Reviewed by Rabbi Moshe Pinhasi Eretz Yisrael was blessed with beautiful fruits, some of which make their way to our shores from time to time. While the average Israeli consumer is accustomed to take into account issues of Shemita (the seventh year) and Terumot and Ma’asrot (tithing and separating the required portions from fruits growing in Eretz Yisrael), the American … [Read more...]
Bias in the Bet Din
To what extent would a relationship with a party recuse a judge from judging a case? By Rabbi Yosef Fund Judging vs. Testifying The Mishna[1] states in the name of Ribbi Yehudah, that a close friend – such as a Shushbin (member of wedding party similar to best man or bridesmaid) – may not bear witness for his friend, as is the case with an enemy who has not spoken to the … [Read more...]
Seven Complete Weeks
Missing a day of Sefirat Ha’omer, by Rabbi Ezra Ghodsi As the Sefirat Ha’Omer is well under way, we all hope to be able to count every single day without fail until Shavu’ot. The all-too-common scenario is that of a person who forgot to count one day, or counted a wrong number. In this article we will discuss the various applications of the Halacha in these possible … [Read more...]
The Great Search
An Overview of the Laws of Bedikat Hametz By Rabbi David Ani, Rav of Congregation Bet-El and the Abraham Ohabi program and professional Mohel, Brooklyn The Prohibition of Owning Hametz The Torah in Parashat Bo writes: “On the first month, in the evening of the fourteenth day, you shall eat Matzot, until the twenty first of the month in the evening. For seven days, no leaven … [Read more...]
Thick Matzot Part 2: The Back Story
Behind the scenes of the thick Matzah discussion and its unlikely relation to some of the well-known Pessah stringencies / By Rabbi Ariel Ovadia Preface In our previous article we cited the opinion of the Bet Yosef that a Matzah may be baked as thick as a Tefah [appx. 3-4 inches]. Some Aharonim, such as the Bet Hillel, peg the limit at an Etzba [appx. ½ inch]. Our thick … [Read more...]