Law/Halachah
The Gray Matter Halacha series has emerged as a premier source for in-depth Halachic discussion. Rabbi Chaim Jachter selects topics of relevance and interest to contemporary Jews and, in his characteristically clear and readable style, comprehensively surveys the issues and the varying views of contemporary scholars. Instead of simply presenting the rules, Rabbi Jachter fully explains the sources of the Halacha from the Gemara, to the Rishonim and Acharonim and then to current rabbinic authorities. Rabbi Jachter has created a new style of Halachic literature which not only tells you what to do but allows readers to understand how and why great rabbis arrive at their conclusions, including a wide range of Halachic authorities.
A stunningly wide-range of topics are addressed in this volume, including: the bracha on granola, the Halachic Date Line, Beit Din basics, programming a self-driving car to kill one to save many, and performing a get procedure via Zoom.
“From the sources of Halachah, a new worldview awaits formulation.”
With this one line, Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik captured a powerful telos for talmud Torah: to shape our perspective on the world and its challenges, and to point us in the right direction to navigate them successfully. Properly understood, pesukim, sugyos, and psakim convey not just what to do to satisfy the demands of the halachic system, but how to think about everything we do in life. According to this view, Torah imparts the ideals and values that Hashem wants us to bring to bear on society; halachah affords us the opportunity to think about and reinforce those ideals and values through practice.
But while Rav Soloveitchik — and Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch before him — championed this perspective, there is still much work that needs to be done to apply it. This sefer attempts to reveal, in an accessible style, the power and beauty of this approach, tackling topics such as bris milah, berachos, beis k’nesses/beis midrash, hashavas aveidah, and the holidays of Sukkos and Pesach, to draw out “worldviews” from these “sources of Halachah.”
Tzvi Goldstein attended Yeshivat Hakotel as a talmid before studying at Yeshiva University. Learning mainly from Rav Mayer Twersky, Rav Mordechai Willig, and Rav Michael Rosensweig, he graduated with a degree in psychology and went to Israel to continue learning for semichah, ultimately deciding to make aliyah. He has been teaching since then at Yeshivat Hakotel.
Tzvi is passionate about uncovering the relevance of Torah to life, and dedicates his time to assisting talmidim in finding and committing to their unique role as part of the Jewish People. He is blessed to be married to Jeanette and father to Avraham, Yosef, and Ephraim.
The discussions begin with “What are the parameters of the obligation to guard health?” but don’t end there. This incredible work — the fruit of years of specialization in medical halachah by Rabbi Micha Cohn — covers a wide range of topics, such as preserving health and safety, mental health, technology, genetics, end-of-life issues, and much more.
In his encyclopedic and engaging style, Rabbi Cohn finds sources, parallels, and examples from the length and breadth of Jewish life and scholarship to illustrate contemporary questions and issues. Though extremely practical, Healing in Halachah is not a common guide to medical halachah; it is a unique, thought-provoking overview and appreciation of these complex issues. Of great interest to patients, caregivers, and medical professionals, this valuable work is an indispensable resource to all those fascinated with Torah guidance in the realms of medicine and mental health.
“The purpose of this work is to open the eyes of the reader…and give direction as to when and how to present questions to a halachic authority.”
Rabbi Reuven Feinstein, Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva of Staten Island
“Truly an amazing work!”
Rabbi Dovid Cohen, Rav, Bais Medrash Gevul Yaavetz
“This is an important work, written with great depth, especially [regarding] end of life according to halachah.”
Rabbi Noach Issac Oelbaum, Rav, Kahal Nachlas Yitzchok
Rabbi Micha Cohn is the rav of Bais Medrash Kol Yaakov of Oakley Hills in Jackson, New Jersey, a maggid shiur at the Mesivta of Long Beach, and a posek for Kof-K Kashrus Supervision. Rabbi Cohn has a longstanding interest in halachah relating to medicine and mental health. As a close talmid of Rav Dovid Feinstein, zt”l, he had the opportunity to discuss many intricate questions in medical halachah with the rosh yeshiva. In 2012, Rabbi Cohn started a medical halachah email for medical and mental health providers. In 2016, the emails were adapted into Healing in Halachah, volume 1, and was published by Mosaica Press. This is the second volume in this series.
The Laws and Customs of Mezuzah
for Ashkenazim and Sefardim
Clearly Presented with Detailed Illustrations
The emblem of a Jewish home, a mezuzah is a constant reminder of our connection to Hashem. Chazal teach that it offers continual protection, both in the home and outside, and that it is associated with long life. The mitzvah of mezuzah is in force at all times, and it is important for it to be done right. This sefer was written to increase awareness of the many facets of this mitzvah and to serve as a comprehensive guide to its performance.
