by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on November 20, 2009
The source of tvilah, immersion, is complex. Interestingly, the Torah never states explicitly that a niddah, zavah, or a woman who has given birth has to immerse in order to become tahor, ritually pure, although it is assumed throughout the Talmud that this requirement exists and that it is Biblical.…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on November 13, 2009
In hilkhot Niddah, the topic of bedikat shiva nikkiyim – the internal checking that a woman does during the seven days after cessation of bleeding – raises important questions. In general, it is a question how relevant the Brisker approach to learning – an approach which posits a chakira, two competing conceptual definitions of a law, and then makes all debates dependent on this question – is relevant to the world of halakha.…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on November 11, 2009
by Dov Linzer And Devorah Zlochower The Jewish Week, Op-Ed November 10, 2009 We are the parents of two children with what are often termed “invisible disabilities.” Invisible disabilities can include learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders and Asperger’s syndrome, Tourette’s syndrome and other tic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder and other anxiety disorders, mood disorders and behavioral disorders.…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on November 6, 2009
The topics of hirhurim and tzniut, of illicit sexual thoughts and modesty, have deep implication. The Gemara (e.g., Avoda Zara 20b, Berakhot 24a) focuses on the man’s sexual thoughts as potentially resulting from seeing or looking lustfully at women, but does not address the issue of women’s sexual thoughts.…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on October 30, 2009
Regarding mechitza we find 3 models in the achronim. There are those that say that it is to prevent kalut rosh – levity (based on the Gemara in Sukkah regarding the simchat beit HaShoyeva, the festival on Sukkot for the water drawing).…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on October 23, 2009
In studying brit milah, an interesting question arises in regards to a son who was conceived by artificial insemination by the husband. Before, we addressed the brakha of “li’hakniso b’vrito shel Avraham Avinu” that is made by the father of the son.…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on October 16, 2009
In discussing the nature of the father’s obligation to give his son a bris, we encounter a question: is the father obligated to perform the bris himself (if possible), or only to take the responsibility to make sure that the bris is performed?…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on September 14, 2009
Masekhet Sotah primarily focuses on the parsha in the Torah regarding a woman whose husband suspects her of adultery (Bamidbar 5:11-31). It is fascinating to see how Chazal’s understanding of Sotah differs from the simple sense of the psukim. This issue has been explored by various scholars, in particular Moshe Halbertal and Judith Hauptman, who point out that in Chazal’s understanding the process is one which is more based on objective fact (observed seclusion following a warning) rather than on the husband’s capricious suspicions.…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on August 14, 2009
This prayer expresses grief and sorrow over the horrific and murderous attack at the gay Community Center in Tel Aviv on August 1, 2009 and the heightened sense of responsibility and obligation that all Jews and communities, across the denominations, must share in response.…
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