Format of the Halachas
Understanding the format of the Halacha’s provided within this Website and which Poskim they are based on:
The rulings provided in the site are faithful to the rulings of the Shulchan Aruch Harav otherwise known as the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch. When there are other opinions applicable, such as the opinion of the Michaber, or Mishneh Berurah, or other opinions, they are mentioned in the footnotes.
The Halacha’s provided are split into three sections:
The Halacha Section: The Halacha section is the main section written in the non-boxed area. In general only those rulings recorded in the Shulchan Aruch Harav are brought and summarized within this section. Many times there are additional explanations, stipulations and clarifications of a Halacha in Admur which is brought in other Poskim. All these additions are brought in brackets or footnotes. This allows the reader to maintain an understanding of the Halacha as written by Admur without the additional comments of later authorities, but at the same time gain from their necessary additions. Thus the rulings in the non-boxed areas which are not in brackets are all sourced in the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch.
The footnotes: The footnotes provide the reader with a number of different points of information. They provide the sources for each statement written, as well as additional explanations and opinions of a given Halacha. Many footnotes serve to delve into the wording of Admur in a given Halacha, his intent and the background of his rulings.
The Q&A: The Q&A section does not include Halacha’s that are explicitly ruled in the Shulchan Aruch of Admur. The Q&A section lend the learner a greatly needed base knowledge for practical application of the resulting law learned within a topic. Many times even after one has sifted and comprehended the final ruling of Admur, its influence within practical cases remain obscure. This is besides for the fact that researching a question amongst the sea of Poskim is both time comprising as well as not always practical. We therefore have compiled many major practical Halachic questions which connect with a given Halacha that was learned. The answers given have been compiled from various sources, including Kaf Hachaim, Piskeiy Teshuvos, Shearim Hametzuyanim Behalacha as well as the many resources of Poskim brought within these Sefarim. Mention must be made that effort was placed in verifying the sources of the rulings found within these Sefarim by looking into their sources and verifying their ruling. In cases where a dispute amongst Poskim is recorded we have not given final rulings, being that we are not in a position to rule for the public like which Posek one is to follow. In these cases one is to consult with his personal Rav and receive guidance for what he is to do. It is of importance to note that the ruling of one’s personal Rav takes precedence over any dissenting opinion brought on the site, whether or not this opinion is known to the Rav. Furthermore, even those which are in Rabbinical position of giving rulings are not to base their rulings on opinions brought on this site without first studying and verifying its source. As is known that one may not base a ruling on summarized Halachas [Melaktim a compiler of opinions] but is rather to discern this for himself in the sources that are brought. [See Piskeiy Teshuvos Vo. 3 in the approbations of Gedolei Yisrael, and the introduction there.]
