Monthly Archives: March 2010
Healthcare reform and Pirkei Avot
According to an article in yesterday’s New York Times, votes scheduled in Congress this coming week will decide the fate of health care legislation, and with it, perhaps, the fate of the November 2010 congressional elections and the remainder of Barack Obama’s presidency. At such a critical moment in his presidency, it makes perfect sense […]
Wild salmon debate
In connection with the debate over the kashrut of wild salmon, Rabbi Gil Student has an interesting post outlining three possible approaches to halacha when current scientific knowledge appears to contradict the scientific premise of settled halacha. The article can be read here.
Moving towards a system for Hebrew-English transliteration
A very academic title, but I assure you this post is not. As I read over today’s post on the teshuvah of Rav Ovadiah Yosef, I realized that I have no system for transliterating Hebrew to English. You can go back and pick out all the inconsistencies, but here’s one example to get you started. […]
Opinion of Rav Ovadiah Yosef on yerushah and intestacy
Rav Ovadiah Yosef, in his collection of responsa, Yehaveh Daat, volume 4, responsum 65, addresses the following question: May a family member who is not a yoresh (halachic heir), but is legally entitled to a share of a decedent’s estate, claim a portion of the estate in civil court under the doctrine of dina demalchutah […]
Heter Iska arbitration rights forfeited by defendant’s participation in litigation
The Appellate Division, Second Department affirmed a decision of the lower court that denied defendant Eli Weinstein’s motion to compel arbitration. The parties had signed a Heter Iska that contained an arbitration clause. (Although not mentioned in the decision, presumably it required the parties to go to Bais Din). 1 1/2 years after the litigation […]
Brooklyn Judge Decides Couple Should Share Mitzvah
Judge Matthew D’Emic in Kings County Supreme Court (Brooklyn) decided in E.S. v S.S., 2010 NY Slip Op 50299(U) that a divorcing Orthodox Jewish couple should donate some of their marital property to charity and share equally in the Mitzvah. The judge wrote as follows: C. EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION The parties have little. Nevertheless, whatever they […]
Editorial on the Jonathan Pollard case
The 5 Towns Jewish Times published an editorial by Rabbi Yair Hoffman, Re-examining the Pollard Issue, which argues against treating Jonathan Pollard as a hero. Pollard is currently serving a life sentence for espionage and although eligible to apply for parole since the early 1990′s has apparently not done so. Hoffman’s article can be read […]
