Rabbi Jachter's Halacha Files
(and other Halachic compositions)

A Student Publication of the Torah Academy of Bergen County

Here's a list of previous halacha files sorted by topic.

Food

Bishul (Cooking)
-I-Introduction to Bishul, from Volume 10 Number 7: Noach
-II-Making Tea on Shabbat, from Volume 10 Number 8: Lech Lecha
-III-Ein Bishul Achar Bishul, from Volume 10 Number 9: Vayera
-IV-Hagasa and Shehiya, from Volume 10 Number 10: Chayei Sarah
-V-Hachazara and Hatmana, from Volume 10 Number 11: Toldot
-Bishul Akum, from Volume 12 Number 16: Mishpatim
-Cooking Milk and Meat in One Oven, from Volume 9 Number 33: Shavuot

Food-Related Issurim
-Chadash Observance Today, from Volume 10 Number 24: Ki Tisa
-Lechem Mishneh, from Volume 11 Number 18: Mishpatim
-Dairy Bread, from Volume 11 Number 27: Bemidbar
-Restaurants Serving Meat During the Nine Days, from Volume 11 Number 29: Behaalotcha
-Chalav Yisrael - Part I, from Volume 13 Number 7: Bereishit
-Chalav Yisrael - Part II, from Volume 13 Number 8: Noach
-Chalav Yisrael - Part III, from Volume 13 Number 9: Lech Lecha
-Gevinat Akum - Part I, from Volume 13 Number 10: Vayera
-Gevinat Akum - Part II, from Volume 13 Number 11: Chayei Sarah
-Milk and Meat - Part I, from Volume 13 Number 13: Vayetzei
-Milk and Meat - Part II, from Volume 13 Number 14: Vayishlach
-Milk and Meat - Part III, from Volume 13 Number 19: Bo
-Pat Akum - Part I, from Volume 14 Number 2: Haazinu and Rosh Hashana
-Pat Akum - Part II, from Volume 14 Number 3: Yom Kippur
-Pat Akum - Part III, from Volume 14 Number 4: Sukkot and Bereshit
-The Bracha on One Slice of Pizza, from Volume 14 Number 38
-I-The Appropriate Berachah for Papaya and Raspberries, from Volume 15 Number 22
-II-The Appropriate Berachah for Papaya and Raspberries, from Volume 15 Number 23

Hashkafic Issues

Internet
-Introduction to Internet Chatting, from Volume 11 Number 17: Yitro

Music
-Torah Passages in Song, from Volume 16 Number 1
-Jewish Perspectives on Music, from Volume 13 Number 32: Behar-Bechukotai

Emunah
-Rebel, Rebel; A Guide on How to Ask Questions, from Volume 12 Number 17: Teruma
-Strengthening Our Belief in Hashem and His Beautiful Torah, from Volume 13 Number 31

Israel

Army
-Prime Minister or Rosh Yeshiva?, from Volume 10 Number 34: Naso
-I-Halachic Perspectives on Civilian Casualties, from Volume 17 Number 16
-II-Halachic Perspectives on Civilian Casualties, from Volume 17 Number 17
-III-Halachic Perspectives on Civilian Casualties, from Volume 17 Number 18

Miscellanous Israel Topics
-The Halachic Status of Medinat Yisrael, from Volume 9 Number 28: Kedoshim
-How We Can Help Medinat Yisrael Now, from Volume 11 Number 5: Bereishit
-Hallel on Yom Haatzmaut, from Volume 11 Number 24: Tazria-Metzora
-Living in Yesha during Dangerous Times, from Volume 12 Number 14: Bo
-Performing Kria upon Seeing the Mikdash, Jerusalem, and Judean Cities, from Volume 12 Number 27: Kedoshim
-I-The Conflict between Rav Shimon ben Shetach and Yanai HaMelech – Implications for our Relationship with Medinat Yisrael, from Volume 14 Number 11: Vayishlach
-II-The Conflict between Rav Shimon ben Shetach and Yanai HaMelech – Implications for our Relationship with Medinat Yisrael, from Volume 14 Number 12: Vayeshev
-I-Rabi Akiva - The Inspiration for Religious Zionism Part I from Volume 15 Number 29: Tazria & Metzora
-II-Rabi Akiva - The Inspiration for Religious Zionism Part II from Volume 15 Number 30: Acherei Mot- Kedoshim
-II-Rabi Akiva - The Inspiration for Religious Zionism Part III from Volume 15 Number 31: Emor
-Must Diaspora Jews Make Aliyah? from Volume 17 Number 32

Shmittah
-I-Heter Mechira, from Volume 16 Number 29
-II-Heter Mechira, from Volume 16 Number 30
-I-Shmittah 5761 - Part I, from Volume 16 Number 27
-II-Shmittah 5761 - Part II, from Volume 16 Number 28

