The House & The World

Our first topic is Dina de-Malchuta Dina, the law of the land is law.

When and in what circumstances does halacha demand conforming to local, non-Jewish law?

The source sheet is available through the links both in WORD format and pdf.

In class we will translate and explain the principal sources.

We have seen that Dina de-Malchuta requires paying taxes and other obligations to the state treasury.

Next we turn to other areas where Dina de-Malchuta might apply.

Are we halachically obligated to obey traffic laws?

What about local laws regulating business relations and real estate?

Does halacha require conforming to governmental regulations regarding the purity of foods?

Sources are available through the links.

After Dina de-Malchuta (our relationship with non-Jewish legal systems), we will turn to opinions of the poskim regarding other religions.

Are the other principal world religions idolatrous?

Can we enter their places of worship?

As usual, sources are available through the links.

Yihud, a man and woman in a private place.

The criteria of parve food (that can be eaten with either meat or cheese) are of fundamental importance in the kosher home.

The principles underlying the halachot of parve food also have vast ramifications for eating outside the home when preparing food in a non-kosher kitchen while on holiday and when eating in a non-kosher restaurant (at a business meeting for example).

In short, how can a non-kosher kitchen be prepared for kosher cooking (as in a holiday rental) and what can be eaten in a non-kosher restaurant?

As usual, sources are available through the links.

Absorption and release of taste (בליעת טעם ופליטת טעם) occur when cooking non-kosher food in any utensil (except maybe glass).

Therefore, the utensils in a non-kosher kitchen, restaurant, or food production facility are surely themselves not kosher.

However, there is one leniency in this: taste is transferred between utensils and food, between utensils and liquids, but not between two utensils.

This opens the door for using a non-kosher stove or cooker to prepare your kosher meal.

As usual, sources are available through the links.

When non-Jews prepare food, they are not constrained by halachic considerations. For example, we are prohibited from using a non-kosher כלי שאינו בן יומו to cook our food. But בדיעבד, that food is permitted.

What is the status of food cooked by a non-Jew in a כלי שאינו בן יומו?

As usual, sources are available through the links.

Next topic: The rules for checking the validity of public mezuzot.

As usual, sources are available through the links in both WORD format and pdf.

The mitsva of constructing an eiruv to permit carrying in the public domain on Shabbat and Yom Kippur.

Should you support the building of a eiruv even if you follow poskim who hold that it is invalid?

Our next topic: כבוד הבריות

We will survey the sources regarding our obligation to maintain the dignity of those we interact with.

This obligation spans a broad range of leniencies across the length and breadth of Torah.

As usual, source sheets are available through the links in both WORD format and pdf.