יום רביעי, ט״ו אב תשפ״וWednesday, July 29, 2026
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Mr. Scher had a portfolio manager for his investments, but preferred to track certain stocks himself. One was TorahTech, a start-up that specialized in harnessing new technology to disseminate Torah.
Question: Someone tried to observe Shabbat but could not hold out from violating its laws in the latter part of the day. Does he receive a reward for the amount of Shabbat he observed? Or is reward based on the principle of “all or nothing”? In other words, does Shabbat observance require a total commitment such that partial observance is comparable to not observing Shabbat altogether?
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
Lost In Translation ‘A Shesua Is A Creature…’ (Niddah 24a)
Question: Why do we celebrate when a boy becomes bar mitzvah?
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
A Shabbos Treat ‘Snow Is Neither Food Nor Drink’ (Niddah 17a)
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
Somewhat Lacking ‘A Deaf Woman, An Imbecile…’ (Niddah 13b)
Question: Whenever a yom tov starts on Sunday (like this year), synagogues generally forego their Seudah Shlishit, eaten after Minchah on Shabbat. But why? If one is supposed to eat a third meal every Shabbos, why skip it if a yom tov starts that night?
Mr. Sam Braun stood at the back door of his house with another man dressed in rugged jeans and a baseball cap, surveying the back yard. The man had a tape measure in his hands, and took measurements along the length and width of the yard. The two then walked to the side of the house and again measured and talked, gesticulating with their hands.
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
Location, Location! ‘Alive Until Determined Otherwise’ (Niddah 4)
The korban tamid was offered up every morning and every afternoon, including Shabbat. The korbanot tamid served as the bookends for all the other korbanot that were brought during the day. No other offering could be brought before the korban tamid of the morning or after the korban tamid of the afternoon.
Question: When should women light yom tov candles?
"Welcome to the bar mitzvah celebration of our dear son, Eliezer," Mr. Siegel announced to his guests. "The bar mitzvah boy will now make a siyum Mishnayos, which will be followed by the main course."
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
Spared Possible Punishment ‘Those Who Are New To The Ketores’ (Tamid 32b-33a)
Question: May one recite Sefirat Ha’Omer with a berachah after sunset (shekiah)?
At about 4 a.m. on cold and damp autumn mornings in London, Dad would try to wake us in time for Selichot, the pre-Jewish New Year dawn prayers. As we heard Dad’s footsteps mounting the stairs, my brother and I would hide under our covers and mutter our displeasure at being disturbed.
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
Guarding the Temple Even Today! ‘Kohanim Were Stationed in Three Places’ (Tamid 25b)
Question: At the conclusion of the Amidah, should the chazzan say “Yiyu leratzon imrei fi… – May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable before you, G-d, my Rock and Redeemer”?
Mr. Gottlieb, though not wealthy, was known for his generosity. He scrupulously gave 10 percent of his earnings to charity, and often much more. Among his regular charities was Yeshivas Ohr Israel. At the recent Dinner, Mr. Gottlieb pledged $10,000 toward the Yeshiva's scholarship fund.
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
Kishka ‘Their Consumers Are Not Human!’ (Me’ilah 20b)
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
A Transfusion, An Element Of Life ‘Blood From A Sanctified Animal Is Forbidden’ (Me’ilah 12)
Question: I have heard that some halachic authorities disapprove of placing a silver atarah on a talit. Is this true?
In addition to karet, there is another type of premature death at the hand of God known as “mita bedei shamayim.”
Question: During Kriat HaTorah, many congregations recite a general prayer for ill people. What is the source of this custom? Also, in many congregations, instead of the gabbai announcing each name, all of the shul’s members are asked to silently say the name of the ill person to themselves while the gabbai remains quiet for several moments. Is this proper?
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
When The Service Is Done ‘Once Permitted To Kohanim, Me’ilah Does Not Apply’ (Me’ilah 4b)
Yankel drove with his wife to the yeshiva's annual dinner. "I hope we'll be able to find parking," she said.
Each morning at about 7:10 a.m. my mother, still in her housecoat and slippers, would wake me for school. One wintry Monday morning I opened my eyes to see her leaning over my bed. She was in hat and coat and her hands were cold from the weather outside.
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
A Bride And Groom On Their Wedding Day ‘Except For The Day After Yom Kippur’ (Kerisos 25a)
Question: If a person has a number of personal concerns that need to be thought out and analyzed, can he go to shul to do this?
Question: How much matzah must one eat at the Pesach Seder?
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
Beware Of The Fruit! ‘A Mis’asek Is Excluded’ (Kerisos 19a)
It's 1 p.m. on Friday, Erev Pesach. The rabbi had already sold the chametz at 10 a.m. But I forgot to sell mine. Now the synagogue office is closed and I can't get hold of the form the rabbi uses to sell the chametz. The Torah requires me to remove all chametz from my house on Pesach. But I just cannot bring myself to throw out that Glenfiddich. Is there a way the whisky can remain in my house during Pesach, and would I be able to drink it after Pesach?
Question: What is the basis of the custom to refrain from eating matzah for a period of time before Pesach?
On the bima of the beis medrash stood a maos chittim "pushka" (collection box) on behalf of "Matzos Chesed Organization." The gabbai emptied the box every few days, typically finding $200-$500.
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
Seizing An Opportunity? ‘A Person Is Believed Regarding Himself More Than 100 Witnesses’ (Kerisos 11b-12a)
Question: If someone passes away on one day but is buried the next day, when does the son stop saying Kaddish and when should he observe the yahrzeit – 11 and 12 months, respectively, after the day of death or 11 and 12 months, respectively, after the day of burial?
