Before Yom Tov, I sent out a basic article on the concept of kosher cheese. This week I am sending out a sequel to that article. Question #1: The whey it was. Rav Schwartz* tells me that his Rosh Yeshiva, a world-renowned European-born gadol, held that one may eat cottage cheese that is not chalav [...]

This week in Eretz Yisrael, we read the parshiyos of Acharei and Kedoshim. Those of our readers who are in chutz la’aretz will be reading the parshiyos of Tazria and Metzora. Since both of these readings have to do with telling the truth, I am sending you: Do I Have to Tell the Truth? A [...]

In honor of Pesach, I am sending two articles: the first, a discussion of some aspects of tevilas keilim, since this is a topic on which many people have questions this time of year. The second is an article on Rav Wolbe, since his yahrzeit falls out during Pesach. I will not be sending out [...]

  Question: Personally, I find the different terms used in reference to matzoh very confusing: On the one hand, I have been told that if one is working on the dough constantly, one need not be concerned if more than eighteen minutes elapses before the matzoh is baked. On the other hand, I have been [...]

Question #1: TREMENDOUSLY APPEALING! Yehudah presents the following dilemma: “I often feel pressured to pledge to the tzedakah appeals in shul; however, I am afraid that I will forget to pay afterwards. Is there a simple way to avoid creating a problem?” Question #2: BORROWERS ANONYMOUS Susan asks: “I often borrow small change from the [...]

Question #1: THE TALIS EXCHANGE Dovid asked me the following shaylah: “I placed my talis in shul and, upon returning, discovered that it had been replaced by a similar-looking talis. I left the talis undisturbed, and hung up a sign noting the exchange. Unfortunately, no one responded, and indeed, the owner may not even realize [...]

  Question #1: A CANDID QUESTION! Chayim calls me on the phone: “Prior to our marriage, I was taught that one may open cans on Shabbos, provided one does not reuse the can, whereas my wife was taught that this is strictly forbidden. Since I was taught by someone very knowledgeable and observant, there is [...]

The Torah’s concern for the protection of life and health is axiomatic. In virtually all instances, Torah restrictions are superseded when a life-threatening emergency exists. If the situation is extenuating, but not life-threatening, then the rule of thumb is that the Torah restriction remains in force. Sometimes, however, mitigating factors allow the overriding of a [...]

  Thirty Days has September, April, June, November, Tishrei, Shvat, Nissan, Sivan, Av and sometimes Cheshvan[1] and Kislev. Yet a reading of Mishnah Rosh Hashanah implies that whether a month has 29 days or 30 depends on when the witnesses saw the new moon and testified in Beis Din early enough to declare the thirtieth [...]

  Yonasan, who was originally adopted by non-observant parents, called me with the following shaylah: “My parents, meaning the couple who adopted me, eventually divorced, and later my father remarried, although there was a halachic problem with his second marriage. My adoptive father was a kohen, and his second wife, Martha, was a divorcee. Recently, [...]