In a beautiful format and with clear and simple language, Rabbi Churba covers a wide range of topics - from the spirit of the mitzvah to its concrete details. Cutting-edge architectural illustrations bring the halacha to life and make the learning easier and more enjoyable. Extensively researched and well organized, this book provides the essential information you need to fulfill the mitzvah properly.
100+ images illustrating scenarios
The Rarest Blue tells the incredible story of tekhelet, the elusive sky-blue color mentioned throughout the Bible. Minoans discovered it; Phoenicians stole it; Roman emperors revered it; and Jews--obeying a commandment to affix a thread of it to their garments--risked their lives for it. But as the Roman Empire dissolved, the color vanished. Then, in the nineteenth century, a marine biologist marveled as yellow snail guts smeared on a fisherman's shirt turned blue. But what had caused this incredible transformation? Meanwhile, a Hasidic master obsessed with the ancient technique posited that the source of the dye was no snail but a squid. Bitter controversy divided European Jews until a brilliant rabbi proved one side wrong. But had an unscrupulous chemist deceived them? In this richly illustrated book, Baruch Sterman brilliantly recounts the amazing story of this sacred dye that changed the color of history.
The industry of software development is one that is extremely complex. Its intricate aspects are understood only by those in the industry and, as such, have led to significant issues which are overlooked by the consumer. Situations very often arise where unbeknownst to the consumer, he is given a product which is ill-suited to his needs. Oftentimes, the vendors themselves are unaware of these issues. These situations lead to some very serious Choshen Mishpat concerns which have not yet been adequately addressed. Additionally, there are a host of other standard industry procedures- some bordering on fraudulent- which raise considerable Halachic concerns.
In this ground-breaking sefer, the author, in consultation with prominent Rabbanim and Dayanim, explores the issues above as well as many other related topics in depth. The author is an experienced software engineer who has successfully designed and marketed cutting edge programs to major corporations. He is also a technology consultant and has advised and helped prominent businesses find solutions to their technological needs. With his years of experience in these fields, he has a vast knowledge and nuanced understanding of everything related to software design, marketing, purchasing and program implementation. As such, he is uniquely qualified to address these points from a variety of angles.
This eye-opening sefer contains a wealth of practical information which will be of great benefit to all those involved in programming, selling or purchasing software, as well as anyone looking to gain an understanding and awareness of the modern-day application of Choshen Mishpat.
Touro University: Medical Halachah Annual Volume 1
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Written by experts in the field, this journal is an exploration of the intersection of halachah, medical ethics, and contemporary medical issues, and offers insights into the application of halachic principles to complex medical situations.
Foreword
Alan Kadish, MD
Editor’s Preface
Edward Lebovics, MD
Risk Assessment in Halachah
Rabbi Mayer Twersky
Management of Profound Multi-Organ Failure
Rabbi Prof. Avraham Steinberg, MD
Allocation of Scarce Resources
Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz
Adult ECMO and Mechanical Circulatory Support
Jonah (Yonah) Rubin, MD; Rabbi Dr. Jason Wiener, BCC
Halachah’s View of the Requirement to Follow the Established Standard of Care
Rabbi Moshe Rotberg
Medical Uncertainty in Halachah
Rabbi Boruch Fogel
COVID-19 Vaccines: Clinical Trials
Rabbi Dr. Zvi Loewy
Bikkur Cholim and the Contagious Patient
Rabbi Ephraim Glatt, Esq.; Rabbi Aaron E. Glatt, MD
The Role of Medical Expertise and Rabbanim in the Pandemic
Rabbi Ahron Lopiansky
Confronting the Pandemic in the Community
Rabbi Mordechai Willig
Dishonest Acquisition of Potentially Life-Saving Care
Rabbi Yossi Sprung; Judah Eisenman
Vaccinating Adults and Children against COVID-19 in Israel and the US
Zvi Ryzman
Vaccine Hesitancy in the Orthodox Jewish Community
Sarah H.D. Becker, MD
Othering the Jews during the Calamitous Black Death of the 14th Century and the COVID-19 Pandemic of the 21st Century
Margot Lurie; Edward C. Halperin, MD, MA
Halakha is the all-encompassing source of normative Jewish conduct, and values and ethics are among Judaism's most important and fundamental aims. In this volume, Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein masterfully plots the interplay of law and ethics. Drawing on his vast knowledge of classic Jewish sources, the analytic depth of the Brisker tradition, and his wide grasp of Western scholarship and thought, Rabbi Lichtenstein charts how values are intertwined with the details of Halakha and inform its general worldview. Exploring such topics as the relationship between individual and community, the extent to which Halakha encourages or demands altruism, and the role of humanistic concerns in practical halakhic determination, Rabbi Lichtenstein analyzes rulings of halakhic giants in context of the relevant source material. The result is a first-of-its kind study that offers a lucid yet extensive presentation of detailed halakhic points that combine to form a broad tapestry of the most basic questions of values in Halakha.
