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Curated Torah sources across every topic, from classical texts to contemporary responsa.
Sexual Relations During Mourning Observance
Sources address whether marital relations are prohibited during mourning periods, examining the scope and duration of such restrictions and how they apply to specific memorial observances like yahrzeit.
אָבֵל אָסוּר בְּתַשְׁמִישׁ הַמִּטָּה
Pinchas's Covenant of Peace
Sources explore the spiritual meaning of God's covenant of peace granted to Pinchas after his zealous intervention at Baal Peor. The texts examine how this covenant represents divine affirmation of his act, protection from retaliation, and the restoration of covenantal order and communal wholeness.
בריתי היתה אתו החיים והשלום
The Wrestling Match: Meforshim on Yaakov and the Angel
Classical and modern Jewish commentators explore the spiritual significance of Yaakov's nighttime wrestling with an angel before his reunion with Esav. The sources discuss the angel's identity as Esav's heavenly representative, the nature of their struggle, and what the encounter reveals about divine providence and Israel's ongoing spiritual battle.
כִּי שָׂרִיתָ עִם אֱלֹהִים וְעִם אֲנָשִׁים וַתּוּכָל
Recorded Music During Mourning for a Parent
This topic examines whether a mourner observing aveilus for a parent may listen to recorded music during the year-long mourning period. The sources address the halakhic prohibitions on musical instruments and song during mourning, their scriptural and Talmudic bases, and the distinctions authorities draw between different forms of music.
אָסוּר בִּין בְּכֵלִי בִּין בַּפֶּה
Interrupting Torah Study to Greet Others
Sources address whether one may interrupt Torah study to greet a person, weighing the sanctity of Torah learning against obligations of honor and interpersonal respect. The halakhic sources establish principles for when interruption is permitted based on whether the greeting can be deferred or whether the person greeted commands special honor.
לֹא הַמִּדְרָשׁ עִיקָּר אֶלָּא הַמַּעֲשֶׂה
Geneivas Nefashos: Abduction Versus Sale
Sources examine whether one who kidnaps a fellow Israelite incurs the capital penalty of geneivas nefashos upon abduction alone, or only upon subsequent sale or use of the victim. The classical rabbinic sources present competing views on the precise moment liability attaches.
אֵינוֹ חַיָּב עַד שֶׁיַּכְנִיסֶנּוּ לִרְשׁוּתוֹ
Selichot Before Rosh Hashanah: Ashkenazi Practice
Sources outline the Ashkenazi custom of reciting Selichot in preparation for Rosh Hashanah, establishing that at least four days of Selichot must precede the holiday. The practice begins on the Sunday before Rosh Hashanah, or earlier if necessary to ensure the minimum four-day period.
ד' ימים קודם ר״ה
Opening Food Packages on Yom Tov
Sources address whether opening a sealed food package on Yom Tov is permitted when the wrapper becomes a usable vessel. The discussion centers on the Shabbat-derived prohibition against creating or completing receptacles, and how this principle applies to practical scenarios involving packaged foods on Yom Tov.
מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא כִּמְתַקֵּן כְּלִי
Electric Razors and the Beard Prohibition
Sources address whether electric shavers violate the Torah prohibition against shaving the beard, which applies specifically to razors that destroy hair from the root. The poskim distinguish between razors and other cutting methods, establishing the framework for evaluating modern electric devices.
אינו חייב אלא בתער
Medical Alert Bracelets on Shabbat
Sources address whether medical alert devices worn on the body violate Shabbat laws of carrying and transferring objects between domains, and when life-saving concerns override Shabbat restrictions. The discussion integrates rules governing wearable items with the principle that preserving life takes precedence on Shabbat.
דְחוּיָה הִיא שַׁבָּת אֵצֶל סַכָּנַת נְפָשׁוֹת
Automatic Timers and Air Conditioning on Shabbat
These sources address the permissibility of setting devices before Shabbat to operate automatically during Shabbat itself. They establish the foundational principles governing pre-programmed mechanisms, including weight-driven clocks and flowing water systems, and examine when such arrangements comply with Shabbat law.
מֻתָּר לְהַתְחִיל מְלָאכָה מֵעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִיא נִגְמֶרֶת מֵאֵלֶיהָ בְּשַׁבָּת
Taking Pain Relief on Shabbat
Sources address the halakhic status of taking pain relievers on Shabbat for minor ailments, distinguishing between medical treatment permitted for serious illness and restrictions on remedies for ordinary discomfort. The sources examine when an ailment reaches sufficient severity to permit medicinal intervention.
לֹא יִשְׁתֶּה דְּבָרִים שֶׁאֵין דֶּרֶךְ בְּרִיאִים