Service Area August 13, 2026 Q On a construction site, may I make a bracha in an area designated in the blueprints to become a bathroom? A Tfilos, brachos, and words of Torah may not be spoken in the presence of waste,…
The Tale of a Scaled Tail August 6, 2026 Q On a camping trip, we caught a fish whose species we could not identify, but it had some scales near its tail and a fin. May we rely on its simanim…
In Gear July 30, 2026 Q Is swimming gear like bathing suits, swim goggles, and pool floats muktzeh? A There are two main categories of muktzeh: Muktzeh machmas gufo: a raw, unprocessed object like a stone or branch. (There are other types…
Autostart July 24, 2026 Q I’m in a camp in the mountains with only one minyan, in which Kabalas Shabbos concludes some 15 minutes before shkiah. Until when may I light neiros? A The concept of tosefes Shabbos is that anytime after…
Grate Adventure July 16, 2026 Q Is there a practical way to kasher the public charcoal grills installed at campgrounds and parks? A The Torah (Bemidbar 31:23) establishes a principle in the context of the utensils from the spoils of…
Egg Pilaf July 9, 2026 Q Can I leave egg salad in the fridge to eat for breakfast? A The Gemara says (Nidah 17a) that someone who eats garlic, onion, or egg that sat peeled overnight is liable to pay with his life…
Door Post-It July 2, 2026 Q May I transfer a mezuzah from my house to my office? A The Gemara (Bava Metzia 102a) cautions against removing mezuzos when vacating a home. Tosfos explains that a house left without mezuzos is vulnerable to…
Fringe Fabrics June 25, 2026 Q Do leather or synthetic four-cornered garments require tzitzis? A Wool and linen are obligated in tzitzis mideOreisa, and there is a machlokess in the Gemara (Menachos 39b) whether other fabrics are obligated mideOreisa or…
Double Dipping June 18, 2026 Q I purchased a silver dish from a non-Jew to give to a friend as a gift. Should I tovel it now, or should he tovel it after receiving it? A Klei seudah (meal utensils) are…
Beyond a Shadow June 11, 2026 Q We often picnic in a nearby park. On sunny days, it can be hard to find an available picnic table in a shady spot. There is an area at the park’s edge that is…
