כללי

Despite disagreement on how to respond to the eroding Jewish character of the I.D.F., the confirmed halakha is that one is obligated to admonish * Admonishing others reflects love, and prevents anger and revenge * One who does not admonish is considered a partner in the transgression, and is punished * The obligation to admonish … Read more

A clarification after last week’s column: In severe cases of parental abuse, children should not seek out a relationship with them * Dama ben Netina: Learning about honoring parents specifically from a cruel Roman army general * Respect for parents empowers children * In a case where not waking-up a father will likely cause him … Read more

It is forbidden for a divorced mother to separate her children from her ex-husband, even if he hurt her, and considers him evil * The mitzvah to honor parents, even if they are evil, is disputed among the poskim, but by all accounts, it is forbidden to hurt them * A son whose mother separated … Read more

The Torah did not prohibit insects one cannot see; the question is, what is the halakha when an insect can be seen under certain conditions * Both the lenient and stringent approach have strong reasoning, but as far as the strict law is concerned, the halakha goes according to the lenient approach * In large … Read more

Just as God smote the Egyptians in the Ten Plagues, He also smites other nations for their good * If we strengthen ourselves in faith and in the understanding of God’s governance, there will be no need for trials and tribulations, and the world will be saved from hardships thanks to Israel * On the … Read more

Israel’s political leaders must remove the obstacles preventing construction in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria * A construction boom is the best solution for reducing housing prices * The housing crisis reflects a spiritual problem: God brought us back to the Land of Israel, but we are not striving enough to settle it * Yehezkel’s prophecy … Read more

Additional health-related issues: Better to throw out leftover food, than to harm one’s body * Having a set place in synagogue contributes to the stability of a person’s spiritual world, and prolongs his life * A person is rewarded for every step taken while walking to synagogue, even if there is a closer synagogue – … Read more

The danger of distorted IDF values, reflected in the conviction of Elor Azaria and the terrorist attack in Armon Hanatziv * A response to the column on nutrition and health: alternative methods prevent illnesses * My reply: According to halakha, one must listen to conventional doctors * In a case of ‘pikuach nefesh’, if an … Read more

The fasts commemorating the destruction of the First Temple which were annulled during the Second Temple period, were reinstated after the collapse of the Hasmonean dynasty and the destruction of the Temple * The holidays celebrating the victories of the Hasmoneans were cancelled after their downfall – except for Hanukkah * The grandson of Matityahu … Read more

We usually remember the gist of the Chanukah story; however, the story was much longer, complex and complicated, and we can learn from it a lesson for generations.   The Greek Empire   Over the course of hundreds of years, the Greeks developed a culture that achieved great advancements in science, philosophy, literature, art, architecture, … Read more