An Overview of a Shiur by Rav Yosef Greenwald for Parashat Tazria/HaHodesh (החודש הזה לכם ראש חדשים (שמות יב:א Where is the Date Line located according to halacha? Three basic approaches are offered. Hazon Ish: 6 hours (90 degrees) ahead of Yerushalayim, which runs through Siberia, part of China, and part of Australia (though continuous land masses are not divided … [Read more...]
HUMANE SOCIETY: THE EUROPEAN ASSAULT ON SHEHITA
Parasha and Halacha Shiur Summary on P. Shemini, by Dayan Shlomo Cohen The Jewish method of slaughter has been under attack for many years in Europe. In Switzerland it is forbidden, and the EU has a recommendation that animals be pre-stunned (which is a Halachic issue, as we shall see). So is Shehita, the Jewish ritual slaughter, humane? Firstly, we must note that everyone … [Read more...]
A Matter of Taste
Adapted from a Parasha & Halacha Shiur by Rav Yosef Greenwald on Parashat Tzav The Halacha is that forbidden food that is absorbed in a mixture forbids the entire mixture (within a set of rules and limitations). This rule is known as “Ta’am K’Ikar” – a taste is like the entity itself. Maran (Y.D. 98) follows many Rishonim who hold that this rule is MiD’Oraita. Rashi … [Read more...]
A Joyous Feast
Eating Bread in the Se’udat Purim A Parasha & Halacha Shiur Summary, Parashat Vayikra by Rabbi Ariel Ovadia The Rambam writes that the obligation of “Mishte” – a feast – on Purim is to eat meat and prepare a “proper Se’uda (meal)” according to what one can afford and drink wine etc. The expression “A proper Se’uda” would seem to imply that one must eat bread as in … [Read more...]
Buyout Offer
A Parasha & Halacha Shiur by Rabbi Chaim Naftali Dissolving a partnership via Gud on Iggud In order to split a partnership there must be a sizeable enough share left for each individual partner. For example, if they own a joint courtyard and want to split it, each of the partners must receive a share that can still be considered a courtyard. If this is not the case, … [Read more...]