Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir, Author at Jewish Holidays

Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir

Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir is one of the Jewish world's best-known lecturers and educators in the area of business ethics. Rabbi Dr Meir is known by a wide audience from his Ethics@Work column in the Jerusalem Post, through the popular syndicated column "The Jewish Ethicist," and through his lectures and books. His extensive background includes being educated at Harvard, and obtaining a Ph.D. in economics from MIT. He has worked on the staff of the Council of Economic Advisers in the Regan Administration. His rabbinic ordination is from the Israeli Chief Rabbinate. Rabbi Dr Meir's works combine a professional grasp of the detailed workings of the 21st century economy with a highly-developed sensitivity to the eternal ethical messages of Jewish law and tradition. For a number of years he served as a Senior Lecturer in economics and business ethics at the Jerusalem College of Technology. Rabbi Meir's first book, The Jewish Ethicist, was released in February 2005 and rapidly obtained remarkable reviewer approval. The American Library Association's Booklist applauded it as "an important source of ethical insights for Jews and non-Jews alike," while the Jewish Press noted that the author "combines up-to-the-minute knowledge of his field with thousands of years of Jewish tradition." Rabbi Meir's second book, Meaning in Mitzvot, distributed by Feldheim, provides insights into the deeper spiritual and ethical meanings of the daily practices of Jewish law, has been warmly received by readers. Dr Meir is a regular member of the Ethics Committee of the Prime Minister's office, and of the Israel Economic Association. He has spoken as an invited expert before the Knesset Law Committee. He is a frequent speaker at professional gatherings on business and economic ethics, as well as a lecturer for popular audiences.

Owning Stock in a Company that Possesses Chametz During Pesach

March 20, 2017, by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir

Definition of the Problem The halakhic discussion regarding shares in a chametz-owning business during Pesach revolves around three distinct prohibitions: “Bal yera’eh u-val yimatzeh:” the Torah prohibition to own chametz during Pesach – even if we do not derive any benefit from it; Issur hana’a: the Torah prohibition against deriving benefit from chametz on Pesach – even […]

The Obligation to Sleep on Purim

March 2, 2014, by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir

One of the lesser-known duties of the Purim holiday is the obligation to sleep. This obligation is mentioned explicitly in the Rema: “A person should drink more than he his accustomed to, so that he may sleep” (OC 695:2). The source for this obligation is the statement of Rava, that a person is obligated “livsumei […]

The “Missing Yom Tov” of Chanukah

December 10, 2012, by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir

One of the special laws of the shemitta year is the prohibition of sefichin – grains and vegetables which were not planted in the seventh year but rather grew by themselves as the after-growth of the sixth year. For most produce, the prohibition of sefichin extends until Chanukah (Yerushalmi Demai 2:1, Rambam Shemitta 4:6). In […]

Benefit from Chanuka Light

November 15, 2012, by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir

Two of the best-known candle-lighting customs are the Chanuka lights and the candle by which we search for chametz on Pesach eve. On the face of it these two mitzvot could not be more opposite. The candle at Pesach eve is entirely utilitarian, in order to help us find chametz, and its entire character is […]

Beating the Aravot on Hoshana Rabba

September 28, 2012, by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir

On the last day of Sukkot, Hoshana Rabba, we beat a bundle of willow branches (actually one is enough) on the floor (SA OC 664:4). The source for this “beating” is in the gemara (Sukka 44b) which states that the custom was to CHABIT the willow branches. Rashi explains that CHABIT means to wave them, […]

Seudah Hamafseket on Shabbat-Erev Tisha b’Av

July 21, 2012, by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir

Normally, the last meal eaten before the Tish’ b’Av fast is supposed to be a spare meal eaten in solitude, since the mourning of Tish’a b’Av begins already the day before. (In fact, the mourning customs begin already three weeks earlier, and then intensify beginning with the month of Av and then further with the […]

Avoiding Danger During the Three Weeks

July 6, 2012, by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir

The three weeks between the seventeenth of Tammuz and Tish’a b’Av, between the anniversary of the breach of the wall of Yerushalayim and the anniversary of the destruction of the Mikdash, are a period of mourning. But this time is also considered a period of special danger: “Caution is needed from the 17th of Tammuz […]

Tu B’Shvat and Shabbat Shira

January 25, 2012, by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir

Rav Natan of Breslav writes: “Tu BiShvat is always adjacent to Shabbat Shira, and sometimes it falls on Shabbat Shira itself” (as it does about 30% of the time). Rav Natan explains this proximity in an involved Chasidic digression (Likutei Halakhot Orla 3), based on a teaching of his Rebbe, Rav Nachman of Breslav (Likutei […]

Selichot Prior to Rosh HaShanah

January 18, 2005, by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir

The custom of saying selichot (penitential prayers) during the Days of Repentance is quite an ancient one, and is mentioned already in the time of the Geonim, who lived only a few generations after the last Amoraim (sages of the Talmud). The Ran (commentary on the Rif on Rosh HaShanah 3a) mentions three different customs […]

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Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir