Putting on shoes

To purchase this Sefer, click here The order in putting on and tying shoes: [1] Placing on the shoes: When putting on shoes one is to [honor his right side[2] and therefore he is to] first place on his right shoe [without tying the laces, as will be explained] and only […]

Laws of a lefty

To purchase this Sefer, click here Which side receives precedence by a lefty, his left or right? Some Poskim [1] rule that a left handed person is to give precedence to his right side, just like a right handed person.[2] However others[3] rule, based on Admur, that a lefty always gives […]

Precedence of left side

To purchase this Sefer, click here Preceding the left side when tying clothing:[1] One is to precede the left side with regards to tying clothing. Thus all clothing that have laces which are required to be tied on two different sides, left and right, one is to precede the tying […]

Precedence of right side

To purchase this Sefer, click here Giving precedence to the right side: [1] One is to always give precedence to his right over his left for all matters. The reason for this is because the right is given greater significance throughout the entire Torah regarding [the Temple service[2]], the inauguration […]

Practical Q&A

To purchase this Sefer, click here Practical Q&A What does one do in a situation that he needs to walk and does not have a head covering? Example: What does one do if his yarmulke flew off and is found more than 4 cubits from him? If one is able […]

Valid Head Covering

To purchase this Sefer, click here What is defined as a valid head covering? [1] A very thin cover: Hats that are woven of straw [and hence are very light and transparent] are considered a valid head covering.   Q&A Is there a minimum size for a Yarmulke? How much […]

Does hand on head suffice

To purchase this Sefer, click here Does placing a hand on one’s head suffice in place of a Yarmulke?[1] One’s own hand: Placing one’s hand on his head suffices in place of a Yarmulke with regards to being able to sit and walk.[2] [Thus if one does not have a […]

Children Wearing a Yarmulke

To purchase this Sefer, click here Male Children:[1] It is proper to cover even the head of children [in order to place upon them fear of heaven[2]]. Q&A From what age should a child begin to wear a Yarmulke? Age three:[3] From age three we are particular that a boy […]

When must a Yarmulke be worn?

To purchase this Sefer, click here When must a Yarmulke be worn? [1] In previous times it was only obligatory to wear a Yarmulke upon reciting Hashem’s name or, according to some opinions, when inside a Shul, as will be explained. It was a mere act of piety to wear […]

Introduction

To Purchase this Sefer Click here Introduction:[1] The wearing of a head covering is a Jewish custom dating back to thousands of years. It is recorded in the Talmud[2] and is the symbol that differentiates a Jew from gentile. The following is a treatise on this subject. [1] Kama 2/7, 46/2; Basra 2/6 [2] Kiddushin […]

Story about Menachem Nochum

To purchase this Sefer, click here A Maaseh Shehaya:[1] In the days of the Alter Rebbe it became accustomed to wear a certain style leather coat with a silk exterior called a Katinke. Prior to the wedding of Menachem Nachum, the grandson of the Alter Rebbe, the Alter Rebbe summoned […]

Wearing a hat and jacket

Wearing a hat The custom of wearing a hat over the Yarmulke: It is customary amongst pious Jews to walk with two head coverings and they thus wear a hat over their Yarmulke. [1] This custom is followed by Chassidim.[2]   The Talmudic source of this custom:[3] The source for […]

Bindel

To purchase this Sefer, click here Wearing an inner Gartel:[1] Some are accustomed to constantly wear a Gartel under their shirt, over their Tzitzis.[2] Nevertheless this is not the Chabad custom.[3] However it is accustomed amongst Chabad to wear an elastic [“Bindel”] over the Tzitzis in order to prevent it […]

Tight fitting pants and Jeans

To purchase this Sefer, click here Tight pants and underpants:[1] The Gemara[2] implies that it is forbidden for men to wear pants unless they are made like Batei Shukayim[3].[4] [This however only refers to pants that are made with a special pocket that is tightly fitted for the size of […]

A Modest Haircut

To purchase this Sefer, click here A modest Haircut: [1] [One may not get a haircut, or grow out his hair in a way that is accustomed by gentiles.] Thus one may not grow dreadlocks[2], or a ponytail[3], or give himself a Mohawk [or mushroom] haircut. [1] Michaber 178 [2] Lit. Tzitzis […]

Shoes

To purchase this Sefer, click here The importance of wearing shoes: [1] The sages[2] said that one who does not place shoes on his feet is considered excommunicated from G-d.[3] A person should even sell all that he has [even the walls of his house[4]] in order to buy shoes for […]

Cleanliness and neatness

To purchase this Sefer, click here Cleanliness of the clothing:[1] One should not wear clothing which is dirty, lest he be disparaged in the eyes of others. Not to be dressed sloppy:[2] It is proper[3] [for every person[4] to be careful[5]] to dress and look decent in order so he […]

Price and style

 To purchase this Sefer, click here   The price and style of the clothing:[1] One should not wear expensive clothing as this brings a person to haughtiness. Nevertheless one is also not to wear very cheap [low class] clothing in order so he is not disparaged in the eyes of […]

Color of clothing

To purchase this Sefer, click here The color of the clothing: Black colored clothing: [1] Black colored clothing is modest and humble[2] and hence is proper to be worn. Red colored clothing: Red colored clothing is forbidden to be worn as they are worn by the gentiles for purposes of […]

Clothing of Gentiles

To purchase this Sefer, click here Clothing of Gentiles: It is forbidden for one to follow the path of gentiles [1] or try to be similar to them[2]. Thus one may not wear clothing which are designated to be worn only by gentiles[3] for [pompous[4] or] immoral purposes. Likewise if the […]

Walking humbly

To purchase this Sefer, click here To walk in a humble manner: [1] One should get up[2] and walk in a manner that his head[3] is [slightly[4]] bent downwards, and not with a straight posture, [and outstretched neck[5]]. It is forbidden to walk with a straight posture for even less […]

The order of bathing and smearing

To purchase this Sefer, click here The order of bathing and washing hands: [1] Bathing: When bathing ones entire body one begins with washing [and placing shampoo[2] on] his head, as the head is the king of all the limbs. One then washes [and soaps] his right hand[3] first and […]

Mikveh, bathhouse or river

To purchase this Sefer, click here Modesty at a Mikveh, bathhouse or river: [1] One does not need to cover his body in a bathhouse.[2] The same applies to a river. (Nevertheless by a river one should get undressed and dressed as close as possible to the river in order not […]

Consequences for Immodesty

To Purchase this Sefer, click here. Consequences for one who is not modest in his dress: [1] The Sages stated that “With the revealing of the hands the house will drip”. This means to say that through the laziness of a person not being careful in properly covering the body “the house […]

Revealing ones feet

To purchase this Sefer, click here May one reveal his feet, or must they constantly be covered?[1] Communities of people that never reveal the feet:[2] (In those areas that it is not common to ever walk with revealed feet, even in the summer, they must be careful to always have […]

Dressing and Undressing

To purchase this Sefer, click here Getting dressed and undressed: [1] When getting dressed [or getting undressed[2]] one is[3] do so under covers in order not to have any part of his body revealed while putting on [or removing] the clothing. Thus if one slept without a shirt, when he awakens […]

Revealing body

To purchase this Sefer, click here Not to reveal one’s body: Not to reveal parts of one’s body that is normally covered [1] Due to the above command of modesty one may not reveal those parts of the body which are normally always covered with clothing[2] [if there is no […]

Attribute of modesty

Revolutionize your Bible Knowledge!    Buy now on Amazon.com  Introduction: This chapter, based on chapter 2 in Shulchan Aruch, discusses the code of modesty and dress that a Jew is to adhere to. All of a Jew’s actions are governed by the Hashem’s will as found in the Torah. This gives […]

Washing hands after touching Bodily Fluids

Bodily fluids:[1] The contact of certain bodily fluids requires cleaning of the hands. This is despite the fact that touching bodily fluids do not carry the impure spirit onto the hand. This will be further elaborated on in the next Halacha. __________________________________________________________________ [1] In the list of actions that require […]

Washing hands after a Haircut

A haircut:[1] [One who cuts his hair is required to wash his hands one[2] time immediately afterwards.[3] This applies even if he only cut a small amount of hair[4], and applies whether the hair was cut with a scissor or razor.[5]] If one does not wash his hands after cutting […]

Washing hands after Blood Letting

Blood Letting: [1] [One who lets blood from his shoulders is required to wash his hands one time immediately afterwards.[2]] If one does not wash his hands after letting blood from his shoulders, he will have inner fear for three days without knowing the source of the fear. Q&A Must one […]

Washing hands after a Funeral

Funeral [1] One who attended a funeral is not required to wash his hands afterwards. Nevertheless the custom is to wash hands after attending a funeral. Q&A Must one wash hands if he was not within four Amos of the corpse? One is not required to wash hands after a […]

Washing hands after touching a Corpse

Touching a corpse: [1] One who touches a corpse is required to wash his hands one time [immediately] afterwards. [The custom is to wash the hands three times inconsecutively as explained regarding a cemetery.] Being in a room with a corpse:[2] One who is in the presence of a corpse [but […]

Washing hands after entering a Cemetery

Cemetery [1] One who walks amongst graves [i.e. cemetery[2]] is required to wash his hands [immediately] afterwards [being that the evil spirits escorts the person until he washes[3]]. Q&A How many times is one to wash hands after leaving a cemetery?[4] Although from the letter of the law washing one time […]

Marital relations

Marital relations: [1] One who has marital relations is required to wash his hands [immediately] afterwards.[2] [This applies to both the husband and the wife.[3]] Q&A How many times is one to wash the hands?[4] Although from the letter of the law washing one time suffices, the custom is to wash […]

Washing hands after touching Lice

Touching lice: [1] One who touches[2] lice is required to wash his hands one time [immediately] afterwards.[3] [This applies even if one only touched it with his pinky.[4]] Removing lice from ones clothing: One who checks his clothing for lice is required to wash his hands one time [immediately] afterwards even […]

Washing hands after Scratching the head

Scratching ones head:[1]One who scratches his head[2] [with ones hands[3]] is required to wash his hands one time [immediately] afterwards.[4] [This applies even if one only scratched his head with his pinky.[5]] (However one who merely placed his hands on his head, or even rubbed his head such as to […]

Washing hands after Touching covered areas

Touching the normally covered areas of the body: [1] One who touches his feet[2], or [other normally covered[3]] parts of the body, with his hands is required to wash his hands one time [immediately] afterwards.[4] [This applies even if one only touched the area with his small pinky.[5] One who touches […]

Washing hands after Removing shoes

Removing ones shoes with ones hands: One who removes [or even touches [1]] his shoes with his hands is required to wash his hands one time [immediately] afterwards.[2] This applies even if the shoes are clean.[3] [This applies even if one only touched his shoes with his pinky.[4]]   Q&A Must […]

Washing hands after Cutting nails

Washing hands after cutting one’s nails:[1] One who cuts his nails is to wash his hands one[2] time [immediately] afterwards.[3] [This applies whether one cut his hand or toenails[4], and applies whether one cut his nails with a nail cutter or with his teeth.[5]  It applies even if he only […]

Washing hands after using the Bathhouse

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com Leaving a bathhouse [1] One who leaves a bathhouse must wash his hands one[2] time [immediately] afterwards. [This applies even if he entered the bathhouse and did not use it.[3] This applies even by today’s public bathhouses. However many are lenient […]

Washing hands after use of the Bathroom

Leaving the bathroom [1] One who leaves a bathroom must wash his hands afterwards.[2] [This applies even if he entered the bathroom and did not relieve himself.[3] This applies even by today’s bathrooms.[4] However those that are lenient not to wash their hands after entering bathrooms that contain other uses[5] have […]

Blessing on improper washing

When is a blessing recited on an improper washing? The previous Halachas dealt with all the details required for a valid morning washing. The current law is a summary of cases in which one is unable to follow a certain requirement for the morning washing and its subsequent law. The […]

Washing face and feet

Washing one’s face and feet every morning [1] One should wash his face and feet every day out of respect for G-d, as the verse states “For in the image of G-d he created man”. [One who goes to Mikveh in the morning fulfills this mitzvah with the immersion.[2] Some[3] rule […]

Discarding the water

Discarding the water which is forbidden in benefit: [1] The water that was used for the morning washing is forbidden to be used for any purpose, as this water is forbidden in benefit due to the impurity that resides on it. Therefore one may not leave the water lying in his […]

Rinsing the mouth upon awakening

Washing ones mouth in the morning: [1] Some have the custom to rinse their mouth in the morning to remove the ririm that is found in the mouth, in order to bless the Almighty G-d with holiness and purity. [The Chabad custom is to rinse the mouth prior to reciting the […]

Morning washing for children

Do children need to wash their hands in the morning? [1] It is accustomed not to be careful to wash the hands of children upon awakening, until they reach the age of Chinuch.[2] [However once the child has reached the age of Chinuch one must be careful to educate them to […]

Washing immediately upon awakening

Washing immediately upon awakening: [1] Every meticulous person should beware to wash his hands immediately upon awakening [after saying Modeh Ani] even if he plans on remaining lying in his bed. Through doing so he will be saved from waste of seed [nocturnal emission]. To Purchase this Sefer click here. [1] Kama […]

