Rabbi Yosef Sprung
Aseres Yemei Teshuva Slichos[2] The ideal time to say Slichos is from Chatzos haLaila until Alos haShachar. If someone cannot recite them then, he should do so in the morning. Bedieved, Slichos can be recited...
Entertainment
Food & Drinks
Lifestyle
From the Rabbi’s Desk: Streamlined Slichos
Question: Dear Rabbi Sprung, I work the morning shift and must arrive very early at the hospital. It is impossible to attend the entire recitation of Slichos in Shul, and even if I Daven alone, I can only recite some of...
Halachos and Minhagim of Tishrei: Guidelines for Hospital Patients, Visitors, and Staff – Part I
Erev Rosh Hashana Some individuals have a custom to fast on Erev Rosh Hashana. Individuals who are weak or ill, however, need not fast. If one has generally observed this custom, performing Hataras Nedarim to...
Measles Vaccination
In the past month, the Charedi community in Israel experienced two tragic losses when young, unvaccinated infants died from measles infections. Unfortunately, a troubling attitude has emerged in recent years that...
Latest articles
House Officers in Halacha
In Toras haAdam (Inyan haSakana), the Ramban discusses a physician’s exemption from liability for errors that occur during medical treatment: [The exemption] was only granted to a Baki (an expert) who knows the wisdom...
Tevila Under Medical Constraints
In Hilchos Nida, the Shulchan Aruch rules (Y.D. 197:2): “If her husband is in town, it is a Mitzva for her to Tovel on time, to avoid abstaining from Pru uR’vu for even one night.” The Gemara (Nida 30a and Yoma 8a)...
Aliyos for Everyone!
On Simchas Torah, the Minhag is to call every person up to the Torah for an Aliya, including children. Those too young to recite the Brachos themselves are called up together for Kol haNe’arim...
Piskei Halacha of Maran Rav Asher Weiss Shlit”a: Yom Kippur for Cholim
A. General Guidelines Medical tests to determine whether a Choleh can fast A patientin a state of Safek Pikuach Nefesh can sometimes clarify whether he can fast safely through medical testing before Yom Kippur. For...
Mourning Matters
The effects of new medical discoveries and technologies on established Halachic principles have generated extensive debate. In certain areas, such as determining paternity or maternity through genetic testing...
Medicinal Music & Therapeutic Tunes
During this period, the question frequently emerges regarding the permissibility of listening to music for alleviating anxiety or for other therapeutic reasons. This essay will present the perspectives of various Poskim...
הרב ישראל מאיר מלכה