Modern Issues

Brit Milah
-I-Modern Brit Milah Issues - Part One, from Volume 11 Number 8: Vayera
-II-Modern Issues in Brit Milah, from Volume 11 Number 9: Chayei Sarah
-III-Modern Issues in Brit Milah, from Volume 11 Number 10: Toldot

Internet
-Kinyan on the Internet, from Volume 9 Number 24: Tzav

Korbanot
-Can We Offer Korbanot Today?, from Volume 10 Number 20: Yitro

Medicine
-I-Taking Medicine on Shabbat, from Volume 10 Number 15: Miketz
-II-Taking Medicine on Shabbat, from Volume 10 Number 16: Vayigash
-Taking Medicine in a Gel-Cap, from Volume 10 Number 18: Bo
-I-Cosmetic Surgery – A Review of Four Classic Teshuvot, from Volume 14 Number 17
-II-Cosmetic Surgery – A Review of Four Classic Teshuvot, from Volume 14 Number 18
-I-Permanent and Semi-Permanent Makeup - Cosmetic Tattooing, from Volume 14 Number 19
-II-Permanent and Semi-Permanent Makeup - Cosmetic Tattooing, from Volume 14 Number 20
-III-Permanent and Semi-Permanent Makeup - Cosmetic Tattooing, from Volume 14 Number 21
-I-Medicines that Contain Non-Kosher Ingredients or Chametz, from Volume 14 Number 34
-II-Medicines that Contain Non-Kosher Ingredients or Chametz, from Volume 14 Number 35
-III-Medicines that Contain Non-Kosher Ingredients or Chametz, from Volume 14 Number 36
-IV-Medicines that Contain Non-Kosher Ingredients or Chametz, from Volume 14 Number 37
-I-High-Risk Medical Procedures, from Volume 15 Number 9
-II-High-Risk Medical Procedures, from Volume 15 Number 10
-III-High-Risk Medical Procedures, from Volume 15 Number 11
-IV-High-Risk Medical Procedures, from Volume 15 Number 12
-I-The Prohibition to Smoke, from Volume 15 Number 13
-II-The Prohibition to Smoke, from Volume 15 Number 16
-III-The Prohibition to Smoke, from Volume 15 Number 17
-Revealing Painful Medical Truths to Patients, from Volume 15 Number 18
-Torah Perspectives on Insurance, from Volume 15 Number 35
-Medicine in the Gemara (by Elli Friedman), from Volume 10 Number 3: Nitzavim-Vayelech
-I-Organ Transplants - Kidney and Cornea Transplants, from Volume 17 Number 21
-II-Organ Transplants - Skin Transplants, from Volume 17 Number 22

Science and Torah
-Embryonic Stem Cell Research, from Volume 11 Number 26: Behar Bechukotai
-Bullfighting and Visiting a Zoo, from Volume 11 Number 11: Vayishlach
-I-Torah Perspectives on Cloning, from Volume 14 Number 6: Lech Lecha
-II-Torah Perspectives on Cloning, from Volume 14 Number 7: Vayera
-I-The Role of Archaeology in Halachic Decision Making, from Volume 14 Number 22
-II-The Role of Archaeology in Halachic Decision Making, from Volume 14 Number 23
-III-The Role of Archaeology in Halachic Decision Making, from Volume 14 Number 24
-IV-The Role of Archaeology in Halachic Decision Making, from Volume 14 Number 25
-I-Sonograms and Kohanim's Wives - Part 1, from Volume 16 Number 15
-II-Sonograms and Kohanim's Wives - Part 2, from Volume 16 Number 16
-I-Blood Tests and DNA - Part 1, from Volume 16 Number 18
-II-Blood Tests and DNA - Part 2, from Volume 16 Number 19
-III-Blood Tests and DNA - Part 3, from Volume 16 Number 20
-IV-Blood Tests and DNA - Part 4, from Volume 16 Number 21
-I-New Thoughts on the Brain Death Controversy, from Volume 17 Number 23

Traveling
-Reciting Birkat Hagomel on Airplane Travel, from Volume 12 Number 18
-The International Date Line and Halacha, from Volume 12 Number 19
-I- Air Travel on a Fast Day, from Volume 16 Number 2
-II- Air Travel on a Fast Day, from Volume 16 Number 3
-III- Air Travel on a Fast Day, from Volume 16 Number 4

