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Unpacking the Complex Concept of Minhag Hamakom
All of Am Yisrael were given the same Torah. However, when observing Jewish society, we see many distinct cultures and communities that seemingly have different practices – why is this? The answer to this, is that alongside our laws, throughout our centuries-long history, different practices in different communities have developed. The term used to describe…
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How Is Divorce Perceived in the Torah?
One thing that sets Judaism apart from many other religions and traditions is the centrality of marriage. There isn’t a notion that people who are married, raise children, and are concerned with creating a home are less focused on spirituality than those who live celibate lives. In fact, marriage is considered a holy union that…
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Explaining The Prohibition of Kol Isha
In Shir Hashirim, the allegorical love song between Hashem and His chosen people, Shlomo Hamelech praises the beauty of the woman’s voice: …Ki koleich arev – because your voice is sweet. It is from these words that the Gemara learns the dictum that kol b’isha ervah, a principle which often rings offensive to the modern…
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When Can Women Serve as Witnesses?
Women are entrusted with the most crucial roles in Jewish life. Raising and educating children, ensuring the standard of kashrut and a stringent observance of family purity are central to preserving Jewish families and communities – and these mitzvot rely on the reliability and dedication of women. Why, then, are there cases in which women…
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Wigs and Avoda Zara
How a woman covers her hair after marriage is a deeply personal decision. An array of options exist, and each carries with it various social and cultural messages. One form of head covering, common in many communities around the world, is the use of a wig, or sheitel. In this article we will examine some…
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Ervah: Definition, Implications and Meaning
The concept of boundaries is emphasised throughout the Torah; what we can and can’t eat, whom we can and can’t marry, when and how to bring offerings, and the list goes on. At first glance, it’s a rather restrictive lifestyle filled with stringent rules. Upon deeper inspection, however, we find that the halachic framework set…
