Discover what others are learning
Curated Torah sources across every topic, from classical texts to contemporary responsa.
Wine Mixed in Whiskey and Bitul
Sources address the halachic principles governing whether wine absorbed into another liquid medium becomes nullified, focusing on the rules of ta'am (imparted flavor) and bitul b'shishim as applied to mixtures of different substance types.
יַיִן בְּמַיִם וּמַיִם בְּיַיִן בְּנוֹתֵן טַעַם
Havdalah and Telephone Transmission
Sources examine whether hearing Havdalah recited over the telephone fulfills one's obligation, drawing on the principle of shome'a k'oneh (hearing as equivalent to reciting) and the halakhic requirements for genuine 'hearing' in ritual contexts.
שומע כעונה
Using an Elevator Operated by a Gentile on Shabbat
Sources address the halakhic status of benefiting from labor performed by a gentile on Shabbat, including when such benefit is permitted and when it is forbidden. These texts establish the foundational principles governing Jewish use of gentile-operated mechanisms and services during Shabbat.
אָסוּר לוֹמַר לְנָכְרִי לַעֲשׂוֹת לָנוּ מְלָאכָה בְּשַׁבָּת
Weekday Clothing on Shabbat Chazon
The halakhic treatment of wearing weekday garments on Shabbat Chazon (the Shabbat before Tisha B'Av) addresses the tension between Shabbat requirements for special dress and Nine Days mourning practices. Sources discuss which garments may be exchanged and under what circumstances, as well as varying customs among different communities.
בגדי שבת אין משנים כי אם הכתונת משום עונג שבת
Stains and Impurity Without Sensation
These sources address the halakhic status of a woman who discovers a blood stain on her clothing or body but felt no flow and finds nothing upon internal examination. The sources establish that even without sensation or positive findings, such a stain can render her impure according to rabbinic decree, and explore the reasoning and practical applications of this rule.
אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא הִרְגִּישָׁה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁבָּדְקָה עַצְמָהּ וְלֹא מָצְאָה דָּם הֲרֵי זוֹ טְמֵאָה
Elective Cosmetic Surgery in Halacha
Sources examining whether deliberate bodily modification for aesthetic purposes is permitted under Jewish law. The sources address foundational prohibitions against self-injury, exceptions for healing, and the halakhic distinction between medical and non-medical bodily interventions.
כׇּל דָּבָר שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ מִשּׁוּם רְפוּאָה אֵין בּוֹ מִשּׁוּם דַּרְכֵי הָאֱמוֹרִי
Chalav Akum: The Rabbinic Decree and Supervision
Sources examine the rabbinic prohibition against milk from a non-Jew without Jewish supervision, tracing the decree's rationale—concern for admixture with non-kosher milk—through Chazal, the Rishonim, and Acharonim rulings on the parameters of permissible supervision and application.
שמא עירב בו חלב בהמה טמאה
Shaving During the Three Weeks for Shalom Bayis
Sources address the halakhic restrictions on shaving and haircuts during the Three Weeks of mourning preceding Tisha B'Av, and discuss how communal custom and cases of need—such as marital harmony—may inform leniencies within these observances.
כל שמעכב את האכילה מותר
Milk Utensils After Meat Dishwasher Contact
Sources addressing when utensils that absorbed one category of food (milk or meat) may be used for the opposite category after exposure to hot water or washing cycles. The determination hinges on factors including heat intensity, time elapsed, residual fat, and the status of the vessel involved.
קערות של בשר שהודחו ביורה חולבת בחמין
Dina Demalchuta Dina and Secular Tax Law
Sources address whether Jewish law recognizes and obligates compliance with secular tax laws established by non-Jewish governments. The sources trace the principle from Talmudic teachings through medieval codifications, exploring the theological and legal basis for honoring state-imposed financial obligations.
דִּינָא דְמַלְכוּתָא דִּינָא
Dina Demalchuta Dina and Government Taxation
Sources examine whether the halachic principle of dina demalchuta dina—the law of the land is binding—grants halachic force to taxes imposed by the governing authority. The sources discuss the conditions under which governmental taxation is enforceable under Jewish law, including distinctions between arbitrary and fixed levies.
דִּינָא דְמַלְכוּתָא דִּינָא
Publicizing a Found Wallet: Obligations and Methods
Jewish law requires a finder of a lost item to make efforts to return it to its owner. Sources outline when and how a finder must publicize a find, particularly for identifiable items like a wallet, and describe the progression of announcement methods developed by the Sages.
כיצד המוצא מציאה במקום שישראל מצוים שם חייב להכריז