Wills
-Kol Torah Responds to Queries Regarding Wills and Shtar Chatzi Zachar, from Volume 12 Number 15: Beshalach
-I-Introduction to the Laws of Yerushah and the Ethics of Jewish Estate Planning, from Volume 16 Number 6
-I-Yerushah and Dina DeMalchuta Dina, from Volume 16 Number 7
-I-Yerushah: Mizvah LeKayeim Divrei HaMeit, from Volume 16 Number 8
-I-Yerushah: Shtar Chatzi Zachar and its Contemporary Variation, from Volume 16 Number 9
-I-Yerushah: Disinheritance, from Volume 16 Number 10
-I-Estate Planning: Health Care Proxies and Living Wills, from Volume 16 Number 11
-II-Estate Planning: Health Care Proxies and Living Wills, from Volume 16 Number 12

Nashim

Agunot
-I-The Beth Din of America’s Handling of the World Trade Center Agunot, from Volume 12 Number 28: Emor
-II-The Beth Din of America’s Handling of the World Trade Center Agunot, from Volume 12 Number 29: Behar
-III-The Beth Din of America’s Handling of the World Trade Center Agunot, from Volume 12 Number 30: Bechukotai
-IV-The Beth Din of America’s Handling of the World Trade Center Agunot, from Volume 12 Number 31: Bemidbar

Gittin
-Get Shechiv Mera (by Craig Yagoda), from Volume 10 Number 13: Vayishlach
-The Use Of A Videoteleconference For A Get Procedure, from Volume 10 Number 19: Beshalach
-I-Ascertaining the Wife’s Consent at a Get Procedure, from Volume 15 Number 7
-II-Ascertaining the Wife’s Consent at a Get Procedure, from Volume 15 Number 8
-I-Wartime Gittin, from Volume 17 Number 7
-II-Wartime Gittin, from Volume 17 Number 8

Kiddushin
-Afkiinhu Rabanan Likidushin Mineh (by Tzvi Kahn), from Volume 10 Number 17: Beshalach
-The Case of the Substitute Chatan (by Yakir Schechter), from Volume 10 Number 21: Mishpatim
-Divergent Family Customs Between Husband and Wife, from Volume 10 Number 26: Vayikra
-Revealing Flaws of a Potential Marriage Partner, from Volume 12 Number 11: Vayechi
-Transliterating English Names for Ketubot, from Volume 10 Number 33
-I-Frivolous Wedding Ceremonies, from Volume 16 Number 33
-II-Frivolous Wedding Ceremonies, from Volume 16 Number 34
-I-A Kohen Marrying the Daughter of a Jewish Mother and a Non-Jewish Father, from Volume 17 Number 10
-II-A Kohen Marrying the Daughter of a Jewish Mother and a Non-Jewish Father, from Volume 17 Number 11
-I-Intermarriage, Sex Education, and Modern Orthodox Rebalancing - A Reaction to Noah Feldman, from Volume 17 Number 12

Kol Isha
-The Parameters of Kol Isha, from Volume 11 Number 19: Terumah

Yichud
-The Yichud Prohibition - Part 1, from Volume 12 Number 6: Vayetzei
-The Yichud Prohibition - Part 2, from Volume 12 Number 7: Vayishlach

Shabbat/Holidays

Chanukah
-The Proper Time to Kindle Channukah Lights, from Volume 11 Number12: Vayeshev and Channukah
-Havdalah or Chanukah Lights - Which Comes First?, from Volume 11 Number 13: Miketz and Chanukah
-The Haftarot of Chanukah, from Volume 12 Number 9: Miketz and Chanukah
-Chatzi Hallel, from Volume 12 Number 8: Vayeshev and Chanukah
-Late Lighting of Chanukah Lights, from Volume 14 Number 13: Miketz and Chanukah
-The Rambam’s Rescue of the Holiday of Chanukah, from Volume 15 Number 14
- Rava’s Chanukah Revolution, from Volume 15 Number 15
-I-The Beit Yosef's Questions on Chanukah, from Volume 16 Number 13
-II-The Beit Yosef's Questions on Chanukah, from Volume 16 Number 14

Chol Hamoed
-Tefillin of Chol Hamoed, from Volume 10 Number 27: Tzav-Pesach
-Shaving on Chol Hamoed, from Volume 9 Number 27: Metzora/Pesach/Acharei Mot
-Chol Hamoed Observance in Modern Times, from Volume 11 Number 23: Tzav Pesach Shemini

