Question: Dear Rabbi Sprung, This question is relevant both personally and to many physicians. I am a resident in a hospital in Chutz la’Aretz and cannot opt out of working on Shabbos and Yom Tov. For Rosh Hashana, I...
Dear Rabbi Sprung, I am an anesthesiologist, and when I am on-call, I divide my time between the various operating rooms in the hospital and the delivery rooms. As the leader of the on-call team, I direct a group of...
As we enter the Yemei haRachamim, it is time to reflect upon our spiritual condition and our relationship with Hashem. These days are dedicated to Teshuva and Selichos. Looking back on the past year, both as a community...
Question: Dear Rabbi Sprung, I have Type 1 diabetes, and I am meticulous about the amount of carbohydrates that I consume at each meal and use a scale to weigh my portions. During the week I use a digital scale but I...
In last week’s essay, we quoted the Rema’s ruling (E.H. 195:16) that a husband may attend to his sick wife when she is a Nida if nobody else is available and she greatly needs it. Many other Poskim concur. In this...
There is a fundamental Machlokes between the Mechaber and Rema regarding the Harchakos between a man and his wife when she is a Nida. The Shulchan Aruch rules (Y.D. 195:15 & 16): If he is ill and there is no one to...
[This is the second essay in a series on Halachic ramifications of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).] We will begin this week’s essay with the powerful words of the Steipler zt”l (Orchos Rabbenu 4, p53): You must...
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas, or sensations. These cause affected people to feel compelled to engage in repetitive behaviors to alleviate the...
Seuda Mafsekes Even if a Choleh will not be fasting on Tisha b’Av he should still eat a Seuda Mafsekes because it is one of the Minhagim of Avelus. He is obligated to observe the Avelus even if he cannot fast. He may...
Beginning with Shiva Asar b’Tamuz, we observe many Minhagimas an expression of mourning for the Beis haMikdash throughout Bein haMetzarim. Some customs are observed for the entire period, others only to the “Nine Days”...
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Rabbi Yosef Sprung
Rabbi Yosef Sprung