous for a regular frum Jew to disagree (not face to face, obviously) with a great rabbi on a particular matter in Jewish thought or public policy?
Where Angels Dare Not Tread ‘There Shall Be No Man In The Tent Of Meeting’ (Yoma 43b)
Baruch drove the family to the airport, and then drove home and parked the car near his house. A few days later, there was a thunderstorm, and a branch broke off a tree and landed next to the car, smashing one of the side-view mirrors.
If a Jew who knows better intermarries, how should one treat his or her spouse? Coldly? Warmly? Somewhere in between?
After considering the question, Rabbi Dayan said, "Since foreign currency is halachically considered a commodity, a loan of foreign currency is subject to the rules of commodity loans.
In One’s Grasp ‘Ein Ma’avirin Al Hamitzvos’ (Yoma 33a)
Rav Hershel Schachter suggests that nowadays, Yom Tov candles actually should not be lit at all on the second night of Yom Tov (or on Motzei Shabbat) since their light is not really needed.
Is it proper to use the title “Rabbi” when referring to someone who received rabbinic ordination from a Reform or Conservative institution?
He deeply appreciated it but said to his wife that borrowing dollars and returning shekels might be a violation of the laws of ribbis.
Torah was given amidst smoke and fire to teach us that forever we must keep the passion, the flame burning within alive.
Chapter And Verse? ‘Has The Time For Slaughter Arrived?’ (Yoma 28a)
Should a person who desperately wants to make aliyah do so even if his or her parents object?
Of Kings And Scholars ‘He Forgave the Honor Due Him’ (Yoma 22b)
I’m not sure if you should ask for it back, but if you do, I wonder if halachically you would be believed that it’s yours, Mr. Schnall replied.
When visiting a shiva house, is it appropriate to repeat divrei Torah that seek to explain tragedy or death?
Since the computer desk and eating table are different items, one of you should set a price on either one, separately, and the other can buy or sell at that price.
Which Way? ‘All One’s Turns Shall Be To The Right’ (Yoma 15b)
Should one take sides in a family fight? If yes, under what circumstances?
A person who doesn’t uphold his verbal commitments is termed untrustworthy – ‘mechusar amana’ – and the Sages are not pleased with him.
Removing Mezuzos When The Lease Is Up ‘For Therein Was A Residence For The High Priest’ (Yoma 10a)
Some people insist that Hebrew and Lashon HaKodesh are two different languages. Is the assertion correct and is the motivation behind making this assertion commendable?
Giving Tzedakah At Night ‘Rabbi Chinena’s Mitzvah Performance’ (Shekalim 22a)
Is it appropriate to discuss politics at the Shabbos table?
A Cake Walk ‘Through It the Water Trickled Out’ (Shekalim 17a)
Is being on time a Jewish value?
Pristine Exemplar ‘Let Him Fill His Mouth With Water’ (Shekalim 9a)
Chametz this year has to be sold on Friday since Chazal prohibited transactions on Shabbos, and some say that you can’t even sell on Friday with the stipulation that the sale take effect on Shabbos.
Rabbeinu Tam has an ingenious solution for how to have Seudah Shlishit on Erev Pesach: eat matzah ashirah [egg matzah].
Is it appropriate to introduce “gimmicks” at the Seder (like 10 toys for the 10 makos) in an effort to make it more fun for children? Or should the Seder be more dignified and formal?
In Our Days ‘We Do Not Seize a Surety From Children’ (Shekalim 3b)
Although yearly statements may show gains, there is no obligation to give maaser until shares are redeemed.
The Shulchan Aruch does not even mention the opinion of the Rif and Rambam and states explicitly that the requirement of guarding applies only to the matzah used for the Seder.
Is listening to rap or heavy metal music appropriate?
A Case Of Mistaken Identity ‘And Two Cooked Foods’ (Pesachim 114a)
The Gemara [Bava Metzia 117a] discusses a tenant who washes his hand with the water that leaks on a tenant below him.
In looking up a pasuk online, the first result one gets is usually the King James translation or another Christian translation. Can one use this translation if the pasuk isn’t Isaiah 53:5 or something similar?
An Expression Unique In Shas ‘I Am Neither Wise…’ (Pesachim 105b)
We are a nation of miracles. We have traveled through the four corners of this earth. We have gone through every type of persecution. We were told that we would be vanquished, thrown into the sea.
