Halacha Headlines

How does Ayin Hara work, and what causes it? Is there a way to proactively protect yourself from an Ayin Hara? Is there a basis for the hand that people hang up for good luck, the red string or the blue eye? Does it help to say “bli ayin hara” and Poo Poo Poo? Are the services that are for hire to remove Ayin Hara legitimate, and how much do they cost?

Are the Halachos of Shmiras Einayim more lenient for women than for men, and if so, why? What’s the big deal about having thoughts, if they are only thoughts? Is it permitted for a woman to gaze at men? How – and from what age – should we educate our girls to stay away from inappropriate materials? Practically speaking, are the schools seeing this Shmiras Einayim problems in the girls?

Is there Kedusha on the har Habayis Nowadays? Can a טמא enter? Which טמאים can’t enter? Is the Kosel the wall of the עזרה or the הר הבית? Can you put your fingers into the wall of the Kosel? Are you a Rodeif if you go up to the Har Habayis?

What causes someone to be unhappy with their looks? Are our bodies halachically our own, such that we can do what we want with it? Can we take medications when we don’t understand how they work and when there are serious side effects? Should weight-loss injections be used only after trying to diet and control eating? Can we suppress our appetite if it will take away from Oneg Shabbos and Simchas Y...

Why are people getting psychologically sicker and sicker despite there being more therapists and more mental health awareness? How does having experienced “trauma” when younger impact one’s Bechirah Chofshis and being responsible for your own actions? Do therapists focus too much on “trauma”? Should podcasts, shiurim, etc. have “trigger warnings” to warn those with sensitivities that they should n...

Lacetop Sheitels – Response to callers Is a syndicator who is overly daring or reckless with their clients’ money required to use their own funds to compensate for the losses? What questions should an investor be asking?

What causes someone to become an extremist? Is extremism stronger now than 20-30 years ago? Are there similarities between Chareidi extremism, the Hilltop Youths and Leftists against Chareidim? If you don’t agree with a law, can you violate it? Are there times when extremism is warranted? Is being OTD another form of extremism? And are there ways to improve the system?

Teaching our children about the dangers of camp (and life) Should you teach or them, or should you shield them from exposure? Lacetop Sheitels in Halacha – Erase the Lace or Embrace the Lace? Is it a new question or an age old Machlokes? Voting In Halacha Can you vote for a candidate that’s personally immoral? Can you vote for a party that supports immoral values? Can you vote for a party that’s a...

Do all non-Jews hate us? Does exposure to the non-Jewish world help or hurt our children when they grow up? What are the hazards of teaching children negative attitudes about non-Jews? What separations did Chazal institute between us and non-Jews? Why did Chazal feel that was necessary? Do we need to be concerned with causing “Aivah” (animosity) with non-Jews, even if we are doing nothing wrong?

What’s the rationale to halachically permit targeted killings of Israel’s enemies? Is there any difference between a targeted killing during an active war and when there’s no active war being fought? What if there’s only a 10%, 20% or 30% chance that the target is where you think he is? Do you need to be concerned about collateral damage during a targeted killing? And, what if it could be signific...

Should you allow your daughter to go out with a boy who smokes or vapes? Is a smoker Possul Lei’dus? If your father asks you to buy him a pack of cigarettes are you allowed to listen? When a president loses his sanity does he lose his staus as a president? Would Halacha require an aging forgetful leader to step down? If the population loses their trust in the president (or leader) can they Halachi...

Is there an obligation to support a son (or son-in-law) in learning? If the father (or father-in-law) commits to support, can he get out of it, for example when business is bad? Does living comfortably facilitate or get in the way of quality learning? Is it best to fund the strongest learner, the neediest person, or a relative?

When does conversation between parents go from “discussing difficult issues” to being offensive and prohibited speech? Should parents avoid all conflict in front of their children? If there is ongoing tension between parents, should they attempt to hide it from the children? What’s the impact of bad Shalom Bayis on children? How should children handle when parents regularly fight?

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What are valid reasons to cancel on your chavrusa or to miss your daily shiur? How can you concentrate on your learning when you are stressed about life and so distracted? How do you keep on learning over the long-term? What gets people off-track from learning when they leave Yeshiva? How can an IDF solider learn when fighting in Gaza or on the Lebanon border?

Practical Halachos of Shemiras Einayim How to make Shemiras Einayim part of your life How to tun over a new leaf in your life Vayimaen Vayimaen Hotline: 1-718-970-7774

How do you handle a conflict between honoring in-laws and honoring your own parents? Are there times that married children need to listen to input from in-laws? Are there halachos about what to call your in-laws? What does a mother-in-law do when she sees deficiencies in her daughter-in-law Are there typically father-in-law issues, and if so, what? What are healthy boundaries, and how do you estab...

What keeps us spending when we can’t afford it? What’s the impact on children when parents have an expensive standard of living? Is there an obligation to refrain from looking at materialism which may tempt us? Can we spend on luxuries when people need tzedakah? What are the minimums required to celebrate a bar/bas mitzvah and a wedding? Can having a low-budget bar/bas mitzvah or wedding hurt our...

Using a whoop strap or a Fitbit What is the issur of electricity? Is there an Issur of increasing current to exisitng electricity? What’s called a מעשה regarding מלאכת שבת? Binyan in Keilim

Is Achdus a Halachic imperative, a Hashkafic concept or something else? What’s the definition of “Achdus”? Is it different from “Kiruv”? Can we outwardly express our disagreements? Should we look to have Achdus with groups and movements of Jews who have values that are antithetical to Torah?

What’s your favorite Pesach Devar Torah? Is there something unique you do at your seder? What do you do to prepare for Pesach? Is there something memorable that has happened to you at a seder?

Does Eretz Yisroel need an army or can it totally rely on Torah protection? Do we have responsibility to serve – besides the learning protection – like we find previous generations? The Bochurim who aren’t learning should they go to the army? Can we have Frum battalions run according to Torah? What’s are we going to do when the Chareidim are a majority?

What are the biggest challenges, struggles and difficulties confronting our boys today? How do those challenges differ from those of the girls? What impact are technology and alcohol consumption having on the boys? Should Gemara be the focus of yeshiva learning? What’s holding the boys back from performing at their best?

Should each of us be setting up Shidduchim? What are the biggest challenges and difficulties? Is the “shadchanus” fee only paid to a professional Shadchan, or even to beginners? What does the Shadchan need to do to earn the fee? Can you set up two non-observant Jews? One frum and one not frum? Two non-Jews? What advice do professional Shadchanim have for amateurs?

Is it permitted, forbidden or a Mitzvah? Are you מקיים פריה וריבה? Does it exempt you from חליצה? Is there an issue of ניוול המת? Is there an issue of הנאה ממת? Is there an issue of ביטול מצוות קבורה? Are there any moral issues?