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Can a Woman Give a Psak Halacha?
One of the remarkable traits of halacha is how it is applied to every aspect of our lives, on the personal, communal and global levels. Due to the dynamic nature of life and development, we will often be faced with halachic questions (sheilot) and sometimes will need to seek guidance and rulings from a competent
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Is Kollel the Ideal Way of Life?
Considering that a man has an obligation to support his wife and children, and that a woman cannot be forced to work, one may wonder how it is that the kollel phenomenon developed. The answer is simple: it is a joint decision, made out of love and honor between the couple, with the support of…
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On the Biblical Origins and Effectiveness of Shidduchim
Shidduchim are an age-old tradition with very real biblical sources…
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Is Jealousy Always an Undesirable Trait?
Is jealousy inherently negative? At first glance, it seems so…
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Is the Blessing “Who Did Not Make Me a Woman” Derogatory?
The blessing focuses on an aspect of one’s identity and is not meant to degrade women, but rather as an expression of gratitude on the part of men for being obligated in more mitzvot than women, as women are exempt from positive, time-bound mitzvot. Rav Chaim David HaLevy emphasizes that it is a reminder to…
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Childless: Understanding the Barren Women of Tanach
The women in Tanach laid the foundation for us through their ruchniyut and their connection to the Creator. Many of these women overcame challenges and none more all-encompassing and devastating than the challenge of infertility. The infertility experienced by our ancestors not only threatened the existence of the Jewish people but also the existence of…
