• Naps in Jewish Law

    by R. Gil Student I. Is Napping Allowed? Man was born to toil, the book of Job (5:7) tells us. In our busy lives we grab the precious opportunities to rest when they arise because they are so rare. What does Judaism say about adults spending otherwise productive time during the day taking naps? I .....

  • Let’s Talk a Bit About Hashem

    by R. Gidon Rothstein Parshat Yitro records the events of Matan Torah, the Giving of the Torah, including the Aseret HaDibberot (which should properly be known as the Ten Sayings, Pronouncements, Utterances or some such, since dibberot does not mean commandments). For all that I usually try to sprea...

  • Audio Roundup Special: Agudah Yarchei Kallah Prep

    by Joel Rich Agudas Yisrael runs an annual Yarchei Kallah in Eretz Yisrael.  This year’s topic was Pikuach Nefesh and Refuah (healing).  I’ve reviewed the preparation shiurim which can be found on the website http://www.aiayk.org/. There is also a series of three review shiurim which presents the sa...

  • Benefitting from Illicit Fruit Experimentation

    by R. Gil Student In the first three years of a fruit tree’s life, its fruits are forbidden as Orlah (Lev. 19:23). Ramban (ad loc.) explains that the first fruits must be brought to the Temple in thanks. During the first three years after planting, a tree’s fruits generally lack the quality necessar...

  • Releasing an Unreleasable Vow

    by R. Gidon Rothstein 10 Shevat: R. Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor on Releasing an Unreleasable Vow It’s hard to react to people who break bounds of propriety, whether those codified in rules and laws or “just” as part of norms accepted in society. It’s hard to know what to do because to mete out the con...

  • Can the OU Expel Synagogues From Orthodoxy?

    by R. Gil Student Let’s say the OU were to expel a synagogue, or 4, what practical difference would it make? Insider politics within the Orthodox Jewish community is abuzz with discussion of whether the Orthodox Union (OU) will expel four member synagogues that have hired women clergy. This de...

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