Jewish Law

The Ethics of Hiring and Firing

by Asher Meir | December 7, 2011 in Business & Politics

Starting in late 2007, the United States, together with much of the world, suffered a steep recession. While the economy began to recover in 2009, growth has not translated into new… Read more

What’s the Truth About…Seudah Shelishit?

by Ari Z. Zivotofsky | December 7, 2011 in Jewish Law

Misconception: One can fulfill the obligation to eat Seudah Shelishit (The Third Meal) on Shabbat by studying Torah in lieu of eating. FACT: The third Shabbat meal, Seudah Shelishit (colloquially… Read more

Charity In a Changed Economy: An Interview with Rabbi Hershel Schachter

by Gil Student | August 17, 2011 in Business & Politics

JA: How much money should one give to tzedakah? RHS: If one can afford it, the recommended amount is one-tenth of one’s annual earnings, which includes salary and interest earned. There are different… Read more

Halachic Decision Making in First Rank Posekim

by JA Mag | August 17, 2011 in Jewish Law

A debate between Rabbis Hillel Goldberg and Michael Broyde Rabbi Hillel Goldberg An exchange between Rabbis Aharon Lichtenstein and Aharon Feldman in the pages of Jewish Action (“Dear Reb Aharon,”… Read more

What’s the Truth About…Rashi’s Daughters?

by Ari Z. Zivotofsky | May 26, 2011 in Jewish Law

MISCONCEPTION: Rashi’s daughters wore tefillin. FACT: There is no evidence that Rashi’s daughters wore tefillin. BACKGROUND: Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, known colloquially as “Rashi,” is the commentator… Read more

Kidney Donation in Jewish Law: A Testimony to the Progress of Science and Medical Halachah

by Edward Reichman | October 29, 2010 in Jewish Law

The genesis of this essay began with an inquiry by the Jewish Action editors as to whether there is enough novel or substantive material about the halachic issues of living kidney donation to merit an… Read more

What’s the Truth about . . . the Parah Adumah?

by Ari Z. Zivotofsky | August 11, 2010 in Jewish Law

MISCONCEPTION: The person who sprinkles the ashes of a parah adumah (“red heifer”) on a tamei (ritually impure) person becomes tamei himself. FACT: Most of the people involved in preparing the ashes… Read more

What’s the Truth about . . . a Jew with a Tattoo Being Buried in a Jewish Cemetery?

by Ari Z. Zivotofsky | May 13, 2010 in Jewish Law

MISCONCEPTION: A Jew with a tattoo may not be buried in a Jewish cemetery. FACT: This belief has no basis in Jewish law. Just as a Jew who violated other Torah laws may be buried in a Jewish cemetery,… Read more

What’s the Truth About … the Kohen Gadol’s Rope?

by Ari Z. Zivotofsky | August 12, 2009 in Jewish Law

MISCONCEPTION: The Gemara relates that on Yom Kippur, when the Kohen Gadol entered the Kodesh Hakodashim (Holy of Holies) in the Beit Hamikdash (Temple), a rope was tied to his ankle so that in case… Read more

Chametz Sheavar Alav haPesach: The Supermarket Controversy

by Yaakov Luban | February 19, 2009 in Jewish Law

An exciting aspect of Torah study is the application of the age-old principles of halachah to the modern world in which we live. Thus, as an example, there is obviously no Talmudic discussion about… Read more

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