This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy Now Who is a Jew-Determining Jewish identity in cases of question and doubt: According to Jewish law, a person is only determined to be a Jew [i.e. to contain a G-dly soul, be obligated in the Torah and Mitzvos, and be […]
One who is questionably Jewish
In what cases is one considered questionably Jewish? One is considered questionably Jewish in any case in which his claim to be Jewish contains suspicion, or requires Halachaic proof according to the Poskim, as explained in the cases below. If one is unsure if his mother was Jewish, and no […]
The obligation to have children
The obligation to have children:[1] Every person is obligated to marry a woman in order to have children. The severity of one who does not have children: One who is not active in having children, is similar to having murdered. It also diminishes the “Dmus[2]” and causes the Shechinah […]
The Obligation to Honor one’s father and mother
The obligation:[1] One must be very careful in honoring and fearing his father and mother. The virtue:[2] One who honors his father and mother, G-d considers as if He has dwelled in that household, and that He was honored.[3] The three partners in one’s creation:[4] There are three partners […]
Hataras Nedarim
Erev Rosh Hashanah: It is customary to perform Hataras Nedarim on Erev Rosh Hashanah.[1] This is hinted to in the verse “Lo Yachel Divaro Kichol” “Do not transgress your word” as its ending letters are an acronym for Elul.[2] The procedure of this Hataras Nedarim includes two parts 1) nullifying […]
Reading Tehillim, Chumash and Tanach at night
Listen here to audio shiur part 1 Listen here to audio Shiur Part 2 Learning and reading Tanach at night [Chumash/Navi/Tehillim]: A. The avoidance: Many Poskim[1] rule based on Kabala that one is not to read verses of Mikra [Written Torah] at night.[2] This includes verses from Torah, Nevi’im, Kesuvim, […]
Standing for your teacher, elders and Torah scholars
Standing for your teacher, elders and Torah scholars:[1] Standing for a Teacher and Torah scholar:[2] It is a positive command in the Torah to stand in front of any Torah scholar.[3] The age of the Sage: The command to stand before a Torah scholar applies even if the Torah scholar […]
Showing respect to Teachers, Torah scholars, elderly and community leaders:
Showing respect to Teachers, Torah scholars, elderly and community leaders: A. Who is one obligated to respect: One is required to respect ones Rebbe/Teacher[1], Torah Scholars [such as Rabbanim and Roshei Yeshivas], and elderly people [even prior to reaching 70 years of age[2]]. Respect is also to be shown towards […]
Supporting Torah learners-Yissachar and Zevulan deal
Supporting Torah learners-Yissachar and Zevulun deal:[1] Although every single Jew is obligated to study Torah, one who is unable to study Torah, either due to lack of knowledge, or due to lack of time, is to support other people who study.[2] One who supports a Torah learner is considered as […]
Giving medical treatments to a parent
Giving medical treatments to a parent:[1] A. Removing a splinter from a parent:[2] It is [Rabbinically[3]] forbidden for a son to remove a splinter that is stuck within the skin of his father [or mother] due to that one may come to cause him a wound in the process. B. […]