The Bracha/Blessing on the morning washing

 The blessing recited over the morning washing: A. The Nussach:[1] The wording of the blessing said over the morning washing is “Al Netilas Yadayim“.[2] B. Reciting the blessing after the second washing:[3] After awakening in the morning one is to wash his hands [near his bed] without saying a blessing, […]

Netilas Yadayim-The law and its reason

Introduction: In the previous chapter the restrictions that apply prior to washing hands were discussed. This chapter will deal with the detailed laws of the washing; How the washing is to be done; The reason behind the washing; When a blessing is recited; Which waters may be used for the […]

Modeh Ani: History, details, and Positions

Saying Modeh Ani:[1] Immediately upon awakening, even prior to washing ones hands[2], it is proper[3] to [accustom oneself[4] to] say Modeh Ani.[5] The reason for reciting Modeh Ani: This is done in order to remember that Hashem is standing over him and motivate him to get up with alacrity.[6] Alternatively, […]

In G-d’s constant presence

In G-d’s constant presence[1] [Immediately upon awakening, in order for one to overcome his inclination and motivate himself to get out of bed with alacrity[2]], he should [accustom himself to immediately[3]] think about who he is lying before and how G-d is constantly standing over him.[4] He should contemplate how […]

Waking up on time

Waking up on time: [1] One should be strong like a lion and overcome his desire [to continue sleeping] by waking [from his sleep[2] some time[3]] prior to the morning [dawn[4]] in order to serve G-d [which is the purpose of his creation and it is for this reason that his […]

The 6 constant mitzvos

The constant Mitzvos:  The Poskim [1] enumerated a list of Mitzvos that one has the ability to constantly fulfill throughout the day being that they are not limited to any specific time, place or action.  These are: Belief in Hashem Not to believe in the existence of any other G-d. […]

As Light as an eagle

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com As light as an eagle:[1] Control ones sight: One is to be as light as an eagle. This refers to ones sight, that one should close his eyes to avoid viewing evil. Just like the eagle changes his glance very […]

1. Squeezing cloths that have become wet

This article is an excerpt from To purchase this Sefer, click here     Introduction: This chapter deals with the laws of squeezing liquids out from cloth. Doing so in addition to containing the Mifarek prohibition as well contains at times the laundering prohibition. Regarding the laundering prohibition, only those laws […]

Playing games

Introduction- The spirit of Shabbos Due to the holiness of Shabbos, adults should avoid playing games on Shabbos even if the game has no Halachic prohibitions involved. The Talmud states that the city of Tur Shimon was destroyed for the sin of playing ball on Shabbos. Some explain this to […]

Left light on in Fridge

  May one open or close the door of his fridge if the light was left active? No. It is forbidden to open or close the door of the fridge if the fridge light was left active and will inevitably turn on or off upon being opened or closed. This […]

Fasting on Erev Shabbos

May one fast on Erev Shabbos:[1] Setting up a new fast day for Erev Shabbos: One may not initially set up[2] a fast day for Erev Shabbos, unless he eats something prior to the entrance of Shabbos[3].  The reason for this requirement is in order so one not enter into […]

Traveling on Erev Shabbos

Traveling On Erev Shabbos:[1] One must reach his Shabbos destination prior to 4 hours and 48 minutes[2] [see footnote] having passed from the beginning of day.[3] [See Q&A] This is due to concern that if he arrives later than the above time there will not be enough time to prepare […]

Prohibition #1: The/Koreah/Tearing prohibition

This article is an excerpt from To purchase this Sefer, click here   Prohibition #1: The/Koreah/Tearing prohibition The laws of Tearing sewn items and separating glued items on Shabbos 1. The rules of the prohibition and when it applies: A. The Principal prohibition-Tearing with intent to re-sew:[1] One who tears [an […]

Performing a Bris on Shabbos

The Laws involved in performing a Bris on Shabbos     1. In what scenarios is a child to be circumcised on Shabbos?   The circumcision of an infant is to be performed on the eighth day after birth even if it falls on Shabbos.[1] If however it is past […]

6. Assisting a gentile women give birth

This article is an excerpt from To purchase this Sefer, click here 6. Assisting a gentile women give birth:[1] Is forbidden even for reward as one can excuse herself without causing enmity:  One may not assist a gentile to give birth even if the needed assistance does not involve desecrating Shabbos, […]