Pesach
-The Mitzva of Charoset, from Volume 9 Number 26: Tazria
-Shiurim - How Much Matza, Maror, and Wine Must We Consume?, from Volume 9 Number 25: Shemini
-Omitting Tachanun on Pesach Sheini, from Volume 10 Number 25: Vayakhel\Pekudei
-Zecher Lemikdash Kehillel, from Volume 11 Number 21: Vayakhel-Pekudei
-Selling Egg Matza to Ashkenazic Jews, from Volume 11 Number 22: Vayikra
-Gems from Rav Soloveitchik on the Haggada, from Volume 12 Number 23: Tzav
-Rav Soloveitchik’s Gems on Sefirat Haomer, from Volume 12 Number 26: Metzora
-Mechirat Chametz - The Source of the Deal: Part I, from Volume 13 Number 25: Ki Tisa
-Mechirat Chametz - The Art of the Deal: Part II, from Volume 13 Number 26: Vayakhel-Pekudei
-Mechirat Chametz - The Art of the Deal: Part III, from Volume 13 Number 27: Vayikra
-The Mitzvah of Heseiba, from Volume 13 Number 28: Tzav-Pesach
-I-Cosmetics and Toiletries for Pesach, from Volume 14 Number 28
-II-Cosmetics and Toiletries for Pesach, from Volume 14 Number 29
-III-Cosmetics and Toiletries for Pesach, from Volume 14 Number 30
-IV-Cosmetics and Toiletries for Pesach, from Volume 14 Number 31
-I-May We Use Grape Juice for the Arba Kosot?, from Volume 15 Number 25
-II-May We Use Grape Juice for the Arba Kosot?, from Volume 15 Number 26
-III-May We Use Grape Juice for the Arba Kosot?, from Volume 15 Number 27
-Yayin Mevushal and Non-Observant Seder Guest, from Volume 15 Number 28

Purim
-Purim and Pikuach Nefesh, from Volume 10 Number 22: Terumah
-Taanit Esther, from Volume 10 Number 23: Tetzave
-The Propriety of Purim Entertainment, from Volume 11 Number 20: Tetzave-Purim
-Why Did Mordechai Refuse to Bow Down to Haman?, from Volume 12 Number 21: Vayikra and Volume 17 Number 27 Tzav-Purim
-Purim - A Religious Zionism Renaissance, from Volume 13 Number 24
-Why is Megillat Ester Written in Such a Secular Style?, from Volume 15 Number 24
-The Dangerous Achashveirosh - Then and Now, from Volume 16 Number 23
--Megillat Ester and the Yosef Story, from Volume 17 Number 26: VaYikra - Zachor

Rosh Hashana
-Eating Before Shofar Blowing, from Volume 10 Number 4: Rosh Hashana
-Is there a Mitzvah to rejoice on Rosh Hashana?, from Volume 11 Number 31:Netzavim
-Tzidkatcha Tzedek on Rosh Hashanah That Falls on Shabbat, from Volume 13 Number 4: Rosh Hashana
-The Keriat Hatorah of Rosh Hashana, from Volume 14 Number 1: Nitzavim-Vayelech

Shavuot/Sefirat Haomer
-Sefirat Haomer During Bein Hashemashot,from Volume 12 Number 24: Shemini
-The Latest Time for Counting Sefirah, from Volume 12 Number 25: TVolume 17 Number 26: VaYikra - Zachor
- Why Did Mordechai Refuse to Bow Down to Haman - Part 1 from Volume17 Number 27 Tzav-Purim

Shabbat
-Introduction to Bishul Bishul, from Volume 10 Number 7: Noach-II-Making Tea on Shabbat, from Volume 10 Number 8: Lech Lecha
-III-Ein Bishul Achar Bishul, from Volume 10 Number 9: Vayera
-IV-Hagasa and Shehiya, from Volume 10 Number 10: Chayei Sarah
-V-Hachazara and Hatmana, from Volume 10 Number 11: Toldot
-I-Taking Medicine on Shabbat, from Volume 10 Number 15: Miketz
-II-Taking Medicine on Shabbat, from Volume 10 Number 16: Vayigash
-Melabain (by Yisrael Glassberg), from Volume 10 Number 31: Emor
-Opening Cans on Shabbat, from Volume 11 Number 15: Vayechi
-Fashioning Openings to Utensils on Shabbat, from Volume 11 Number 16: Shemot
-I-Use of Elevators on Shabbat, from Volume 13 Number 20
-II-Use of Elevators on Shabbat, from Volume 13 Number 21
-III-Use of Elevators on Shabbat, from Volume 13 Number 22
-IV-Use of Elevators on Shabbat - Part IV, from Volume 13 Number 23
-I-Applying Cosmetics on Shabbat and Yom Tov, from Volume 14 Number 14

Tisha Beav
-Yom Hashoah and Tisha Beav, from Volume 11 Number 28: Naso

Yom HaKippurim
-Artificial Feeding on Yom HaKippurim, from Volume 10 Number 5: Haazinu-Yom HaKippurim
-The Minhag of Kapparot, from Volume 11 Number 3: Vayelech-Yom Kippur 
-The Rambam’s Aseret Yemei Teshuva Roadmap, from Volume 13 Number 3: Nitzavim/Vayelech
-Eating Less than a Shiur on Yom Kippur, from Volume 15 Number 6