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...
Yom Kippur 5780
Rabbi Yosef SprungGot Milk? – Timtum haLev and Non-Jewish Milk Donors
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...
Weighty Matters
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]...
Guide to Hilchos for Cholim – Part 3
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...
Eating Matza in the Hospital on Erev Pesach sheChal b’Shabbos
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...
Half-Flesh, Half-Earth
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...
No Smoking Allowed – Even on Purim
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...
Remember! Parshas Zachor for Cholim
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...
Piskei haGaon Rav Asher Weiss Shlit”a On Hearing Aids and Other Auditory Devices
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of the public, R’ Yaakov Nirenberg Shlit”a, a member of the Beis Medrash, has compiled a summary of several as-yet unpublished rulings from haGaon Rav Asher Weiss Shlit”a concerning the use of hearing...
Analog and Digital Hearing Aids on Shabbos
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...
Rabbi Yosef Sprung