Adapted from an article by Rabbi Micha Cohn In recent decades, tremendous progress has been made in the field of mental health. Many conditions that have never been defined nor diagnosed are now household terms, and awareness of the importance of addressing mental health issues, and the people affected by it, has risen dramatically. In this article, we would like to discuss … [Read more...]
Seeing Double: Two Adars in Halacha
How an additional month impacts Yahrzeit or Bar-Mitzvah calculations and more | By Rabbi Moshe Pinhasi Having a double-month twice every seven years (or seven times every nineteen) does not keep things too simple. Just ask summer-camp directors who need to configure the constantly changing Elul/August equation, as well as city synagogues trying to properly prepare for the High … [Read more...]
What’s in a Wine
The Beracha & Kashrut of Wine | By Rav Mordechai Lebhar, Rosh Kollel Link LA and author of Sefer Magen Avot Many people have adopted the custom to conduct a “Seder” on Tu BiShvat, which includes serving the fruits of Shiv’at HaMinim and new fruits as well as drinking four cups of wine. This custom is based on the Sefer Hemdat Yamim [1] which compiled this unique Seder … [Read more...]
Lighting Hanukkah Candles as a Guest (“Achsenai”)
By Rabbi Ariel Ovadia On the House Unlike most other Mitzvot – which are incumbent upon the individual – the consensus of the Poskim is that the Mitzva of lighting Hanukkah candles is defined as a “Hovat HaBayit”, an obligation upon the “house”, as the Gemara in Shabbat 21b states: “ner ‘ish u’veto” – a candle per person and their household [1]. There are many implications to … [Read more...]