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Category Archives: Editor’s Pick

The Whys, Hows, and Whats of Eruv Tavshillin

Written on August 31, 2010 by admin in Editor's Pick, Holidays

Question #1:

Avrumie, who studies in a local yeshiva, asks me: “I will be eating my Yom Tov meals as a guest in different homes. Do I need to make my own eruv tavshillin?”

Question #2:

Michal and Muttie are spending Rosh Hashanah near his Yeshiva and are invited out for all the meals. They have found an available apartment for Yom Tov, but do not intend to use the kitchen there at all. Someone told Muttie that, although he should make an eruv tavshillin, he should not recite a bracha when doing so. Is this the correct procedure?
Question #1:

Avrumie, who studies in a local yeshiva, asks me: “I will be eating my Yom Tov meals as a guest in different homes. Do I need to make my own eruv tavshillin?”

Question #2:

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Which Mitzvah Should we Drop?

Written on June 19, 2010 by admin in Editor's Pick

What do you mean by “dropping” a mitzvah? Drop it from what? And what does this question have to do with this week’s parshah? To understand the question properly, we need to study some background material. The Gemara (Makkos 23b) teaches that Hashem commanded 613 mitzvos, 365 negative mitzvos (lo saaseh) and 248 positive ...

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Make our Mitzvos Count!!

Written on May 22, 2010 by admin in Editor's Pick, Holidays, Shavuos

Since many have the custom of studying the 613 mitzvos on Shavuos, I will address this topic: We all know that the Torah contains 613 Mitzvos. However, most of ...

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How Does a Heter Iska Work?

Written on May 3, 2010 by admin in Bein Adam LeChaveiro, Beis Din, Halacha Articles, Money

Andy Gross, a businessman who is proud that he is now observing mitzvos, is on time for his appointment. After a brief greeting, I ask him what brings him to my office on this beautiful morning. “I recently learned ...

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Let’s Talk Turkey – …and Prairie Chicken and Muscovy Duck.

Written on April 14, 2010 by admin in Editor's Pick, Kashrus

Last week I presented two questions that I did not answer:

Question #1: “While camping in Western Canada, we saw thousands of wild, roaming birds called “prairie chicken.” They were clearly different from the familiar, common chicken, but appeared so similar that I was tempted to bring one to a shocheit to prepare for us. Halachically, could I have done this?”

Question #2: “Someone told me that a variety of duck, called the Muscovy duck, is raised in Israel for its kosher meat and liver although the American rabbonim prohibit eating this bird. How could this be?”

Last week’s discussion prompts us to ask the following:

Question #3: According to the popular story or legend, Benjamin Franklin advocated that the United States choose the turkey, which is also native American, as its national bird, rather than the bald eagle. He preferred the turkey’s midos and felt that it better reflects American values. However, if turkey is indeed indigenous only to North America, how can it have a Jewish tradition that it is kosher?

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The Torah’s Instructions to Non-Jews—The Laws of Bnei Noach

Written on April 14, 2010 by admin in Editor's Pick, Noahide Laws

Although it may seem strange for a non-Jew to ask a rav a shaylah, it should actually be commonplace. After all, there are hundreds of times more non-Jews than Jews ...

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What Goes into the Sheimos Bag?

Written on April 13, 2010 by admin in Editor's Pick

A few weeks ago, the main office of the Yated Neeman received the following communication: “The Yated has numerous, excellent weekly columns that deal with halacha ...

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May a Non-Jew Own a Nectarine Tree? For that matter, may a Jew?

Written on April 10, 2010 by admin in Editor's Pick, Featured Articles, Noahide Laws

Recently I received the following query:

“I am not Jewish, but I observe the laws of Noahides as recorded in the writings of Maimonides, which I have read in the Yale University translation. I am aware that a gentile may not graft one species of tree onto another. Does owning a nectarine tree violate this prohibition? I would be greatly appreciative if you could answer this question since I have just purchased a house with a nectarine tree in the yard.

Sincerely,

Jacqueline Baker

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Only the Choicest of Wine – What’s Best for Kiddush and Arba Kosos?

Written on March 22, 2010 by admin in Featured Articles, Halacha Articles, Holidays, Shabbos

“Rabbi,” he begins, “I have heard that it is best to use red, non-pasteurized wine at the seder. However, my father-in-law likes Chablis, which is a white wine, and my mother-in-law never drinks any wine. The grape juice she likes is from concentrate, and someone told me that one cannot use it for kiddush. What should I do?”

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The Torah Writings of Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff shlita

Category Archives: Editor’s Pick