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...
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Guidelines for Rosh Hashana for Patients
By the Rabbanim of the Beis Medrash Gavoha l’Halacha u’Refua Shli’ach Tzibur 1. The Shli’ach Tzibur must stand throughout the Tefila, not just Chazaras haShatz.[1] Therefore, a weak or elderly person shouldn’t serve as...
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...
It’s All About the Timing
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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האם מותר לרופא לסרב לבצע ניתוח מסוכן בחולה טרמינלי?
לא תראה את שור אחיך או את שיו נדחים והתעלמת מהם, השב תשיבם לאחיך. ואם לא קרוב אחיך אליך ולא ידעתו, ואספתו אל תוך ביתך והיה עמך עד דרוש אחיך אותו והשבותו לו. וכן תעשה לחמורו, וכן תעשה לשמלתו, וכן תעשה לכל אבדת אחיך אשר...
Newborn Screening on Shabbos
Many nurses have asked recently about performing the newborn metabolic screening test on Shabbos. Newborn screening is intended to detect an extensive list of serious but treatable medical conditions.[1] Early diagnosis...
Halachic Guidelines for Shiva Asar b’Tammuz for the Ill, Elderly, Pregnant or Nursing Women, and Medical Professionals
Five things befell our ancestors on the 17th of Tamuz… the Luchos were broken, the [daily offering of the] Korban Tamid ceased, the [walls of Jerusalem were]breached, Apostomus burned the Torah, and he set up an...
Holy Texts
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...
“Lest I Sleep the Sleep of Death”: Birchas haMapil before Anesthesia
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...
Too Early To Count?
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...