On the Origin of Species September 29, 2022 Q I cultivate aravos and other shrubs indoors in planters. Are the aravos kosher for arba’ah minim, and are the branches of those shrubs usable as schach in a sukkah? A The…
Seamus O’Braille Q May I discard an old siddur written in Braille, or must it be put in sheimos? A The Torah warns (Devarim 12:4), “Lo sa’asun kein lashem elokeichem” (Do not do so to Hashem your G-d). This…
Family Court September 15, 2022 Q May the bais din for pruzbul include dayanim who are related one to another, or related to the lender or borrowers? A We noted recently in this forum that Sephardim follow the Shulchan Aruch…
Leave Me a Loan September 9, 2022 Q Does my wife have to write a pruzbul? Do I need to write one if no one owes me money? Does a pruzbul work if the borrower doesn’t own land? A Women…
Pruzbul Presiders September 2, 2022 Q I’m concerned that I might be asked to join an ad hoc bais din for a pruzbul, a role for which I fear I am unsuited. What are the qualifications to serve on such…
Precocious Pruzbul August 18, 2022 Q There are people that owe me money, so I want to write a pruzbul to prevent the cancelation of the loans at the end of Shmitah. May I do so earlier than Erev Rosh…
Sleep Study August 11, 2022 Q During the summer, I sometimes go to sleep before nightfall. Do I recite hamapil? A Although hamapil, which asks for peaceful sleep (O.C. 239:1), would be applicable to any sleep, Chazal instituted the bracha…
Door Jam August 4, 2022 Q We’re moving into our new home on a Friday. While affixing the mezuzos, I discovered I’m short one, but I won’t be able to obtain it until after Shabbos. Should I postpone the move?…
Mandatory Medical July 29, 2022 Q Is there an obligation to study medicine in order to be able to save someone’s life in an emergency? A Sefer Chassidim (1469) says that if one could have studied medicine and didn’t, and…
Median Income July 21, 2022 Q My daughter is engaged to my friend’s son. The father proposed the shidduch to me directly, without a shadchan. Do I owe him shadchanus gelt? A When a shadchan makes a shidduch, there is…