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Parshas Shavua – Parshas Kedoshim (Sefiras Ha’omer)
Weekly Newsletter - 63 Alonim
Pesach #56
The festival of Pesach, which commemorates the birth of the Jewish nation, is a time when we celebrate our national unity. The Maharal explains that the halachos of the Korban Pesach stem from the idea that the Jewish nation is one body.
Open | DownloadAcharei #55
This week’s article continues the discussion of the Sale of Chametz. How is the rabbi, or the person responsible for the sale, appointed by the individual homeowner? When is the sale to the non-Jew actually performed? How do international sales work? And what products should be included in the sale? These questions, and more, are discussed in this week’s article. This week’s Q & A addresses the question of performing bedikas chametz with the electric lighting on.
Open | DownloadMetzora #54
This week’s article is the first of a two-part series on the sale of chametz. What is the history of the chametz sale that has become so widespread? What was it initially intended for, and what does it achieve? Does one fulfill the mitzvah of tashbisu by selling one’s chametz? What are the benefits of a collective sale, and how should the purchasing non-Jew be given access to his chametz? How, indeed, must the chametz be treated over Pesach? These questions, and more, are addressed in this week’s article.
Instead of the regular Q & A section, this week we provide the readers with a comprehensive guide to the sale of chametz—all the laws you need to know to sell your chametz effectively and efficiently. Please note that our site also offers a sale of chametz service, which you are welcome to make use of.
Tazria #53
This week’s article discusses the timely issue of maos chittin. What are the defining properties of the maos chittin collection? It is a tax, as sources imply, or a charity appeal? Can one contribute one’s maaser money towards maos chittin? Who is obligated to give maos chittin, who qualifies to receive the donations, and for which purposes can the collected money be used? These questions, and more, are addressed in this week’s article. This week’s Q & A deals with the issue of cleaning for Pesach: How far must one go in cleaning the house before Pesach?
Open | DownloadShemini #52
In this week’s article we turn our attention to the prohibition of consuming bugs. Which insects are forbidden for consumption, and which are permitted? What are the special stringencies involved with eating bugs? What are the defining principles of the obligation to check for bugs? Must one search for bugs under a microscope or magnifying glass? These questions, and more, are addressed in this week’s article. This week’s Q & A addresses the frequently asked question of using baby wipes on Shabbos.
Open | DownloadTzav #51
This week’s article addresses one of the mitzvos of Purim, which according to the Rambam is the mitzvah in which one should invest the greatest portion of one’s money and effort. How is the mitzvah of matanos la-evyonim defined? What is the time for fulfilling the mitzvah, and how much must one give? Are women and children obligated in the mitzvah, and to whom must the matanos be given? These questions, and more, are discussed in this week’s article. This week’s Q & A is dedicated to the question of reciting Tehillim (Psalms) on Purim night.
Open | DownloadVayikra #50
This week’s article focuses on the principle whereby one must coerce his fellow Jew to perform mitzvos—a principle mentioned in connection with korbanos at the beginning of Vayikra. When, how, and to what extent must we enforce the performance of mitzvos? Does the obligation of coercion fall on beis din alone, or even on individuals? What value does a coerced mitzvah possess? These questions, and more, are discussed in this week’s article. In this week’s Q & A, we address the question of changing diapers in front of sefarim.
Open | DownloadPekudei #49
This week’s article is devoted to the laws of Adar in a leap year. The question of which of the two months of Adar is the ‘principle’ Adar is far from academic, and it has ramifications for a wide range of halachos, such as establishing the time of a boy’s bar-mitzvah, knowing the correct date of a yahrzeit, when to be joyful, and how to write the date on legal documents and gittin. These issues, among others, will be discussed in this week’s article. This week’s Q & A deals with the question of reciting a blessing over chewing gum: Can and must one recite a blessing over something that is not swallowed?
Open | DownloadVayakhel #48
This week we take an in-depth look at the laws of the shul, and in particular, the laws derived from the comparison between today’s “small sanctuary” and the original Temple. Is this comparison made on a Torah level, or only on a rabbinic level? What are its ramifications concerning building or destroying a shul? Which halachos are extracted from the comparison (such as the structure of the shul, placement of the bimah, doors, the aron ha-kodesh, and so on), and which are not? These questions, and more, are discussed in this week’s article. This week’s Q & A present the interesting question of which parent a child born to a non-Jewish father (but Jewish mother) should be named after: his mother, his maternal grandfather, or some other option?
Open | DownloadKi Tisa #47
Dwelling on the opening of the parashah, and in tune with the time of the year (on an ordinary year, the custom of machatzis ha-shekel would be performed this week), this week’s article discusses the laws and intricacies of the known custom. What is the meaning and function of the half-shekel donation? Who must donate, and to whom is the donation given? When must the donation be made, and what should be its value? These questions, and more, are discussed in this week’s article.
This week’s Q & A addresses the seasonal issue of opening windows. In a work environment, in shul, or on a bus, who has the upper hand: Those who wish the window be opened, or those who want to see it closed?
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