by Rabbi Eliezer Melamed
The Torah is extremely careful about risking one’s own life and the lives of others, and therefore the mitzvot of Purim should be observed in moderation, in accordance with the health directives * For the purpose of the reading of Parshat Zakhor, one who cannot find a minyan in which they follow the health instructions, … Read more
Slavery is practiced only when the mitzvot of Yovel also apply, thus preserving the foundation of human freedom * The purpose of the mitzvah was to allow families who reached a state of extreme poverty rehabilitation, in line with living conditions at that time * Even if Yovel applied today, it appears the current economic … Read more
After the Sephardic and National-Religious public in the city were roused up, the demonstrations in Petah Tikva turned out to be even more of a desecration of Shabbat than the opening of the movie theater itself * The lesson from those demonstrations: Political agreements reached in a broad public framework are more beneficial to Shabbat … Read more
The broad agreement reached in the city of Harish on how to keep Shabbat in public places * Coercion will not help in the matter of keeping Shabbat in public, and agreed legislation must be reached that will include representatives from all walks of life * To deepen the connection of Clal Yisrael to the … Read more
While the Beit HaMikdash existed, ruach ha’kodesh dwelled among Israel, ritual purity was practiced, and our Sages refrained from imposing additional restrictions on the prohibition of niddah. However, after people lost heart, they decided to enact decrees to distance people from transgressing * A deeper reason for adding prohibitions: since the destruction of the Beit … Read more
The laws of niddah afford us the opportunity to give the sadness and crisis in married life their appropriate place * Out of the sadness and distancing, husband and wife reunite with greater love, and thus the fire that keeps marriage alive is guarded * In older age, love between a couple deepens and intensifies, … Read more
Immersion in a pure mikveh is intended to connect the physical body and the realms of earthly life to the sacred, but for the purpose of Torah study and fulfillment of mitzvot there is no need for immersion * Immersion in water symbolizes the Divine grace granted to all equally, similar to rain that falls … Read more
As with any halakhic or medical question, in regards to the question of getting the new vaccine against the Corona virus, one should follow the opinion of the majority of doctors who recommend getting vaccinated * There is no point in reading articles refuting the vaccine, because a non-professional reader has no ability to assess … Read more
Contrary to popular belief, the setting of the day of general mourning (Yom HaKaddish HaClalli) in the month of Tevet by the Chief Rabbinate was not in controversy with the national Holocaust Memorial Day in Nissan, as it was determined before it * The deep significance from the words of our teacher and rabbi, Rabbi … Read more
The sin of the Adam Rishon caused him and his seed a curse of sorrow and pain, part of which is the impurity of niddah and zavah of women * When a person immerses himself in the water of the mikveh, he puts himself in a place where he cannot breathe or exist, thus indicating … Read more