פרשת קרח תש”פ המצוה הראשונה עליה נצטווה האדם היא מצות “פריה ורביה”. במצוה זו מצינו שתי מחלוקות יסודיות. שתיהן נמצאות במשנה במסכת יבמות (ו, ו): “לא יבטל אדם מפריה ורביה אלא אם כן יש לו בנים. בית...
Yom Kippur 5780
Rabbi Yosef SprungRisky Business: Easing the COVID-19 Restrictions
Beha’aloscha (Naso) 5780 We are living in challenging and confusing times. Our world has slowly begun to emerge from the first wave of a deadly pandemic and the global economy which was brought to a grinding halt...
Of Mice and Pens – Writing Medical Records on Shabbos
Shelach (Behaalotcha) 5780 The Melacha of Koseiv – writing (Mishna Shabbos 7:2) is derived from the Meleches haMishkan (the acts used in constructing the Mishkan) where letters were inscribed upon the Mishkan’s beams to...
How Far Must You Go? Tircha and Mitzvos
Korach 5780 The first Mitzva that we were commanded to observe is Pru uRevu – procreation. There are two important disputes with regard to Pru uRevu, both recorded in the Mishna in Maseches Yevamos (6:6). Firstly, Beis...
Medical Practitioners & Critical Decisions
Bereishit 5780 In this week’s Parsha, Hashem rebukes Kayin for the murder of his brother Hevel: “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground!” (Bereishis 4:10) This...
May a Woman Refuse Fertility Treatment?
Noach 5780 “And you, be fruitful and multiply and fill the land.” (Bereishis 9:1) The Mitzva of Pru uRevu (procreation) is considered to be one of the central and most important Mitzvos. Sefer haChinuch (Mitzva 1)...
Delaying a Bris Mila for Jaundice – Science vs. Chaza”l
Lech lecha 5780 “This is My covenant that you shall preserve between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and that shall...
Bikur Cholim via Telephone: Technique vs. “Tachlis”
Vayeira 5780 “Hashem appeared to him in the plains of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of the tent in the heat of the day.” (Bereishis 18:1) Rashi explains that Hashem appeared to Avraham for the purposes of...
Triage Priorities – Does Age Matter?
Chayei Sara 5780 “And Avraham was old, advanced in years, and Hashem had blessed Avraham with everything.” (Bereishis 24:1) Honor and respect for the elderly is a hallmark of Judaism. Unlike other cultures that worship...
Hidden Matters – “Gender Reveal” in Halacha
Toldot 5780 “And the children agitated within her, and she said, ‘If so, why am I thus?’ And she went to inquire of Hashem.” (Bereishis 25:22) In recent years, prenatal ultrasound imaging (as well as other advanced...
