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.
- 41.7k
13
votes
Accepted
Hormonal manipulation: Taharas hamishpacha vs. the woman's health
If I understand correctly, your argument goes something like this:
A.) The Halacha is to always wait (>=5) + 7.
B.) Doing so on a natural routine can be inconvenient, e.g. for vacations.
C.) ...
- 131k
11
votes
Accepted
List of resources for halachot concerning celiac disease
There is very comprehensive, 24-page piece from the CrC here
Rabbi Manning has a very helpful sources sheet on what to do in the case of Matzah here.
And there is a two-part series on the Torah Musing ...
- 30.2k
9
votes
Is practicing Yoga against Torah?
The Lubavitcher Rebbe wrote the following letter:
By the Grace of G-d
Teveth, 5738
MEMORANDUM
It is well known that certain oriental movements, such as Transcendental Meditation (T.M.), Yoga, Guru, ...
- 40.3k
8
votes
Accepted
Can you kill person A to protect yourself from B?
First, the concept of killing a non-guilty party in self defense is learned from the Gemara in Sanhedrin 82a. (See also the commentary of the Rosh to this Gemara; 9:4) When Pinchas was (doing the ...
- 10.7k
7
votes
Tahara procedure for a body with an infectious disease
Regarding the spread of COVID-19, the National Association of Chevra Kadisha headed by Rav Elchonon Zohn stated the following guidelines:
The following are suggested guidelines and precautions ...
- 13.8k
7
votes
Accepted
What level of danger is required for HaGomel?
www.shut-halacha.co.il reports a Teshuva from Rav Avigdor Nebenzahl which says:
מי שעבר ניתוח בהרדמה כללית צריך לברך הגומל, כיון שהרדמה כללית הנה
סכנה.
Someone who underwent surgery with a total ...
- 47.2k
7
votes
Why are junk foods, which are poor for your health, certified kosher?
My Rebbe Rav Shmuel Dishon (mashgiach ruchni Karlin Stolin) once asked us how do we think Kashrus organizations are allowed to issue "kosher" status on things that are damaging to the human body (...
- 10.7k
7
votes
Oil in Shabbos Candles Caught Fire - What to Do?
I know this is essentially a repeat of the other answers, but this is a matter of life and death, chalilah!
The floating wicks you are using are designed for OIL - not paraffin. To quote the Amazon ...
- 42.8k
6
votes
Sources discussing losing weight
The short answer is found in Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, 32:1, which is based on what we learn from Rambam in the Mishnah Torah, Hilchot De'ot, chapter 4, which states clearly that it is impossible to know ...
- 14.2k
6
votes
How did the Cohanim walk around the Mizbeach?
You are probably referring to the "Sovev" - ledge half way up the Mizbeach, which was six Amos above the floor.
The Tiferes Yisroel (צורת המזבח אות יד) writes that there was probably a Ma'akoh - ...
- 6,123
5
votes
The Rambam on health
In Hilkhoth De'oth chapter 4, the Rambam lists practices that he recommends as healthy:
הואיל והיות הגוף בריא ושלם מדרכי השם הוא שהרי אי אפשר שיבין או ידע דבר מידיעת הבורא והוא חולה לפיכך צריך ...
- 17.7k
5
votes
Tzitzis and Teeth?
Probably this, from Magen Avraham 11:18:
כ' בשל"ה ומט"מ שאל יחתוך בסכין אלא ינשכם בשיניו ע"ש:
Shaloh and Mateh Moshe say that you shouldn't cut [the tzitzis strings] with a knife, but ...
- 7,781
5
votes
Accepted
Tzitzis and Teeth?
Wearing Tzitzit helps reduce toothaches and teeth pains
This is brought in a Hirhurim blogpost on Tzitzit:
It is said that being careful in the observance of the mitzva of Tzitzit is a segula for ...
- 418
5
votes
The minimum amount of food one must eat on Shabbos
(Reminder: Like any library, Mi Yodeya offers tons of great information, but does not offer personalized, professional advice, and does not take the place of seeking such advice from your rabbi.)
...
- 42.8k
5
votes
What physical/health factors disqualify an otherwise qualified bechor from pidyon haben?
There is a very interesting 4-volume set of seforim called Nishmas Avraham by Rabbi Dr Avraham-Sofer Avraham which details medical and health based halachos. They are all available on Hebrewbooks.org -...
- 30.2k
5
votes
Corona "parties" for children
Regarding "corona parties", one contemporary Rabbi did indeed rule that it is forbidden to purposely get together to infect oneselves. Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer is quoted in this late 2020 ...
- 19.6k
5
votes
Accepted
How does one remove a curse and/or a magical spell that's been placed upon a person/land/lineage/etc? What is the process like?
1). See Nefesh Hachaim (3:12) that Rebbi Chanina was not affected by witchcraft and was not scared (even as a witch gathered dust beneath his feet to cast a spell) because he believed and knew that ...
- 949
4
votes
Headache remedy on a fast day?
The Toronto Kollel has developed a sustained-timed release caffeine capsule
which is taken before the ta'anis and begins to release 8 to 10 hours later.
It has been available for many years and ...
4
votes
Accepted
How to deal with back pain
The most important thing that I would recommend is not leaning over sefarim for three sedarim. Sitting is the new smoking, as they say. Why not try standing up and using a shtender every so often? Or ...
- 18.8k
4
votes
Halachic difference between a medicine and a supplement?
Halakha does not distinguish between "medicine" and "supplements" with respect to the laws of kashrus. There is a prohibition on eating non-kosher food, but certain considerations cause that ...
- 24.7k
4
votes
Accepted
Oil in Shabbos Candles Caught Fire - What to Do?
Shabbat candle lighting, unfortunately, is fraught with danger, especially when you have toddlers and babies in the house. Generally, the smaller / shorter you can keep the flame and the shorter the ...
- 70k
4
votes
Who is counted in an "outdoor minyan" defined? How should the minyan be run?
There are many questions here:
Distance
In an outdoor minyan, two conditions must be met - all participants must hear the shliach tzibbur, and must be able to see each other. Below is a quote from
...
- 7,891
4
votes
How often should one go to the dentist?
I've heard the authorities of today (e.g. Rabbi A. Weiss) teach that the Torah expects one to following medical recommendations. Have you consulted your dentalcare professionals regarding this issue?
- 479
4
votes
Does Judaism say if you are fat you should have a diet?
It is a scientific fact that "people who have obesity, compared to those with a normal or healthy weight, are at increased risk for many serious diseases and health conditions" (quote from ...
- 47.8k
3
votes
Priests and leprosy
Note that the meforshim (Rav Hirsh, Rav Sorotzkin, Ramban, Rambam, etc.) point out that tzara'at is not a natural disease and cannot be treated as a normal disease. That is, it is not similar to ...
- 42.9k
3
votes
May a Brit Milah be performed by a (non-Jewish) doctor?
I think the question confuses two different things
the nature of the brit mila itself vs. a medical circumcision
the nature of the mohel vs. a doctor and the location of a brit mila (hospital vs. ...
- 47.8k
3
votes
What is the best way to break a fast?
One should break a fast with easily digestible foods (which are usually not meat). One should rehydrate and eat easily digestible foods as well as foods that provide water and protein.
Top 5: Best ...
- 42.9k
3
votes
The Trolley Problem: Is it better to kill 1 person or let 5 die?
There don't seem to be any classical Jewish texts that discuss a comparable scenario until the Rabbi Avraham Y. Karlitz (Chazon-Ish Yoreh De’ah, Hilchot Avodat Kochavim 69; Sanhedrin, Sec. 25) in the ...
- 351
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