יום רביעי, י״ט תשרי תשפ״זWednesday, September 30, 2026
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"They also just had their first boy," Mr. Jacobs said. "B’ezras Hashem, they will be doing a pidyon in another two weeks!"
When bad things happen to someone else, is it appropriate to speculate why?
The Gemara states that the rules of onaah apply only to movable items that have intrinsic value. This excludes real estate, which is not movable.
A Matter Of Intention? ‘The Primary Labors Are Forty Less One…’ (Shabbos 73a)
How does a young woman determine what is or isn’t immodest when it comes to clothing that falls in the grey area of tznius?... Ask her mother? A teacher?
For Whom The Bell Tolls ‘Royal Children May Go Out With Bells’ (Shabbos 66b)
If a person believes based on expert medical advice that wearing a mask on a quiet sidewalk is unnecessary, should he wear it anyways because of the chillul Hashem it will cause in some circles if he doesn’t? Does the answer depend on his motivation (convenience vs. making a political statement)?
Bar Hama was accused of murder, but Rav Papi advocated on his behalf, and he was exonerated. Bar Hama felt indebted to Rav Papi and committed to pay Rav Papi's taxes.
Should one dress up for a shiur on Zoom if no one can see anything more than your face and top of your shirt?
Based on the first source, a person who hired someone for a job, but then changes his mind due to uncontrollable circumstances that could not be foreseen by either side, does not have to pay the worker since he is in possession of the money.
Ball And Bat Substitutes ‘Cut Palm Branches’ (Shabbos 50a)
Isn’t it unusual for the Shechinah not to have come down immediately for Aharon after all his labors and his level of piety?
Enjoying A Hot Dish ‘Really What Was Meant Was Replacing It…’ (Shabbos 37a)
Many people’s plans for Pesach this year have been completely upended by the coronavirus pandemic. What would you recommend these people think about as they sit down to the Seder to celebrate the holiday of freedom?
For Appearances Sake ‘Moving Forward at the Word of G-d’ (Shabbos 31a)
Is it appropriate to look for, and publicize, gematrias and Torah codes related to the current coronavirus pandemic?
By Tzvi Fishman
The doctor has precedence. A king does not have precedence over a doctor who can save the lives of many others.
[Originally posted on RabbiDunner.com] Questions and answers with Rav Hershel Schachter shlit”a, regarding situations arising from the coronavirus crisis. Transcribed by Rabbi Pini Dunner (assisted by Michael Bernstein). This transcript has been approved by Rav Hershel Schachter. With many thanks to Rabbi Marc Dratch of the RCA, who posed the questions to Rav Schachter, and to Rabbi Aryeh Richter for adding the footnotes (see PDF […]
Regarding hotel or apartment cancellations: This issue is more complicated.
Triple Play? ‘If He Didn’t Say, He Must Repeat’ (Shabbos 24a)
Mr. Schreiber offered to call Rabbi Dayan on her behalf. She agreed, so he called Rabbi Dayan and asked, "Is my wife liable for the money in the missing envelope?"
Crystal Clear ‘Speak Like One’s Teacher’ (Shabbos 15a)
Is it proper to panic over the coronavirus epidemic?
A professional hired to do a certain task must do it in an acceptable manner.
Is it important for an introvert to "get out of his shell"?
Why Aren’t We Scared That The Mohel Will Carry? ‘His Hand Is Not At Rest’ (Shabbos 3a)
By Tzvi Fishman
Generally, a person can break the laws of Shabbat to save a life, but can one do so to conduct research that may lead to a vaccine that may save someone’s life in the future?
Is it appropriate to analyze one’s parents?
Pomp And Circumstance ‘Try to See the King’ (Berachos 58a)
“Even if many years pass before the lender demands the loan, the borrower remains obligated to repay it. We do not say the lender forgave the loan [Choshen Mishpat 98:1].
In a Jewish marriage, is cooking and cleaning primarily the woman's job?
Mr. Brayer thought for a minute. "I'm happy to charge it to your credit card," he said, "but I'm concerned about ribbis."
Saying a shorter version of Kabbalat Shabbat would hardly be unprecedented or a scandalous reform.
The Lady Of The House “One Says the Blessing on the Wine First” (Berachos 51)
Should a person be comfortable or uncomfortable davening in an airport or on an airplane? And should he act conspicuously or inconspicuously?
If two of you are of the same opinion, the case is effectively decided!
Shehakol Bread? ‘One Recites a Blessing on the Primary Food’ (Berachos 44a)
Is there anything wrong with playing violent video games? Does the answer depend on whom the video game wishes you to fight or kill or how gory the violence is?
A Vicious Cycle ‘Many Different Kinds Were Set Before Him’ (Berachos 41a)
After listening to both sides present their case, Rabbi Dayan said, “The sale of defective merchandise is void from the beginning.
May one use data derived from unethical research (an extreme example of which would be data from Nazi research that used human test subjects instead of lab rats and caused unimaginable suffering)?
The issue here is the close connection between the dayan and his constituent and the question of whether his judgment will be affected by this relationship.
A Two-Way Street? ‘Joining Geulah To Tefillah Is Preferable’ (Berachos 30a)
Conventional discussions about the depletion of natural resources are full of empty cliches, which, for consecutive generations, have turned out to be false.
Is It Proper...? Should we try to preserve Yiddish as a living language in America or Israel?
No Cell Phones, Please! ‘A Kerchief Designated For Storing Tefillin’ (Berachos 23)
The amount of time machine matzah spends in the oven should give us serious pause.
The two thought the request was unfair, especially since Reuven later got someone else to pay him $10, so they went to Rabbi Dayan to get his opinion.
Is It Proper...? Should a person think highly of himself?
Mr. Chovel interjected, "But beis din is not halachically authorized nowadays to adjudicate cases of bodily injury!"
What About Ma’ariv? ‘The Bridegroom Is Exempt From Kerias Shema’ (Berachos 16a)
Should a person feel guilty for using an English ArtScroll Gemara (as opposed to struggling with the original Aramaic)?
He had an hour until his next appointment, but there wasn't much he could do meanwhile. It didn't pay to go home. He took out his Gemara and began learning Daf Yomi.
A Night-Day Dilemma ‘When One Reads Shema’ (Berachos 8b)
Should a person lend any significance to his dreams?
"It feels wrong to work all day with non-kosher food," replied Mrs. Fleishman. "Are you sure it's allowed?"
A Glorious Return ‘Tam V’nishlam’ (Niddah 73a)
How should a person regard behavior by a tzaddik that seems very strange (for example, living in solitude for the last 20 years of one’s life as the Kotzker Rebbe apparently did)?
When there is an apparent mistake, there is a mitzvah of hashavas aveidah to alert the store manager or staff to the error.
Sorrow And Joy 'Proclaim Your Troubles So Your Friends Pray For You' (Niddah 66a)
Should a person avoid the company of someone who constantly swears but is otherwise a decent fellow?
Mechilah requires a willingness to forgo and release the other party of liability.
Self-Evident? ‘What Uncleanness Is There In A Nasal Discharge?’ (Niddah 55b-56a)
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.
September 25, 2026 
