By Rav Ariel Ovadia As Shavu’ot approaches, all of us look forward to reaccepting the Torah and celebrating its study. Oh… and the dairy delicacies we don’t often get to enjoy. Many recipes involve a dairy version of a baked good; a topic which is discussed in the Shulhan Aruch and which we will attempt to cover in the following article. Pareve Pastries The Gemara in a … [Read more...]
Cash is King: Lending to a non-Jew with Interest
By Rav Yehonatan Sasportas In this week’s Parasha, we read about the prohibition of lending and borrowing with interest – “Ribbit”. The Torah writes that this prohibition applies only to Jews. In the following article we will discuss the various details of this Halacha. There are various approaches among the Rishonim regarding taking Ribbit from a non-Jew. The … [Read more...]
Humane Society
Tza’ar Ba’ale Hayim – Causing Distress or Pain to an Animal Dayan Yonatan D. Hool The Halacha forbids one from causing any unnecessary pain or distress to an animal. There is a debate whether this prohibition, known as “Tza’ar Ba’ale Hayim”, is a Torah prohibition or a rabbinic prohibition. The Tana’im, cited in the Gemara Bava Metzia[1] argue about this point: … [Read more...]
Keeping it in the Family
May One Rescind a Hiring in Favor of a Relative? Rav Eliezer Cohen A business owner hired an individual for a certain job. Shortly thereafter, he discovered that a relative of his had moved to town and was looking for employment. He now wants to rescind the hiring and give the job to his relative. Is he permitted to terminate the man he just hired? Tar’omet – Grievances In … [Read more...]
Premature Reflections
Premature Babies in Halacha By Rav Ariel Ovadia The challenge of premature and congenitally ill infants has riddled humanity from the beginning of time, and until as recently as the turn of the 20th century premature babies stood little to no chance to survive. The pages of the Talmud and Poskim are rife with discussions of babies born in the eighth month and prior, or babies … [Read more...]