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
Temple Management 101 ‘The Rest Were Given To The Craftsmen As Wages’ (Kerisos 6a)
If you pay only $5 or if you creep back, retrieve your $10 bill and make off with the money and the flowers. Doing that would be a breach of trust.
The act of temurah, consecrating another animal in place of an already consecrated animal, incurs the punishment of malkot - lashes. This is somewhat surprising. There is a halachic rule that a prohibition that does not involve an overt act does not incur the punishment of malkot – “lav she’einbBo ma’aseh, ein lokin alav.” Why then does a person incur malkot?
Question: When we pray, are we requesting or demanding that God fulfill our wishes?
Shmuel Bender and Asher Beckerman were study partners (chevrusas). They also sat next to each other in shiur. Shmuel felt fortunate to have the privilege of learning with Asher, whom he admired greatly.
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
If a fetus is a separate entity, how is slaughtering a pregnant animal permitted? After all, Chullin teaches us that the Torah prohibits slaughtering a mother and its child on the same day.
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
The Rambam That Engendered Fifty Novella ‘He Says to His Maidservant: You Are Free’ (Temura 25b)
"When someone completes his job faithfully you must pay him fully, even if no benefit comes from the work. For example, if a person ordered a delivery of medicine for a critically ill patient, and the person died or recovered meanwhile, the driver must be paid."
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
At most a navi, through prophecy, can institute a temporary modification of a Torah law. However, if he seeks to introduce a permanent change in the Torah or to add a new mitzvah, he and his prophecy should be rejected.
To properly fulfill the mitzvah of listening to the megillah, each word must be heard. If a word is missed, the listener should read it quietly to himself from the text in his hand. The principal purpose of reciting the megillah is to publicize the miracle of Purim. Accordingly, many poskim permit the megillah to be read in English if the reader does not understand Hebrew.
Question: Is there any halachic rationale for men to shake hands with women?
Batei arei chomah are structures (of at least six to eight square feet) in towns consisting of at least three courtyards with two buildings each, with a predominantly Jewish population – provided that such towns were surrounded by a wall in the time of Joshua even though they may no longer be surrounded by a wall at the time of the sale or buyback.
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
Permission Granted? ‘Lo Yachlifenu B’Shel Acheirim…’ (Temurah 9)
Question: Is there any halachic rationale for men to shake hands with women?
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
‘He Uttered Hashem’s Name In Vain’ (Temurah 3b)
"Although a shomer sachar is generally obligated in theft and is expected to watch extra carefully, he can stipulate with the owner for a lower level of responsibility . . . A number of authorities maintain that when the owner was aware of the conditions in which the merchandise would be kept, it is considered as a stipulation that such guardianship suffices."
Question: Should a person try to observe mitzvot he is technically exempt from performing?
After its conquest by Joshua, the land of Israel was divided into twelve equal parts in accordance with the number of the tribes of Israel. Each male member of each tribe that actually left Egypt was entitled to a piece of land equal in size to the total size allocated to his whole tribe divided by the number of men of twenty or over in his tribe that left Egypt.
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
Too Little, Too Late? ‘Break Down the Door and Enter…’ (Arachin 31b)
A person’s reputation precedes him. A bad reputation prejudices any chance of a successful encounter. Damaging a person’s reputation is tantamount to booby-trapping human relations before they can blossom into happy relationships.
"Fine & Feder Furniture" had been a landmark in the shopping center for decades. The two partners had opened a small store thirty years before and now ran a humongous showroom. Rumors were circulating of a breakup in the partnership, though, due to developing mistrust.
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
Pleading The Fifth ‘…And Minors Are Not Obligated To Fulfill Mitzvos’ (Arachin 22a)
Question: Are there limitations to the mitzvah of chinuch?
Question: Are there limitations to the mitzvah of chinuch?
There are two different types of vows, nedarim, mentioned in the Torah. The first, which is the subject of Tractate Nedarim, is the prohibitive vow, nidrei issur, pursuant to which a person utters a vow not to do an action, which but for the vow would have been permitted.
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
A Burning Question? ‘If Said In The Concerned Person’s Presence It’s Not Evil Speech’ (Arachin 15b)
Pidyon ha’ben, like brit milah, is primarily the responsibility of the father. A brit milah must be performed on the eighth day of the child’s birth, unless it would endanger the life of the child. Pidyon ha’ben must be performed on the 31st day of the child’s birth. Neither ceremony may be delayed beyond its prescribed time unless there is some halachic justification to do so.
Question: Are there limitations to the mitzvah of chinuch?
"Yosef, congratulations on your graduation!" said Uncle Sam. "I want to buy you a new bike as a present."
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
When a Dead Ewe Gave Birth to a Live Lamb ‘We Do Not Wait For Her To Give Birth’ (Arachin 7a)
A son who is not himself a kohen or a Levi, firstborn to a Jewish mother who is not the daughter of a kohen or a Levi, has the status of a bechor and must be redeemed through a ceremony known as pidyon ha’ben. The performance of the pidyon ha’ben ceremony, which should take place […]
Question: Are there limitations to the mitzvah of chinuch?
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
Lulav or Shofar on Shabbos ‘It Refers To Tithing In Our Days’ (Bechoros 61a)
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
Lingua Franca ‘The Jordan Is Only From Jericho And Below’ (Bechoros 55a)
"Do you realize that it's Shaindy's 30th birthday in a month?" Sara asked Penina. "It's amazing how time flies!"
Question: Are there limits to the mitzvah of chinuch?
July 24, 2026 
