May one travel to places with communicable diseases? By: Rabbi Yosef Fund The most recent outbreak of the Zika virus began in April 2015 in Brazil, and subsequently spread to other countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The virus has been linked to many cases of severe birth defects, including microcephaly and Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS). … [Read more...]
Carrying in a Hotel on Shabbat
Q: I recently stayed in a hotel for Shabbat with a few other Jewish families. Do I need to set up an Eruv Hatzerot to allow me to carry? A: Ideally, one should set an Eruv without a Beracha. The Halacha is that one may not carry on Shabbat in a domain which is shared by multiple dwellers – such as a shared courtyard – without first setting up an “Eruv Hatzerot”. This Eruv … [Read more...]