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Curated Torah sources across every topic, from classical texts to contemporary responsa.
Compensation for Unsolicited Benefit in Property
Jewish law addresses when an owner must compensate another for improvements or benefits received without consent. The sources examine the principle of unjust enrichment (זה נהנה וזה לא חסר) through cases of unauthorized planting, enhancement of property, and the broader obligation to avoid retaining unearned benefit.
זה נהנה וזה לא חסר
Posthumous Reproduction and Halakhic Status
These sources address the halakhic framework for children born through non-standard reproductive means, the foundational principle that a deceased man has a Torah-recognized interest in progeny, and the legal status of sperm and paternity in unusual circumstances. Together they provide the classical and contemporary Jewish legal context for evaluating posthumous assisted reproduction.
לֹא יִבָּטֵל אָדָם מִפְּרִיָּה וּרְבִיָּה
Kaddish for the Cremated Deceased
Jewish law traditionally forbids cremation as a violation of the biblical obligation of burial. These sources examine whether Kaddish—a prayer that benefits the soul of the deceased—may be recited when someone requests cremation, balancing the severity of the transgression against the spiritual needs of the departed and the mourners' obligations.
קָבוֹר תִּקְבְּרֶנּוּ
Reciting Kaddish for the Cremated
Jewish law prohibits cremation as a violation of the biblical obligation of earth burial, yet authorities debate whether mourning rites and Kaddish remain obligatory or permitted for one who chose cremation. These sources examine the tension between halakhic norms governing burial, the status of one who violates them, and the spiritual power of Kaddish to elevate the soul.
קְבוּרָה מִצְוָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר כִּי קָבוֹר תִּקְבְּרֶנּוּ
Physical Harm and Bodily Integrity in Halacha
Jewish law prohibits striking or wounding another person, regardless of consent or military context. Sources from Tanakh through the Shulchan Arukh establish that bodily integrity is protected by Torah law and cannot be overridden by claims of practical benefit or increased readiness.
אסור לאדם להכו' חבירו