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Curated Torah sources across every topic, from classical texts to contemporary responsa.
Rabbeinu Gershom's Ban on Polygamy
Sources examine whether Rabbeinu Gershom's cherem against polygamy was intended to expire after a thousand years or remains permanently binding on Ashkenazic Jewish communities. The discussion traces the ban's origins, its codification in medieval halakhic literature, and debates over its permanence and exceptions.
חרם רבינו גרשום על נישואי אישה שנייה
Business Transactions with Churches in Halacha
Jewish law prohibits certain business dealings with non-Jewish religious institutions, particularly around their festivals, out of concern that profits will support their worship. These sources examine when commercial transactions—such as purchasing services or advertising space—constitute forbidden benefit to an idolatrous institution and under what circumstances such transactions may or may not be permitted.
אָסוּר לָשֵׂאת וְלָתֵת עִמָּהֶן לִפְנֵי אֵידֵיהֶן
Advertising With Non-Jewish Religious Institutions
Sources explore the halachic permissibility of commercial transactions with churches and other houses of worship, drawing on the biblical prohibition of lo techanem (not granting free favor to idolaters) and its Talmudic interpretation. The discussion examines when such transactions are forbidden, permitted, and how prior acquaintance affects the application of these rules.
לֹא תִּתֵּן לָהֶם חֵן
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
The Role and Responsibilities of a Rabbi
These sources outline the rabbi's multifaceted role as a Torah teacher, spiritual guide, and authoritative legal decisor. The sources emphasize the rabbi's obligation to transmit Torah knowledge, cultivate students' moral and spiritual character, and serve as a trusted guide for each generation.
עֲשֵׂה לְךָ רַב, וּקְנֵה לְךָ חָבֵר
The Blessing Over Bananas
Jewish law sources discuss whether bananas require the blessing 'Borei Pri HaEtz' (fruit of the tree) or 'Borei Pri HaAdamah' (fruit of the ground), based on whether the banana plant qualifies as a tree according to halakhic definitions.
בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָעֵץ
Tablecloths and Meat-Dairy Separation
Jewish law prohibits eating meat and dairy at the same table without a recognizable divider between them. Sources establish that tablecloths must be changed between meat and dairy meals, as they serve as a distinguishing marker (היכר) and may absorb residues from food.
צריך להדיח מקום נגיעתן ומותר לצור אותם במטפחת אחת
Orlah Observance Outside the Land of Israel
Jewish law forbids consuming fruit from trees in their first three years (orlah), a prohibition rooted in Torah. While this commandment applies universally as a Halakha le-Moshe mi-Sinai (oral tradition from Sinai), its application outside Israel is less stringent than within the Land—particularly regarding doubtful cases, where leniency is permitted in the diaspora.
הֲלָכָה לְמשֶׁה מִסִּינַי
Supervision and Certification in Shechitah
Jewish law requires that a shochet be formally examined and certified in the laws and technique of ritual slaughter before performing shechitah. Observation by knowledgeable witnesses does not substitute for this prerequisite certification, and meat slaughtered by an uncertified person is forbidden even if performed in front of onlookers.
שחיטה זו שנתבשל בינו לבין עצמו אסור לאכול
Blessings Over Food
These sources establish the biblical commandment and detailed rabbinic laws governing brachot rishonot (blessings before eating) and brachot acharonot (blessings after eating). They outline the specific formulas for different food categories, the theological principle that consuming food without blessing constitutes benefit from God's world, and the practical rules determining which blessings apply.
כֵּיצַד מְבָרְכִין עַל הַפֵּרוֹת
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