Although a person is usually liable even for accidental damage, Rabban Yochanan explains that, in this case, he is really completely exempt, but the Sages fined people who purposely damage property so that they won’t do so wantonly.
When publishing a deceased person’s writings, may one censor a tiny amount of material in order to vastly increase the number of people who will read it and be influenced by the author?
He Might Extinguish It ‘The Best Way of Performing the Mitzvah’ (Pesachim 103b)
The family suddenly realized that giving on his behalf while he was sedated may not have counted, so they called Rabbi Dayan and asked him.
Should a lawyer defend someone in court whom he thinks is guilty? What if the man is truly despicable (e.g., a child killer)?
Hashem's House Is No Different (Pesachim 94a)
The Gemara then says that certain people – including teachers, shochtim, doctors, and mohalim, whose malpractice cannot be undone – do not need to be warned before being fired since they’re considered to have already been warned.
Is there anything wrong with taking an animal from the wild and confining it to restricted living quarters. In other words, are zoos “kosher”?
Hashem’s House Is No Different “Everything Except ‘Leave’” (Pesachim 86b)
In some cases, a neighbor can object so that the protrusion doesn’t establish a chazakah (permanent rights) should he ever want to build there.
Should a frum Jew believe the sun goes around Earth if the Rambam says it does?
Location! Location! ‘On and Off His Forehead’ (Pesachim 77a)
As Shimon put the $20 bills in their compartment, he noticed that one had a star in the serial number. He recognized it as a 2017 $20 bill Federal Reserve Star Note worth over $30 as a collector's item!
Is it important to keep kids (who are old enough to come to shul) at their seats for Kerias HaTorah (as opposed to letting them play outside)?
The sale is valid since the food is essentially of the same type, and most people are not particular how an animal is raised.
Against The Tide? ‘How Do We Roast the Paschal Sacrifice?’ (Pesachim 74a)
Is it ever appropriate to get drunk?
Blood On His Hands! ‘It’s Praiseworthy for the Sons of Aaron That They Walk in Blood…’ (Pesachim 65b)
Ohr Chadash could very much use the additional funds, replied Mr. Klein. But I’m not sure it would be ethical to change the will at the expense of Toras Yisrael. I think it best for you to consult a halachic authority.
Should a Jew avoid living in Germany? What about doing business there?
Mazal Tov! ‘They Recited Shema Yisrael’ (Pesachim 56a)
Should a parent encourage a child who wants to join the U.S. Army?
Are We There Yet? “I Don’t Work on Yom Tov [Sheni]” (Pesachim 52a)
It's good you trust me, said Yosef. Otherwise you could claim the envelopes had less money in them and refuse to pay the full amount.
In retrospect, which group of Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto were correct – those who favored fighting the Nazis or those who opposed doing so?
Spoiled And Rotten? ‘A Loaf Went Moldy’ (Pesachim 45b)
Mr. Aboudi contacted some of his Egyptian counterparts to procure a mummy. That evening, he shared with his chavrusa, Mr. Landau, that he was currently trying to acquire a mummy.
When we are stressed and under pressure, we often parent out of emotion. We just want to get through the moment and forget the long term goal of raising children with soul.
Should parents name their child after an ancestor if that ancestor's name sounds strange to modern ears (an extreme example would be “Yenta”) and the child may later feel awkward sharing his or her name with others?
A Matter Of Ownership ‘Here Too [It Means] Of Your Own’ (Pesachim 37b-38a)
Is it appropriate to invite yeshiva bachurim to one’s Shabbos table if one has a teenage girl at home?
Chametz On Shabbos Erev Pesach (Pesachim 32a)
Rav Sheshes, though, maintains that a dice gambler is disqualified only when he lives off of gambling and doesn’t have another profession.
Is it proper for an ordinary Jew (as opposed to Avraham Avinu, Moshe Rabbeinu, or R’ Levi Yitzchok of Berditchiv) to challenge G-d?
The Shoemaker’s Children ‘If One Can Eat, One Can Sell’ (Pesachim 21a)
Yaakov couldn’t remember who handed him his oil bottle and both Avraham and Yitzchak insisted he was the one who did so.
September 11, 2026 
