From the Ravs Desk Sunday 18th Marcheshvan: Are Listerine PocketPaks Kosher, and Do You Need to Say a Blessing?

Are Listerine PocketPaks Kosher, and Do You Need to Say a Blessing? Question Are Listerine PocketPaks (the candy-like mouth freshener strips) kosher, and if they are, do you need to recite a blessing before consuming them? Answer Listerine PocketPaks require kosher certification for permissible use. To the best of my […]

From the Rav’s Desk Tuesday 13th MarCheshvan: Must one Pay Attorney Fees When a Real Estate Transaction Is Not Completed?

Question: I have a finance question regarding a real estate transaction. I was planning to purchase a property in a coastal city in Israel. The seller disclosed that there had previously been water and mold issues, but claimed these had been resolved. I was close to signing the contract when […]

From the Rav’s Desk Monday 12th MarCheshvan: May one purchase olive oil without kosher certification (hashgacha)?

May one purchase olive oil without kosher certification (hashgacha)?   Question I am interested in buying olive oil for home use, and I’ve noticed that many bottles in the supermarket do not have kosher certification (hashgacha). I’ve heard that extra virgin olive oil is sometimes considered less problematic, but I […]

From the Rav’s Desk – Avoiding Nuts on Rosh Hashanah: Background, details, which nuts, and foods with nut ingredients

Avoiding Nuts on Rosh Hashanah:[1] The Minhag:[2] The Rishonim[3] and Poskim[4] record that some are particular to avoid eating Egozim and Luzim [and all forms of nuts and peanuts, as will be explained below in D] on Rosh Hashanah. [However, there are Poskim[5] who record that they did not avoid […]

From the Rav’s Desk: The Halachic Validity of Extra-Long Mezuzahs: Must the Klaf and Text Remain Within the Upper Third of the Doorframe?

The Halachic Validity of Extra-Long Mezuzahs: Must the Klaf and Text Remain Within the Upper Third of the Doorframe? Question: I have observed that many wealthy individuals and mosdos (institutions) display very large Mezuzahs, sometimes so large that the actual klaf extends below the upper third of the doorway, and […]

From the Ravs Desk: Tzav Menia and Tzav Ikkul: Going to a secular court for a Preventive injunction and restraining order

Tzav Menia and Tzav Ikkul: Preventive injunctions and restraining orders in Halacha Question: I co-owned a shop in New York with my former business partner. After our relationship soured, he started withdrawing money from our joint account without my approval and even threatened to sell off inventory behind my back. […]