Headlines for Teens

Text-Based Sessions
A Kosher Cheeseburger? The Halachic Status of Synthetic Beef

What is the halachic status of synthetic beef? If artificial meat was produced...

Rabbi Shaya First
Ben Pekua Meat

Since kosher meat is very expensive, is Ben Pekua meat a viable solution to...

Aryeh Kaminetsky
Shooting Down Hijacked Planes: Killing a Few to Save the Lives of Many

Is it permissible, forbidden, or obligatory to fire a missile at a hijacked...

Rabbi Shaya First
Viewing Israeli News Broadcasts That Were Filmed or Posted on Shabbos

Is it permitted to watch Israeli news reports that were filmed on Shabbos? Can...

Rabbi Shaya First
Genetically Modified Fish

How does Halacha view the status of GMOs (genetically modified organisms)? Is...

Aryeh Kaminetsky
Poaching Employees from Rival Companies

“Poaching” is a common practice in the cut-throat world of corporate...

Aryeh Kaminetsky
Risking Oneself to Save Others

Can a doctor risk his life to save the life of a patient? Whose life is more...

Aryeh Kaminetsky
Stand Your Ground vs. Duty to Retreat: Would Beis Din Have Convicted George Zimmerman?

Does a person have the right to stand his ground and attack a potential...

Rabbi Shaya First
Touring the Vatican and Viewing its Artwork

Is a Jew allowed to tour the Vatican, a building that houses the Roman Catholic...

NCSY Staff
The Kosher Switch

Is the \"Kosher Switch\" really kosher? What halachic factors would go into...

Aryeh Kaminetsky
Chanukah Candle Lighting at the White House

Can a Jew recite brachos over lighting candles at the White House? Based on...

Rabbi Shaya First
Treating OCD

May a person willingly violate halacha for the sake of curing his or her OCD?...

Aryeh Kaminetsky
Yichud with an Elderly Man

If an elderly man needs a female caretaker, are the two of them allowed to be...

Aryeh Kaminetsky
Hurricane Sandy: Rescuing Those Who Put Themselves in Danger

Is there an obligation to rescue people who knowingly put themselves in...

Rabbi Shaya First
Obamacare and Death Panels: Healthcare Rationing in Halachah

To what extent are we required to spend money to save another person’s life...

Rabbi Shaya First
Seducing the Enemy

Are Jewish women allowed to seduce men from the enemy\'s side, if it is for a...

Aryeh Kaminetsky
Privacy in Halacha

Are you allowed to read another person\'s mail, or snoop on their personal...

Aryeh Kaminetsky
Online Businesses on Shabbos

Can a Jew own online businesses that continue to operate on Shabbos? Based...

Rabbi Shaya First
Bioplastic Schach

Should Bioplastic Schach be used for a sukkah? If it is raining, should one...

Aryeh Kaminetsky
Who is a Believer?

What is considered heresy (kefirah) in Judaism? Must every Jew believe in all...

Aryeh Kaminetsky
Aborting a Zika Baby

Should fetuses infected with the Zika virus be aborted? What halachic factors...

Aryeh Kaminetsky
The Gilad Shalit Deal: Exchanging Many Terrorists for One Israeli

What would halachah say about the Gilad Shalit deal? Is it permissible,...

Rabbi Shaya First
Bernie Madoff and Ponzi Schemes

Must a charity return funds donated by a Ponzi scheme? If an investor who is...

Rabbi Shaya First
Leiby Kletzky and the Insanity Defense in Halachah

Does halachah recognize the insanity defense? How does halachah view the...

Rabbi Shaya First
Can a Rabbi Enter a Church?

Can an Orthodox Rabbi attend a Presidential Convocation that is held in the...

NCSY Staff
Killing a Neutralized Terrorist

Is one permitted to kill a terrorist if he has been neutralized and no longer...

Aryeh Kaminetsky
Webcams in Halachah

Can you hear Havdalah through Skype? Can you respond \"Amen\" to brachos,...

Rabbi Shaya First
Using Wi-Fi Without Permission

Are you allowed to use someone else\'s wifi without their permission? Does...

Rabbi Shaya First