יום שבת, כ״ו תמוז תשפ״וSaturday, July 11, 2026
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Is it okay to enjoy Christmas songs like “Jingle Bells” if one happens to hear them playing in a store or on the street?
Some authorities rule that the vast majority of keilim nowadays should be toveled without a berachah since they have never been in the private possession of a non-Jew.
The Rif offers a different rationale. He writes that the agent must share the extra items with the sender because the benefit came about through his money.
Soul Food ‘It Comes to Include a Fragrance’ (Niddah 52a)
Is the desire to be more machmir than one’s father good, bad, or neutral?
You Can’t Have It Both Ways ‘A Minor Who Reaches Maturity’ (Niddah 46a)
"What a waste that I bought the bookcases last week!" he exclaimed. "I could have ordered them now for almost half the price and saved myself $800!"
How important is it to be informed about political and world affairs? Or is it important? Should the average frum Jew read the newspaper (or a news website) every day?
On Shabbos morning, Moshe decided to serve the kiddush food since it would mostly go to waste otherwise.
Rebirth Of Sorts ‘Immersing Impure, Emerging Pure’ (Niddah 42a)
Is it appropriate for men and women to call each other by their first names at work?
If a person incurred expenses on his own initiative to save someone's life, he can ask to be compensated
Prior to the 18th century, no one said Kaddish after Mizmor Shir for the simple reason that that psalm wasn’t recited at all!
The Great Switch ‘These Are The Sons Of Leah’ (Niddah 32)
Is observing Thanksgiving in some manner praiseworthy or wrong (or neither)?
It’s prohibited to destroy even part of G-d's sacred name. Thus, one cannot usually cut between the letters of G-d's name in a siddur or Chumash.
Missing In Translation ‘A Shesua Is A Creature…’ (Niddah 24a)
A Shabbos Treat ‘Snow Is Neither Food Nor Drink’ (Niddah 17a)
Sara felt bad but thought her friend should compensate her for at least some of the money.
Is it appropriate to listen to the music of Richard Wagner?
Somewhat Lacking ‘A Deaf Woman, An Imbecile…’ (Niddah 13b)
Location, Location! ‘Uncleanness Is Determined by the Time the Body Is Found’ (Niddah 4)
Do young children belong in shul?
Spared Possible Punishments ‘Those Who Are New To The Ketores’ (Tamid 32b-33a)
Guarding The Temple – Even Today ‘Kohanim Stationed in Three Places’ (Tamid 25b)
Ashkenazic society for over 700 years has considered sleeping in the sukkah to be a chumrah, not a requirement.
"Mrs. Stern plans to work on Yom Tov," Mrs. Alter said to her husband afterwards. "I tried to dissuade her, but she didn't pick up on it. Are we allowed to process the billing and keep our percentage?"
Should an average Jew spend a lot of money when buying an esrog?
"I asked Rabbi Dayan and he said I shouldn't seat you near Mr. Fine," explained the gabbai. Mr. Gold approached Rabbi Dayan and asked him the reasoning behind his directive.
Kishka – Stuffed Derma ‘Intestines Are Not Meat’ (Me’ilah 20b)
The Vilna Gaon felt that the proscription against fasting until chatzot on Yom Tov also applies on Rosh Hashanah.
A Transfusion, An Element Of Life “Blood-Let Of A Sanctified Animal…” (Me’ilah 12)
"Charging a price significantly different from the norm is a violation of ona'ah," explained Rabbi Dayan.
How tolerant should a person be of a son-in-law’s desire to keep his own minhagim at his (the father-in-law’s) Yom Tov table?
A President Vacates The White House ‘Once Permitted To Kohanim, Me’ilah Does Not Apply’ (Me’ilah 4b)
A lender holding a loan document acknowledged that he received payment, but claimed that the payment was for another, undocumented, loan.
A Bride and Groom On Their Wedding Day ‘Except for the Day after Yom Kippur’ (Kereisos 25a)
Is taking a selfie proper?
David called Rabbi Dayan and asked, "Can a non-Jew and Jew form a partnership and lend money to Jews with interest?"
Usually you cannot double-bill, but the answer to your question depends on the contractual arrangement or local custom.
Beware The Fruit! ‘A Misasek Is Excluded’ (Kereisos 19a)
The Rema adds that a beis din may even decree "not to circumcise his child or bury him until he divorces his wife."
The rise of the chassidic movement, which exchanged many ancient Ashkenazic customs for those of the Arizal, also contributed to the increase in popularity of washing after Kiddush.
Seizing An Opportunity? ‘More Than 100 Witnesses’ (Kerisos 11b-12a)
"Thank you very much for the recommendations," Mr. Weiner replied. "I have to speak to a rabbi, though, about whether I can take the jobs."
Should a Jew be concerned about paranormal phenomena such as dybbuks and gilgulim?
In an office setting, therefore, the question of whether a worker may take food home depends on local common practice.
Temple Management 101 'The Rest Were Given To The Craftsmen' (Kerisos 6a)
The Sons Stirred Within Her ‘The Fetus Is a Limb of Its Mother’ (Temurah 30b)
Accordingly, the obligation to give maaser kesafim may be fulfilled not only through money, but also through goods and services.
Should a frum Jew take special pride in famous people who were Jewish but not frum and whose achievements have no evident connection to Judaism (e.g., Walter Rathenau, Richard Feynman, Danny Kaye, Bobby Fischer, Milton Friedman, Jascha Heifetz…)?
