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...]
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...]
Dishwashers: Meat and Milk Together?
HaRav Yishai Natan - This week's Parashah discusses the war against Midyan. After the battle, the pasuk says, "Kol davar asher yavo ba'esh ta'aviru ba'esh," teaching the laws of libun and hakhsharat keilim because of the beliut (taste) that got absorbed in the kelim. That leads us to a practical question: Are you allowed to use the same dishwasher for meat and … [Read more...]
Can Women Make Havdalah?
HaRav Yishai Natan - The daughters of Selofhad had no brothers, and they wanted a portion in Eres Yisrael. They were not just looking for a nice apartment or a comfortable place to live. They wanted a portion in the land so they could fulfill the Mitzvah properly, with kavanah leshem Shamayim. Many times, women also have a strong desire to perform Misvot. They see men … [Read more...]
Statues, Pictures, and Sheitel Heads
HaRav Yishai Natan - Nehash HaNehoshet This week is a double parashah. Since we are a week behind Eretz Yisrael, we catch up by reading two parashiyot. In Parashat Hukat, the pasuk says that Mosheh Rabbenu made a copper snake, the Nehash Nehoshet. Whoever was bitten would look at it and be healed. This raises an obvious question: How was Mosheh Rabbenu allowed to … [Read more...]