In this week’s Parsha, we read about the fateful meeting between Ya’akov Avinu and his estranged brother, Eisav. In the course of Ya’akov’s preparations, Pasuk 32:23 describes how he assisted his two wives, two maidservants and eleven children cross the Yabok River. … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: November 2012
The Beracha on Doughnuts and Sufganiyot
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The traditional Sufganiya, and all doughnuts, present an interesting conundrum in Hilchos Berachos for G-d fearing Jews. The Shulchan Aruch in Orach Chaim 168:13 states that any boiled or deep-fried dough is automatically Mezonos and not HaMotzi. However, he subsequently quotes a … Continue reading
Parshas Toldos-Appreciating Rashi
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When I first came to learn in Eretz Yisroel as a young bachur, I learned in the Brisker Yeshiva of HaRav Dovid Soloveitzik shlita. One of the highlights of Yeshiva is Reb Dovid’s Friday night Chumash Shiur, where he would frequently instruct us … Continue reading
Frying Schnitzels
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The following is a very stimulating question I was recently asked: I was frying schnitzels on the stovetop in three different frying pans, and realized afterwards that one of the pans was Milchig. Not only was that pan Milchig, it had been … Continue reading
Dividing Challa
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It is well known that there is a minimum quantity of dough that must be mixed to obligate the separation of Challa, especially with a Beracha. It is somewhat less publicized that if one created a sufficient amount but with the … Continue reading
An Urgent Hurricane Notice Regarding the Kesuba
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Among the many things on the minds of those attempting to recover in Sandy’s wake, I would like to mention a Halachic point that I suspect few people have considered. Halacha dictates that a married couple must be in constant … Continue reading