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Curated Torah sources across every topic, from classical texts to contemporary responsa.
Shaving and Grooming for a Bris During the Nine Days
Sources address the permissibility of grooming and shaving in connection with a circumcision ceremony that falls during the Nine Days of Av, including exceptions made for the honor of the mitzvah and Shabbat.
מילה שהיא מר״ח עד ט׳ באב נוהגין שהמוהל ובעל ברית ואבי הבן לובשין
Artificial Insemination in Jewish Law
These sources address the halakhic principles governing reproduction, fertility, and the prohibition against wasting seed, which form the foundational framework for evaluating assisted reproductive technologies in Jewish law. The sources span biblical narrative, Talmudic discussion, and codified rulings on procreation and marital obligations.
אָסוּר לְהַפְסִיד אֵיבְרֵי זֶרַע
Windows in Torah and Tanach
Sources explore windows and openings throughout the Hebrew Bible, from Noah's ark to the Temple, examining both their practical function and spiritual symbolism. Commentators discuss the construction, purpose, and interpretive dimensions of these architectural features.
וַיִּפְתַּח נֹחַ אֶת־חַלּוֹן הַתֵּבָה
Meat at a Siyum During the Nine Days
Sources addressing whether participants in a siyum masechet (completion of a Talmudic tractate) may eat meat and drink wine during the Nine Days of Av, and the distinctions between the general Nine Days period and the specific week containing Tisha B'Av.
אוכלין בשר ושותין יין, כל השייכים לסעודה
Shaving and Grooming During the Nine Days
Sources address the halakhic restrictions on haircuts and shaving during the Nine Days of mourning for the Temple's destruction, and discuss whether exceptions apply for pressing needs such as a circumcision ceremony.
וְכֵן נוֹהֲגִין שֶׁאֵין מִסְתַּפְּרִין בְּיָמִים אֵלּוּ
An Avel as Baal Tokea on Rosh Hashanah
These sources examine whether a mourner (avel) during shiva may serve as the shofar blower for the congregation on Rosh Hashanah. They address the halakhic requirements for who is fit to blow shofar and the restrictions that apply to mourners leading communal religious functions.
אחר תוקע ולא שליח צבור
Chalav Yisrael: The Requirement for Milk Supervision
Sources spanning from the Mishnah through later rabbinic authorities discuss the prohibition against drinking milk from non-Jews without Jewish supervision, the underlying concern for mixture with non-kosher animal milk, and the standards for acceptable supervision. The sources establish both the foundational principle and its application across different circumstances.
חלב שחלבו גוי ואין ישראל רואהו אסור
Chanukah: History, Halakha, and Spiritual Meaning
These sources explore Chanukah from multiple angles: the historical events of the Hasmonean victory and rededication of the Temple, the halakhic requirements for lighting candles, and deeper theological interpretations of the holiday's spiritual significance and symbolism.
מלכות בית חשמונאי ונצחום
Lighting Chanukah Candles After the Proper Time
Sources address whether one can fulfill the Chanukah lighting obligation and recite a blessing if the candles are lit after the designated time window—from sunset until the cessation of marketplace traffic. The sources establish the parameters of the obligation and the conditions under which a blessing may be recited.
עִם שְׁקִיעַת הַחַמָּה עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה רֶגֶל מִן הַשּׁוּק
Rabbi Tzadok: Life and Legacy
Sources depicting Rabbi Tzadok of the Second Temple period, his ascetic devotion and halakhic teachings, alongside later Jewish philosophical and Hasidic interpretations of his spiritual approach to Torah, repentance, and divine service.
גְּרוֹגֶרֶת דְּרַבִּי צָדוֹק אֲכַלָה
Joshua's Mourning for Moses
Sources examine Joshua's period of mourning following Moses' death and God's call for him to transition from grief to leadership. The passages explore both the duration of Joshua's mourning and the spiritual challenges he faced during this transitional time.
עַד כַּמָּה אַתָּה מִתְאַבֵּל וְהוֹלֵךְ
Water Changes and Mikveh Validity
These sources discuss the halakhic standards for determining when a mikveh remains valid despite changes in the water's appearance, taste, or smell. The sources establish that visual alterations—but not changes in taste or smell alone—can affect a mikveh's fitness for immersion.
אֵין הַמִּקְוֶה נִפְסָל לֹא בְּשִׁנּוּי הַטַּעַם וְלֹא בְּשִׁנּוּי הָרֵיחַ אֶלָּא בְּשִׁנּוּי מַרְאֶה בִּלְבַד