Traveling through the dateline
Dear Rabbi Bitton, I often travel to the Far East on business. When I'm done with my business dealings, I'm anxious to...
Rice on Pesach
Why do Ashkenazi Jews consider rice as Chametz?A: Rice is not Chametz. There are only 5 grains who could become Chametz: wheat, barley,...
Do Jews believe in evil eye?
We read in our morning prayers, "Ha-Shem please save us from an evil friend, evil neighbor, evil tongue, evil inclination, and evil eye."...
Q & A: Death penalty and self incrimination
DEATH PENALTY: Is there a concept of self-incrimination for a capital crime in Biblical Law?A: First of all, let me clarify to you that...
Selling Chametz (Mekhirat Chametz)
Q: SELLING CHAMETZ: Pesach Question 3: What is the logic behind the custom of selling the Chametz before Pesach?A: All the Chametz that one...
Seeing Chametz in Pesach
Q: Is there any prohibition of actually "seeing" Chametz during Pesach?A: Two Pesukim in the Torah deal with Chametz prohibitions, which are...
Don’t eat, unless you’re hungry!
Last week we talked about smoking cigarettes and we explained the Halakhic principle of avoiding anything harmful to our health (see link). Technically speaking,...
ROSH CHODESH KISLEV
1st of Kislev, 5771 - Second day of Rosh ChodeshRosh Chodesh -the beginning of the Hebrew month- is a semi festive day. In the...
Using a timer
28th of Cheshvan, 5771
Although it is forbidden to activate an electrical appliance on Shabbat it is permitted to use or have a benefit from...
Turning the other cheek to Amaleq- POSITIVE RESENTMENT
27th of Cheshvan, 5771Last week we explained the prohibition of hatred, and the ways to free our hearts from resentment by communicating our feelings...
Is smoking Kosher?
In previous weeks we mentioned the rabbinical prohibition of eating fish and meat together. We explained that this wasn't a ritual prohibition (isur) but...
How NOT to honor our parents
24th of Cheshvan, 5771Actions and attitudesKeeping our parent's dignity while performing the Mitzvah of Honoring our parents, is learned from a passage in the...
Cooking vs. Warming (Last part)
21st of Cheshvan, 5771
We explained that in Shabbat it is forbidden to cook food, however, if the food is already cooked we are allowed...
The formula for a hatred free life – PREVENTING HATRED
20th of Cheshvan, 5771Last week we explained the prohibition of hatred and how to become free of resentment by communicating to the offender our...
FISH and milk
19th of Cheshvan, 5771The Torah explicitly prohibits the mixing and consumption of meat and milk. The Rabbis extended this prohibition to include not only...
How to honor our parents?
17th of Cheshvan, 5771'Honor your father and your mother... " (Shemot 20.12)This is the Fifth of the 10 Commandments.It is the first of the...
Cooking vs. Warming (Part 2)
14th of Cheshvan, 5771
Last Friday I explained that in Shabbat we are forbidden to cook food . However, if the food is already cooked...
Damage control on hatred – What is Love?
13th of Cheshvan, 5771Last week we explained that the Torah commands us to 'love' our fellow men as we love ourselves. 'Love' means to...
FISH and meat
12th of Cheshvan, 5771
Mixing fish and meat together is not restricted by Biblical law.
However, the Rabbis of the Talmud considered it a harmful mixture,...
‘My father’s honor is not for sale’
10th of Cheshvan, 5771Respecting one's parents means: avoiding anything which would bother them or would make them feel uncomfortable.For example, it is forbidden to...
