Halacha sefarim these days can be classified into two types: Those whose purpose is to present halacha in an educational manner, complete with all the relevant halachic rulings and sources, though focusing much more on the “how to” and other similar features of practical halacha. The other type of halacha sefer are those whose purpose is to present the breadth ...

Reviews by Rabbi Ari Enkin Pure Money: A Straightforward Guide to Jewish Monetary Law Vol. 1 & 2 By Dayan Shlomo Cohen Targum Press Most people, rabbis and laymen alike, are simply not well-versed in the intricacies of Choshen Mishpat — civil and monetary law. There is a tremendous need for competent and practical Choshen Mishpat sefarim. Dayan Shlomo Cohen, ...

By: Rabbi Ari Enkin Is Lighting the Shabbat Candles an Automatic Acceptance of Shabbat? In OC 263:10, the Shulchan Aruch writes: According to the [sefer] Halachot Gedolot, once the Shabbat candles are lit, one has accepted Shabbat and all further melacha is forbidden…and some disagree with the Halachot Gedolot and say that the acceptance of Shabbat is not related to ...

By: Rabbi Ari Enkin Contrary to popular misconception, the Three Weeks of mourning do not end with the conclusion of Tisha B’av. In many ways they actually extend into the 10th Av. As we will see, the 10th day of Av is actually quite significant, and in many ways, it is an extension of Tisha B’av itself. In fact, there ...

By: Rabbi Ari Enkin Is a Sofer Required to Explicitly Declare “l’shem Kedushat Sefer Torah” when writing a Torah? There is some question whether a sofer is halachically required to explicitly declare “l’shem Kedushat Sefer Torah” when writing a Torah and/or when writing the name of God. In OC 32:8, the Shulchan Aruch writes that “the parchment must be processed ...

By: Rabbi Ari Enkin Is there ru’ach ra’ah today? Some maintain that ru’ach ra’ah has been nullified from this world. The Tosfot (Yoma 77b) brings the opinion that the ru’ach ra’ah does not dwell in the regions comprising the Ashkenazi counties.[1] The Lechem Mishneh writes that it is implied from the Rambam the he, too, is not concerned about the ...

Guidelines – Questions and Answers About the Laws of Yichud Rabbi Elozor Barclay and Rabbi Yitzchok Jaeger Menucha / 105 pp. Reviewed by: Rabbi Ari Enkin In the latest installment of the ever popular Guidelines series of halacha sefarim we are presented with the laws of yichud, the prohibition against being alone with members of the opposite sex. The sefer ...

By: Rabbi Ari Enkin As a general rule, it is forbidden to eat or drink once Shabbat has begun, until one recites (or hears) Kiddush.[1] It is also forbidden to eat or drink before Kiddush is recited once one has accepted Shabbat, either by lighting the Shabbat candles or by reciting ma’ariv.[2] This is true even if one had accepted Shabbat quite ...

By: Rabbi Ari Enkin One of the more mysterious associations with Lag Ba’omer is that of the “Chai Rottel” segula. Chai Rottel is a liquid measurement of about 54 liters, referring to the amount of beverages, including wine and spirits, that one should provide for visitors to Meron on Lag Ba’omer. It is believed that one who donates this “Chai ...

By: Rabbi Ari Enkin Rav Moshe Vaye, probably the world’s expert on bugs in food, from both the halachic and scientific perspective, brings to our attention many important revelations and rulings regarding bugs in food and how to deal with them. His arguments are powerful, well-documented and cannot simply be shrugged away and dismissed. Nevertheless, there is a sense of ...