A substantial portion of contemporary communication occurs through instant messaging on platforms such as WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram. Professionals in medical, emergency, and rescue services commonly use WhatsApp...
Thousands of patient meals are prepared daily in the kitchens of the Shaare Zedek Medical Center. All food preparation is conducted according to the highest Kashrus standards. Aside from ensuring the kosher status of the ingredients, great attention...
One should recite Krias Shema and the Bracha of “haMapil” – Krias Shema sheAl haMita – before bed. There are Halachos associated with Krias Shema sheAl haMita that pertain to individuals who are ill or have difficulty falling asleep...
Conducting human research and utilizing experimental drugs involve several aspects of Halacha, including Hilchos Shabbos and Pikuach Nefesh. Drug development invariably encompasses a phase of human trials, which is an essential step before the drug...
There is a well-known Machlokes Rishonim as to whether the Mitzva of Sefiras haOmer is d’Oraisa or d’Rabbanan today, hinging on whether Sefira is dependent on the harvesting of the Korban haOmer that can no longer be performed. The Rambam holds that...
Today, infant feeding practices have undergone two major transformations compared to earlier generations. First, the practice of using a “wet nurse” – a woman hired to breastfeed other women’s infants...
The Gemara states (Bava Metzia 79b): The Rabbis taught: If one hires a donkey for a man to ride on, a woman may not ride it; but if it was hired for a woman, a man may ride it. Regarding a woman, [the law applies]...
Halachos of Erev Pesach[1] Ta’anis Bechorim It is customary for male firstborns to fast on Erev Pesach.[2] Nowadays, the custom is to make or join a Siyum and partake in the Seudas Mitzva, thus exempting oneself from...
When Erev Pesach falls on Shabbos, most Jewish households eat regular Challa for the Shabbos Seudos, taking care to prevent Chametz from scattering in the house and ensuring that all leftovers are discarded. Typically...
There has been extensive discussion of the implications of Halachic rulings by Chazal that were grounded in the scientific understanding of their time but have since been contradicted by modern scientific...
The Phenomeno An unfortunate Purim “custom” of smoking regular or e-cigarettes has taken root among some young Bnei Torah. This is perceived to be part of the Purim celebration or as an accessory to costumes, granting...
The Mitzvos of Chodesh Adar and Purim start with the reading of the four special Parshiyos, among them Parshas Zachor, which is read on the Shabbos preceding Purim. Most opinions maintain that the obligation to hear...
For the benefit of the public, R’ Yaakov Nirenberg Shlit”a, a member of the Beis Medrash, has compiled a summary of several as-yet unpublished rulings from haGaon Rav Asher Weiss Shlit”a concerning the use of hearing...
The Gedolei haPoskim debate the permissibility of using hearing aids on Shabbos, even if they were activated before Shabbos.[1] Some prohibit both using these devices and speaking to a person who is wearing them since...
The Heter for a physician to heal is derived from the Pasuk: “He need only give [compensation] for his loss of work and he shall surely heal (v’Rapo Y’rapei)”. This is discussed at great length in the Rishonim and...
Question: Dear Rabbi Sprung, This year Asara b’Teves falls on a Friday. Is it Halachically acceptable to break my fast with a light meal of cake and coffee rather than a full Seudas Shabbos? Answer: The fast of Asara...
There is an obligation Min haTorah to recite Krias Shema twice daily, once in the morning and again in the evening. The Gemara in Brachos (4b)adds: R’ Yehoshua ben Levi said, “Although one recited Krias Shema in Shul...
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Rabbi Yosef Sprung