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...
