R Ari Enkin

By: Rabbi Ari Enkin The game of Chess, which seems to have originated in India in the 6th Century, has commanded a respectful place for itself within Rabbinic literature. 1 It is likely due to the game’s emphasis on mental skill and concentration that it won the admiration of Torah scholars. There are a number of apocryphal texts which record that ...

By: Rabbi Ari Enkin The game of Chess, which seems to have originated in India in the 6th Century, has commanded a respectful place for itself within Rabbinic literature. 1 It is likely due to the game’s emphasis on mental skill and concentration that it won the admiration of Torah scholars. There are a number of apocryphal texts which record that ...

By: Rabbi Ari Enkin Each week at most synagogues worldwide, especially those in major Jewish communities, dozens of “parsha sheets” are distributed. These parsha sheets are generally published by different yeshivot and community organizations. Let’s face it, most such organizations only have one true goal in mind when producing these “parsha sheets”, and that is, to promote their cause, both ...

By: Rabbi Ari Enkin Is the Status of a Meal Determined by When the Meal Begins or When it Ends? In OC 188:10, the Shulchan Aruch writes: “One who was still eating when Shabbat concluded should mention Shabbat in the Birkat Hamazon since the determining factor is the start of the meal. This is true for Rosh Chodesh, Purim, and ...

By: Rabbi Ari Enkin There is an ancient Jewish custom to remain awake all night on Shavuot, immersed in Torah study.[1] It is explained that doing so serves to remedy the behavior of the Jewish people who were all fast asleep as God was about to reveal the Torah. Another reason for this custom is based on the teaching that ...

Ginzei Hakodesh By Rabbi Yechezkel Feinhandler Israel Bookshop / 340 pp Review by: Rabbi Ari Enkin The reality is that the laws of geniza and proper treatment and disposal of sefarim is a topic that has never been properly or thoroughly treated. This is because the relevant halachot of geniza are essentially scattered across generations of years of responsa literature ...

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 ...

The Laws of an Eruv Rabbi Shlomo Francis Rabbi Yonason Glenner Israel Book Shop / 353 pages   Review By: Rabbi Ari Enkin The Laws of an Eruv is the newest English work on the laws of Eruvin. It is unprecedented in its extensive and comprehensive presentation of Eruv construction. The well-written explanatory text is complimented with hundreds of computer-generated ...