The Contradiction That Yielded 50 Explanations 'He Says to His Maidservant: You Are Free' (Temura 25b)
"How much is the whole horse worth?" Feivel asked. "Go sell it and I'll pay you the difference to buy a new horse."
Was Shmuel Not The Greatest? ‘3,000 Halachos Were Forgotten’ (Temurah 16a)
A truly poor person can receive a large amount of charity at once, even beyond his needs, replied Rabbi Dayan.
Before bathing, one must honestly assess whether or not it is needed for hygienic purposes. Failure to do so displays insensitivity to mourning the Beit HaMikdash and our nation's exile.
Should a frum Jew care if an animal species is endangered or goes extinct?
Permission Granted? ‘Lo Yachlifenu B’Shel Acheirim…’ (Temurah 9a)
The Gemara [Bava Metzia 76a] states that if someone instructed an employee to work in his neighbor's property, the employer is liable to pay the person’s salary.
Unsaying Words 'He Uttered Hashem’s Name In Vain' (Temurah 3b)
I figured you were giving me a grace on the loan. Of course I will start paying you in monthly $1,000 installments starting from this month.
Is it necessary to say “Baruch Hashem” or “Thank G-d” every time someone asks you how you are?
If Mr. Miller had admitted that he lent money only once, clearly one of the witnesses would be lying and his testimony would be worthless.
Too Little, Too Late? 'And Break Down the Door and Enter…' (Arachin 31b)
People are particular about whom they wish to live with, so the remaining partner can claim he agreed to live with the initial partner but not with this new person – whether due to the person’s status or character.
Pleading The Fifth ‘Minors Are Not Obligated To Fulfill Mitzvos’ (Arachin 22a)
Is there anything inherently wrong with a person spending vast sums of money on a wedding or bar mitzvah if he’s rich and can easily afford it?
When A Dead Ewe Gave Birth To A Live Lamb 'We Do Not Wait for Her to Give Birth' (Arachin 7a)
Furthermore, if the lender explicitly stipulated that the payment must be made with money, the stipulation is binding.
"Well, one of you owes me a new bat,” Avi said. “You, Aharon, broke it, but Eli had no right to lend it to you.”
A Burning Question? 'It’s Not Evil Speech…' (Arachin 15b)
In an ideal Torah society, should a yeshiva dinner have separate or mixed seating?
Lulav Or Shofar On Shabbos 'It Refers To Tithing In Our Days' (Bechoros 61a)
A borrower generally would not have the audacity to falsely claim that he repaid a loan, especially since the creditor did him a favor by lending him money.
Lingua Franca ‘Only From Jericho And Below’ (Bechoros 55a)
He may not charge for retrieving it since doing so is required as part of hashavas aveidah, but he may ask for partial compensation for any work he didn’t get to do as a result.
The Steipler used to eat milchigs on Shavuot night and fleishigs during the day.
An Eventual Resolution 'May The Likes Of You Increase Manifold In Israel' (Bechoros 45b)
When making early Shabbat, one davens Maariv before “evening,” following the opinion of R. Yehudah. Seemingly, then, one must daven Mincha on Friday before plag.
What Is A Sheep? ‘If It…Does Not Possess Three Vertebrae’ (Bechoros 40b)
Chazal relied on the presumption that the true owner will more likely succeed; he will make a stronger effort to secure the item or demonstrate his ownership.
Is it proper to plan a vacation in a location that doesn't have a daily minyan?
R. Asher Weiss permits prisoners to wear ankle bracelets, which record their movements on Shabbos.
Beware, Big Brother! 'He Isn't Suspected…' (Bechoros 35)
When the boys retrieved the knapsack an hour later, they saw that the bags of marbles had burst.
Rabbi Eliyahu Schlesinger argues vehemently that only music that leads to rikkudim umecholos is prohibited; music, however, that is spiritually uplifting and soothing to one's soul is permitted.
"Indeed, according to one opinion in the Gemara, if the agent did not have a choice not to obey, the sender is liable since the rationale does not apply," replied Rabbi Dayan.
Not Necessarily Good For The Goose – Or The Gander ‘Plucking the Wool Is Permitted’ (Bechoros 25a)
If a Jew wins the lottery, should he continue working? Or should he quit his job and study Torah all day?
Indeed, there are several reasons that a ketubah should not be enforced in New York – or anywhere in America – beyond those which the court mentioned.
Modern poskim differ on whether and what type of Hallel should be recited on days of national celebration for recent miracles such as Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Israel Independence Day).
Precisely Timed ‘It Is Impossible To Ascertain Exactly’ (Bechoros 17b-18a)
Rare And Difficult 'If He Has No Lamb…' (Bechoros 11a)
Should frum men get married at age 18 as per Chazal's advice (especially since Chazal's advice was apparently motivated by a desire that men retain their moral purity, which is arguably at greater risk today than it was 2,000 years ago)?
But I've babysat on Shabbos before, said Rivki. After Shabbos, the family gave me money and you didn't stop me from accepting it.
Sextuplets: No Other Solution 'A Levite Exempted An Israelite…' (Bechoros 4a)
In some cases, non-Jews joined synagogues to reap the alcoholic benefits of Judaism under Prohibition!
Upon checking into the matter, he discovered that years ago a Jew had complained that the farmer had stolen the land from him.
Remember The Sabbath Day 'Both in the Times of the Temple and After' (Chullin 138)
July 10, 2026 
