Lifecycles Archives | Rosh Yeshiva Responds

7 07, 2026

Keriah at the Moment of Death for a Not Immediate Relative

July 7th, 2026|Aveilut, Death and Dying, Lifecycles, Yoreh De'ah|

QUESTION

A quick question regarding keri’ah (tearing clothing in mourning) at the moment of death, specifically for a person who is not one’s immediate relative. I should mention that this may be a practical question for me in the near term.

Min ha-din (according to the strict law), one is obligated in keri’ah in this situation (Moed Katan 25a; Yoreh De’ah 340). However, the custom developed not to tear, out of concern that people would be unwilling to remain with a dying person at the moment of death if doing so would obligate them to tear their clothing. As the Zechor LeAvraham

27 02, 2026

Navigating Traditional Egalitarian Prayer Spaces

February 27th, 2026|Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Berakhot, Kaddish, Keriat HaTorah, Mechitza, Minyan, Orach Chayim, Shema and Shemoneh Esrei, Tefillah|

Question

NY, NY

I have recently been spending time in “traditional egalitarian” tefillah spaces, largely connected to my work teaching in a pluralistic school setting. I am seeking general halakhic framing and practical guidance.

Specifically:

May I daven b’yechidut (individually) in such a space while the communal tefillah is taking place? Or should I refrain from davening there entirely?
May I accept a kibbud (honor)?
Should I respond to Kaddish,

31 07, 2024

Brit Mila on Shabbat for a Baby Conceived Through IVF or IUI

July 31st, 2024|Family, Fertility, Lifecycles, Milah, Yoreh De'ah|

QUESTION

How does the Rosh Yeshiva hold regarding brit milah on Shabbat for babies conceived through IVF? What about IUI?

ANSWER

I unhesitatingly rule that it is performed on Shabbat. The gemara (Keritot 7b) explains the pasuk from Parshat Tazria – כי תזריע וילדה זכר – עד שתלד ממקום שמזרעת, namely that a mother is only tamei’a (ritually impure) from tumat leida (impurity that is created by the birth process) after vaginal birth, but not if she gave birth in any other manner. Elsewhere, based on the juxtaposition of the laws of tumat leida and brit mila, the Gemara (Shabbat 135a) connects the

30 07, 2024

Non-Mevushal Wine Touched by a Non-Jew During the Chuppah of a Convert

July 30th, 2024|Even HaEzer, Geirut and Geirim, Kashrut, Kiddushin and Ketubah, Marriage and Family, Non-Jews and Other Religions, Status, Yoreh De'ah|

QUESTION

Israel

I conducted a wedding ceremony for a converted bride, and the wine was not mevushal (this is rare, but it happens). I forgot that her mother is a non-Jew and continued as usual, so after the birkat eirusin, I gave the groom to drink, took back the cup, and gave it to the mother of the bride and said, “Mother, please give the dear bride to drink”.

Then, after I had already handed the cup to the mother of the

28 01, 2024

Jewish Single Woman Considering Embryo Adoption: Halakhic Clarification on Child’s Jewish Status

January 28th, 2024|Birth, Even HaEzer, Family, Geirut and Geirim, Lifecycles, Non-Jews and Other Religions, Shulchan Arukh, Status, Women|

QUESTION

Washington, DC

A Jewish single woman considering embryo adoption wants to know if she needs to look for Jewish embryos, or if it will be sufficient for her to be the gestational mother to have the child be considered Jewish. My understanding is that there are differing opinions, and because so much is at stake I would like to be crystal clear on the halakha. Thank you so much.

ANSWER

This is such a major debate

5 11, 2023

Reciting Shehechiyanu on Joyous Occasions Not Mentioned in Shulchan Aruch

November 5th, 2023|Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Berakhot, Kiddushin and Ketubah, Lifecycles, Orach Chayim, Sheva Berachot|

QUESTION

Toronto, Canada

What are your thoughts about saying shehechiyanu for occasions not mentioned in Shulchan Aruch? For example, can it be recited by parents at shul for the 3rd birthday of a child whose wimpel will be used for gelilah. What about other lifecycle events such as benei mitzvah, or weddings?

There’s certainly simchat ha’lev, which SA OH 223:4 says is the underlying basis for making the berakhah, but on the other hand, are we makpidim (particular) not to extend the berakhah into other experiences?

ANSWER

The first big question here is weddings. Why is

3 11, 2023

Shaving for an Important Business Meeting Before the End of Sheloshim

November 3rd, 2023|Aveilut, Yoreh De'ah|

QUESTION

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A man currently in aveilut (mourning) for his mother has a critical meeting with a potential buyer for his company. His meeting is set to take place six days prior to the end of sheloshim; however, Shavuot falls out before the meeting date.

According to Yoreh De’ah 399:4 – does Shavuot effectively end the sheloshim period, permitting shaving, or does it not suspend sheloshim, requiring him to refrain from shaving, until someone reprimands him for his unkempt appearance (עד שיגער בו חביריו)?

ANSWER

Reinterring a Corpse Buried in an Otherwise Reserved Plot

11 06, 2023

Reinterring a Corpse Buried in an Otherwise Reserved Plot

June 11th, 2023|Choshen Mishpat, Death and Dying, Yoreh De'ah|

https://pixabay.com/photos/old-stone-ancient-architecture-3118750/

QUESTION

Minneapolis, MI

A man was mistakenly buried in a plot reserved for a distant relative (his second wife’s cousin). The

Guidance for Sleeping Arrangements for a Chuppat Niddah

29 05, 2023

Guidance for Sleeping Arrangements for a Chuppat Niddah

May 29th, 2023|Even HaEzer, Kiddushin and Ketubah, Marriage and Family, Niddah, Yichud, Yoreh De'ah|

QUESTION

What do you advise regarding reasonable sleeping arrangements in the case of chuppat niddah (where halakha requires that one observe the laws of yichud)? This will be relevant for our upcoming wedding.

ANSWER

Mazal Tov on the upcoming wedding. Regarding sleeping arrangements—I take the position that even if the two of you are sharing an apartment, it is not yichud if you are in separate rooms with a closed door between you (some require that the woman’s door be locked. I do not require this). (See Chazon Ish Even HaEzer 34:1)

Therefore, what I advise is that until bedtime, when both of

Missing Yud in Ketubah

2 05, 2023

Missing Yud in Ketubah

May 2nd, 2023|Kiddushin and Ketubah, Lifecycles|

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/Ketubah_from_Greece.jpg

QUESTION

Illinois

Someone ordered a ketubah and it’s been printed but the wedding has not happened yet. They spelled the chatan’s mother’s name wrong (missing a yud in Shaindel). Is it necessary to change the ketubah?

ANSWER

It’s fine. Remember that a ketubah is, fundamentally, a civil contract (required by halakha)—when there are questions such as these they are assessed based on the rules of Choshen Mishpat contracts, not by some ritual considerations. Thus—the need for names is purely about accurate identification. In principle, it could say the “the chatan-SSN 123-45-6789 said to the

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