Halakhah
Jewish law — codes, responsa, and practical rulings for daily life.
185 questions answered
How much more is a Jew obligated to pay to support business in their community?
There is no fixed monetary percentage or multiplier that a Jew is obligated to pay extra to support local Jewish commerce. Rather, the Torah and halachic t...
What are the restrictions on the 17th of Tammuz?
The 17th of Tammuz (Shiva Asar b'Tammuz) is a communal fast day on which eating and drinking are forbidden from dawn (alot hashachar) until nightfall. It m...
Who were the holiest mamzers
The Holiest Mamzerim (Illegitimate Children) in Torah Tradition The Torah tradition preserves remarkable figures who were either identified as mamzerim (בַ...
Eating meat on shabbat during the nine days
Eating meat and drinking wine on Shabbat during the Nine Days is permitted — in fact, it is considered a mitzvah (religious obligation) to honor Shabbat with me
Tu'baAv
Tu B'Av — The Jewish Day of Love and Joy Tu B'Av (ט״ו באב, the 15th of Av) is one of the most joyous days on the Jewish calendar, celebrated as a day of love, r
Can I work on Tisha b’av
Working on Tisha b'Av (the Ninth of Av) is governed by local custom (minhag), but universally, Torah scholars refrain from work the entire day, and anyone who d
Did the Jewish people have a presence in the land of Israel over the past 2000 years.
The Jewish people maintained a continuous religious and communal presence in the Land of Israel (Eretz Yisrael) throughout the past 2,000 years, though in...
What are the jewish customs for the month of Elul?
The month of Elul (אלול) is the final month of the Jewish year and serves as a 40-day period of preparation and teshuva (repentance) leading up to Rosh Hashanah
Does 63 have a numerical equivalent and meaning in Hebrew?
The number 63 has deep significance in Jewish mystical tradition. In gematria (the system of assigning numerical values to Hebrew letters), 63 is most famo...
What is prayer for lighting shiva candle?
The traditional practice is to light a candle (or ner, נר) in the house of mourning during shiva (the seven-day mourning period), but there is no formal bl...
Would the Torah approve of AI?
Artificial intelligence doesn't appear in the Torah explicitly, but Jewish tradition offers rich frameworks for evaluating transformative technologies. The Tora
Can I shave during the three weeks
Shaving during the Three Weeks (Shloshet HaShavuot — the mourning period from 17 Tammuz to Tisha B'Av) is subject to a significant dispute between Ashkenazic an
Does the torah say you can kill all your enemies?
The Torah does not grant blanket permission to kill all enemies. Jewish law has a highly nuanced framework governing when killing is permitted, prohibited,...
What is the Shehecheyanu blessing?
The Shehecheyanu (שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ) is one of Judaism's most beloved blessings, recited to express gratitude to God for enabling us to reach a significant or j...
Can you feed your kids hot dogs on Tisha B'Av?
The question of feeding children on Tisha B'Av touches on the halachic distinction between adults, who are obligated to fast, and minors, who are generally not.
What is the different minchag of either one hole or two holes in a Tallit Katan
The custom of one hole vs. two holes in a Tallit Katan (small four-cornered garment) is a fascinating dispute rooted in how we understand the construction of th
What is the Halacha regarding monetary retribution for a broken engagement
Broken engagements (shidduchin) and monetary retribution is a nuanced area of Halacha that blends rabbinic enactments, local custom, and contractual law. In bri
What are the Sukkot prayers?
Sukkot Prayers: A Comprehensive Guide The prayers of Sukkot (Chag HaSukkot — the Festival of Booths) follow the standard Yom Tov (festival) liturgy with se...
What is Birkat HaMazon (Grace After Meals)?
Birkat HaMazon (Grace After Meals) is the set of blessings recited after eating a meal that included bread. It is a Torah-level commandment (mitzvah d'orai...
What is the meaning of amidah?
The word Amidah (עֲמִידָה) literally means "standing," derived from the Hebrew root amd (עמד), referring to the act of standing in prayer. It is the centra...
What is the Mincha (afternoon) prayer?
What is the Mincha (Afternoon) Prayer? Tefillat Mincha (תְּפִלַּת מִנְחָה — the Afternoon Prayer) is one of the three daily prayers of Jewish tradition, re...
What is jewish blessing door frame?
The Jewish "blessing on the door frame" refers to the mezuzah (מְזוּזָה), a parchment scroll containing handwritten Torah passages that is affixed to the d...
What are the rules of passover kosher?
Passover Kosher Laws (Kashrut shel Pesach) Passover has its own unique set of dietary laws that go significantly beyond year-round kashrut (kosher law). Th...
What are the rules of israelite sabbath?
The Sabbath (Shabbat) is the cornerstone of Jewish observance, commanded directly by God in the Torah and elaborated extensively by rabbinic tradition. At...
What is the Kaddish prayer?
The Kaddish (קַדִּישׁ) is one of Judaism's most recognized and important prayers, a doxology — a declaration of praise to God — written primarily in Aramai...
Halacha on settling the land
The mitzvah (commandment) of settling the Land of Israel — known as Yishuv Eretz Yisrael — is one of the most debated topics in halachic literature, touching on
Everything about a bar mitzvah boy going up to the Torah for the first time
The Bar Mitzvah Boy's First Aliyah to the Torah When a boy turns 13 and becomes a bar mitzvah (son of the commandment), one of the most significant ritual momen
What are the Rosh Hashanah prayers and blessings?
Rosh Hashanah Prayers and Blessings Rosh Hashanah features a rich and distinctive liturgical structure centered on three central themes: Malkhuyot (Kingshi...
What is jewish davening?
What is Jewish Davening? Davening is the Yiddish term for Jewish prayer (tefillah), referring to the structured practice of communicating with God through...
What is the summary of Parshat Chukat?
Parshat Chukat: Summary and Overview Parshat Chukat (Numbers 19–21) is one of the most dramatic portions in the Torah, covering the enigmatic law of the Re...
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