HaRav Yishai Natan - Listen to the shiur below Seudah Mafseket — The Final Meal Before Tish’a BeAv As we approach Tish’a BeAv, one of the most misunderstood areas of halachah is the Seudah Mafseket, the final meal before the fast. Many people are unsure what they may or may not eat. There are essentially two accepted ways to observe the Seudah Mafseket. First, we will … [Read more...]
Q&A – Laundering Clothing During שבוע שחל בו
HaRav Netanel Levihim - Question May I do laundry, use a dry cleaner, or wear freshly laundered clothing during the week in which Tisha B'Av falls? Answer The Mishnah in Gemara Taanit 26b teaches that one may not launder clothing during the week in which Tisha B'Av falls. The Gemara debates whether this applies even to clothing meant to be worn only after Tisha … [Read more...]
LOST ARCADE CARD
HaRav Yishai Natan - I was at the arcades yesterday with my eight-year-old son. We were waiting at a racing game for another little Jewish boy to finish playing. When he got up, we noticed that he had forgotten his play card on the machine. I knew it was his because I remembered seeing him place it on the machine before he sat down. I looked around to see if I could find … [Read more...]
HALACHOT OF THE 9 DAYS AND SHAVUA SHE’HAL BO
Harav Yishai Natan - The Mishnah's Restrictions The Mishnah (Ta’anit 26b) records three restriction: Those are the only restrictions found explicitly in the Mishnah. Additional Customs Beginning on Rosh Hodesh Av The additional restrictions observed during the Nine Days come from a Beraita brought in Yevamot (43a). One example is neti'ah shel … [Read more...]
I WAS JUST JOKING
HaRav Yishai Natan - I run a barber shop that usually closes at 5:00. Today, someone came in close to closing time and asked for a haircut that normally takes twenty minutes. I wanted to go home already, so I told him, “I’m sorry, it is too close to closing.” He said, “I’ll give you $200 if you do it now.” I agreed and gave him the haircut. Afterward, he said he was … [Read more...]