Water that has changed its appearance, as, for example, when ink falls into it, is unfit for washing hands before meals. If it has changed its appearance because it has stood still for a long period of time, there are poskim who are lenient and allow its use. We learn this from the laws pertaining…
According to the Rambam, every Jewish man is obligated to set time aside during the day and during the night to learn Torah, as it is written (Yehoshua 1:8), “…you should contemplate it day and night…”, whether he be rich or poor, at peace or afflicted, young or weak with age—even if he is supported…
There is an opinion that it is forbidden to move a mezuzah on Shabbos because it is מוקצה מחמת חסרון כיס (unmovable because of its high value). Nevertheless, if a mezuzah falls from its case on Shabbos and lies in a place which is inconsistent with the respect we should feel for it, it is…
When commenting, in writing, on the opinion of a talmid Chochom, a person should be careful to express his objections in a way that demonstrates respect and humility. Just as it is forbidden to speak disrespectfully of a talmid chochom, it is forbidden to write in a way that is disrespectful. The prohibition of showing…
“And I will punish all that oppress them.” Even those responsible for collecting charity will be punished for forcing contributions from the poor, except for the payment of school fees so that their children can learn Torah and Mishnah. (Midrash Rabbah, Parshas Emor 30) A person is obligated to hire a teacher to teach his…
From the verse “Hear the causes of your brethren…” (Devarim 1:16), Chazal learned that the claims of litigants should not be heard by the court unless both are present. A litigant that presents his case when the other is not present is likely to lie—there is no one present to contradict him—and once the judge…
A person should teach his children to answer “amen” because as soon as a child answers "amen" he has a portion in the world to come. According to Rashi, "amen" (ןמא is an anagram: ןמאנ ךלמ לא) and upon answering "amen," a person accepts upon himself the yoke of Heaven. We answer "amen" after a blessing recited…
According to the midrash (Yalkut Shimoni 429) the wicked in gehenom who recite amen even once are released: In the future, G-d will be sitting in the Garden of Eden teaching Torah and all the tzaddikim will be sitting before Him. When He is done, Zerrubabel Ben Shealtiel will get up and say yisgadal veyiskadash…
Some kinds of fruits were developed by grafting a branch of one breed onto a tree of another breed. Such grafting is forbidden. Because the fruits which grew from the grafted branch were produced in violation of the Torah Law, even if they were grafted by a gentile, the poskim are divided on the matter…
Besides the Torah prohibition of hating or showing disrespect for a fellow Jew, it is a very great averah to show disrespect for talmidei chochomim or to hate them, and a person who shows disrespect for a talmid chochom has no portion in the world to come. It is as though he has scorned the…