Question: Is it forbidden to look into someone else's garden just as it is forbidden to look into someone's house? Answer: It is forbidden to look into another Jew’s yard and watch the people there (Ramo, C.M. 154:3, 154:7). If your Jewish neighbor will minimize his activities as a result, it is as if you…

Question: Why did Yehuda sentence Tamar to death? First, since when does circumstantial evidence (her pregnancy) allow a court to sentence someone to death? Second, even if circumstantial evidence was sufficient, her only aveira was yevomo lashuk, which is a stam lav, carrying no more than malkos, unless she was regarded as a Bas Noach…

Question: As a mourner, is it permissible for me to go to a Chanukah party or a bar mitzvah? Answer: A Chanukah party is often meant to be a light-hearted social event and is therefore inappropriate for a mourner.[1] You may go to a bar mitzvah to which you were invited in order to wish…

Question: Answer:   למחנ''א שלוחין סימן י''א דין יד פועל כיד בעה''ב דמי ליד עבד כיד רבו שגופם קנוי לרבם דשכירות הוי ממכר ליומיה, וממילא קנינו של פועל מהני לרבו אף שהוא חב לאחרים. וממילא פועל א''צ לכוין לזכות לבעה''ב ואף אם מכוין לזכות לעצמו מהני משא''כ בשליחות דלא מהני בחב לאחרים או כשמכוין לזכות…

Question: I just got a new toaster, and when I was going to open it, I discovered that the screw head is not a standard one; I'll need a Torx® Key to open it. In case you don't know, a Torx® key is exactly like a screwdriver, except that instead of a flat head or…

Question: My friends were in a store at the Malcha mall in Jerusalem and the clerk in a certain store told them that a customer left two brand new books in their store and they weren't able to return them to this anonymous customer since they didn't know who it was. They put up a…

Question: A friend borrowed some money and I have a signed document to prove it. I have decided to forgo the debt and let my friend keep it as a monetary gift. I have drafted a letter and wish to deliver it: Dear Friend, I have decided to waive my right to collect the loan…

Question: Strangely enough, a scallion plant sprouted in the middle of our lawn after Rosh Hashonoh. I have no idea when it took root, but chances are it was before Rosh Hashonoh (I am guessing it came in with the grass). Due to the uncertainty, should I assume that issur sefichim applies to it? If…

Question: Is a banana a yerek for shemittah in terms of basar lekita and in terms of issur sefichim? What about an avocado? Answer: Bananas are not included in the issur of sefichim since they will grow on the plant even after some are harvested. In this sense they are more similar to the fruit…