by R. Moshe Kurtz Lomdus on the Parsha: Naso Based on the Acclaimed Sefer Chavatzeles HaSharon Q: May a person sin for the sake of peace? The priest shall write all these curses, on the scroll and dissolve them in the bitter waters. (Numbers 5:23) The Rashba, in his responsa (1:854) was posed the following question: In a moment of ...
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This is the Way (to Get Married)
by R. Moshe Kurtz Lomdus on the Parsha: Bamidbar Based on the Acclaimed Sefer Chavatzeles HaSharon Q: May a younger sibling get married before the older one? And Nadav and Avihu died before the Lord, when they offered strange fire before the Lord, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children; and Elazar and Isamar ministered in the ...
Read More »An Offering You Can(’t) Refuse
by R. Moshe Kurtz Lomdus on the Parsha: Bechukosai Based on the Acclaimed Sefer Chavatzeles HaSharon Q: May we offer animal sacrifices today? And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries to desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet aromas. (Leviticus 26:31) The Talmud (Zevachim 62a) tells us: It was taught in a ...
Read More »Freedom or Under New Management?
by R. Moshe Kurtz Lomdus on the Parsha: Behar Based on the Acclaimed Sefer Chavatzeles HaSharon Q: What happens if a master refuses to free his slaves during the Jubilee (50th) year? You shall count off seven weeks of years—seven times seven years—so that the period of seven weeks of years gives you a total of forty-nine years. Then you shall ...
Read More »May Death and Impurity be Swallowed Up
by R. Moshe Kurtz Lomdus on the Parsha: Emor Based on the Acclaimed Sefer Chavatzeles HaSharon Q: May the wife of a kohen (priest) enter a cemetery when pregnant? And the Lord said to Moshe, Speak to the priests the sons of Aharon, and say to them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people. (Leviticus 21:1) The ...
Read More »Don’t Rest on Me
by R. Moshe Kurtz Lomdus on the Parsha: Kedoshim Based on the Acclaimed Sefer Chavatzeles HaSharon Q: What does Judaism have to say about transitioning (between day and night)? Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. (Leviticus 19:13) There are several, seemingly ...
Read More »How One Goat, Became Many Words
by R. Moshe Kurtz Lomdus on the Parsha: Acharei Mos Based on the Acclaimed Sefer Chavatzeles HaSharon Q: Why do many synagogues spend so much time reading about the High Priest’s service on Yom Kippur? And he shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a ...
Read More »The Mitzvah of Masculinity (and Femininity)
by R. Moshe Kurtz Lomdus on the Parsha: Shemini Based on the Acclaimed Sefer Chavatzeles HaSharon Q: Can an article of clothing, profession or hobby be intrinsically gender specific? And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and bathe himself in water, and be clean: and after that he shall come into ...
Read More »Doctoral Dispensations
by R. Moshe Kurtz Lomdus on the Parsha: Tazria Based on the Acclaimed Sefer Chavatzeles HaSharon Q: May a male doctor have female patients? And the Lord spoke to Moshe and Aharon, saying: When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a swelling, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh ...
Read More »Falling in the Presence of God
by R. Moshe Kurtz Lomdus on the Parsha: Shemini Based on the Acclaimed Sefer Chavatzeles HaSharon Q: When traveling, should one fall on their face (nefilas apayim) for the Tachanun prayer? And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which, when all the people saw, they shouted, and ...
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