15
votes
Accepted
R' Akiva Eiger and the epidemic
R. Akiva Eger’s letter regarding the cholera epidemic of 1831 can be seen in Iggerot Soferim, 29.
You can see a translation of a slightly different version of the letter here.
- 46.6k
7
votes
Accepted
Mikvah during UK COVID-19 Lockdown
This is the guidance issued by the United Synagogue.
The observance of Taharat Hamishpacha (the laws of family purity) is a fundamental mitzvah. Mikvaot remain open for women. Best-practice ...
- 1,981
5
votes
Paradox of a corrupt court
I am not getting into commentary on any current government or its decisions.
As stated before, a government can be legitimate, but still acting in a way that is deeply flawed; dina demalchusa dina ...
- 136k
4
votes
Does Dina deMalchuta include international law?
Here is a source, providing an opinion based on that Rabbi's understanding of Dina Dimalchusa. This answer is assuming all criteria for Dina Dimalchusa applies in today's world in accordance with the ...
- 34.1k
4
votes
How is Dina d’malkhuta transferred from one nation/state/malkutha to another?
It appears we basically follow a de facto recognition of who's currently governing, not a de jure one; and the facts are determined by economics.
Rambam, end of Ch. 5 of Laws of Theft and Loss:
ה,...
- 136k
3
votes
(How) did the South African rabbinate deal with non-white conversion candidates during apartheid?
According to Franklin Hugh Adler, sources indicate that apartheid-era minorities looked out for their own: Muslims developed a neutral position, Gandhi was concerned with the Indian community, and so ...
- 835
3
votes
How serious is it that visibly observant Jews offend traffic laws
It is known that Rav Elyashiv ZTL & Rav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita and other Rabanim often refrain from giving public Proclamations regarding subjects about which they have reason to believe that many ...
- 7,092
3
votes
Accepted
Divorce and dina d'malchuta dina
You will find the historical information you seek at this link:
Italy, Early Modern - Jewish Women's Archives: https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/italy-early-modern. It is
an encyclopedia article ...
- 1,834
3
votes
Accepted
Hezek re'iyah and dina d'malchusa
Hezek re'iyah indeed includes laws preventing one neighbor from adding to his house in a way that it now allows him to view his neighbor's property. The classical case is to prevent a neighbor from ...
- 54k
2
votes
Limits to Dina Dmalchusa Dina
The Rashbam (BB 54b, “v’ha’amar Shmuel”) is of the opinion that DD applies to taxes, etc., that everyone accepts upon themselves.
The Ran (Nedarim 28a, “b’muchseh ha’omed me’eilav”) and the Rambam (...
- 34.7k
2
votes
Paradox of a corrupt court
That’s why there are various levels of courts, both in Jewish law and in the civil justice system (of the USA and UK).
The function of a court is to enforce justice when A) someone deliberately ...
- 1,912
2
votes
Why specifically did Rav Moshe Feinstein serve as rabbi in Ohio for a while, per his visa?
According to the Artscroll biography of him by Rabbi Shimon Finkelman, it would be fair to say that Ohio marked purely a "convenient stepping stone" into America.
On pp. 72-73 Rabbi ...
- 34.5k
1
vote
Legal minyan in Stamford Hill
My opinion is to daven at the Golders Green United Synagogue which is under the auspices of the Chief Rabbi of the United Synagogue.
If you are going to attend then you will have to contact them to ...
- 1,981
1
vote
Why does Jeremiah 27.9 speak of a city instead of kingdom?
Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch in his Nineteen Letters writes on this pasuk in Jeremiah that "And seek the peace of the city whither I have exiled you, and pray for it to the Lord, for in its peace ...
- 11.7k
1
vote
Source for Mar Shmuel citing Jeremiah 29:7 on Dina Demalchutah
As far as I can tell, this seems to have been a baseless theory thought up by Heinrich Graetz in his book History of the Jews, vol. II, ch. XIX (can be found here):
"The Prophet Jeremiah had ...
- 28.4k
1
vote
Source for Mar Shmuel citing Jeremiah 29:7 on Dina Demalchutah
Jeremiah 29:7:
וְדִרְשׁ֞וּ אֶת־שְׁל֣וֹם הָעִ֗יר אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִגְלֵ֤יתִי אֶתְכֶם֙ שָׁ֔מָּה וְהִתְפַּֽלְל֥וּ בַעֲדָ֖הּ אֶל־יְהֹוָ֑ה כִּ֣י בִשְׁלוֹמָ֔הּ יִהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם שָׁלֽוֹם׃
Use this translation of ...
- 48.7k
1
vote
The kippah and dina d'malchuta dina
As is found at The Virtual Jewish Library on the subject of Dina de Malkhuta Dina, in the section discussing the scope of the laws included in Dina de Malkhuta Dina it quotes the Tashbetz, part 1 No....
- 16.7k
1
vote
Inheritance laws and dina d'malchuta dina
The point of the Rashba, broadly, is that dina d'malchusa dina concerns matters in which the state has an interest; most notably the Gemara talks about taxes and drafts. If two parties can agree to ...
- 136k
1
vote
Inheritance laws and dina d'malchuta dina
Two things I found. First, taking someone to secular court over a personal matter violates halacha:
"When a case is between two Jews [ben adam l’chavero], we judge it with Jewish law only." [Chazon ...
- 23.6k
1
vote
No need to adhere to local custom?
I think you may be reading too much into Shadal's words. The key point here, I think, is התנאי שהתנו ביניהם – it was an agreement made between the shepherds. They made a mutually beneficial agreement ...
- 50.3k
1
vote
Do i have a responsibility to report users breaking the rules?
I have asked Rav Tzvi Berkowitz about using someone else's Costco card.
He said that it depends if the rules are attempted to be enforced or not. With costco where they check your card so you cannot ...
- 2,642
1
vote
Is Dina D'Malchusa a din in Gavra or in Cheftza?
Nedarim 28a (http://hebrewbooks.org/shas.aspx?mesechta=16&daf=28&format=pdf) states that it is forbidden to lie to avoid paying tax because of Dina DeMalchusa.
The Ran there implies that it ...
- 652
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible