Articles

Laws of selichot and their significance in light of the teachings of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook

From the beginning of the month of Elul, Sephardi and Yemenite Jews are accustomed to reciting selichot at dawn, while Ashkenazi Jews customarily begin selichot...

The basic prohibition of orlah

Overview on the prohibition of orlah. From Part II of The Laws of Orlah for the Backyard

Should we stand during the blessing for hafrashat challah?

To answer the question if we must stand while reciting the blessing for hafrashat challah, we first need to determine whether this blessing is considered a...

The amount of terumah gedolah for olive oil today

When it is possible to use produce for fuel, such as olive oil, should we separate more than the kolshehu for terumah gedolah (as we do for other types of...

Pesticide traces in etrogim

Etrogim must be edible to be fit for use in the arba minim. Every year, the issue of pesticide traces arises, putting into question if it is, in fact, edible...

Holy etrog jam and pesticide traces

Sukkot: The etrog's pitom

Many G-d fearing Jews are willing to pay for a beautiful, mehudar etrog. The greatest hidur has to do with the pitom, yet many are not aware of what to look out...

Preparing for 5786: a ma’aser sheni year

The year 5786 is a ma’aser sheni year, and is the fourth year of the shemitah cycle. As such, there are different halachot that pertain to terumot and ma’aserot...

Parashat Shoftim: Theft and Kilayim

Hasagat gevul is tied to the Land of Israel, but also linked to kila'im; the similarities between the prohibitions can help us understand their spiritual common...

Parashat Ki Tetze: Kilayim and kedushah - What does “kedushah” really mean?

What does interplanting in the vineyard and sanctity have in common? This article takes a look at the term kedushah in different contexts, and sheds light on...