Daily Halakha R' Shaye Braun

• published: 17 Nov 2015
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From Jerusalem To Yavneh: The Emergence Of Rabbinic Judaism Podcast Free download http://podcast.occsp.org/wp/2004/02/25/csp-gafni-from-jerusalem-to-yavneh-the-emergence-of-rabbinic-judaism/ What is a Posek? Since the days of the Sanhedrin, no body or authority has been generally regarded as having the authority to create universally recognized precedents. As a result, Halakha has developed in a somewhat different fashion from Anglo-American legal systems with a Supreme Court able to provide universally accepted precedents. Generally, Halakhic arguments are effectively, yet unofficially, peer-reviewed. When a rabbinic posek ((literally "he who makes a statement", "decisor") proposes an additional interpretation of a law, that interpretation may be considered binding for the posek's questioner or immediate community. Depending on the stature of the posek and the quality of the decision, an interpretation may also be gradually accepted by other rabbis and members of other Jewish communities. Sample Halakha 207 Wednesday, 23 of Teves# Talking in the Restroom There are halachos concerning the permissibility of speaking while in a restroom, due to halachic reasons associated with modesty and kabbalistic ones associated with the spirits of impurity that are present there. Before a person begins relieving themselves, if there is a pressing need, they may ,talk to a person outside the restroom. However once a person has begun relieving themselves they .should not speak at all, even for a pressing need If necessary, they may cough or make some other sound in order to indicate that they cannot talk just now. If a person is in the restroom for a different purpose, such as brushing their teeth or any other such function, one may be lenient and if there is an .important matter that to be discussed at that time Text was prepared by E.R. Elkaim Rabbi Abraham Ben Meir Ibn Ezra (אברהם אבן עזרא (1089–1167) There is a legend that he died in England from a fever and a sickness that came upon him after an encounter with a pack of wild black dogs. This legend is attached to the belief that he denied the existence of demons. The crater Abenezra on the Moon was named in his honor. Do Ghosts Exist? Demonology is the general term for the "study" of demons in any religion. Demons, in the broadest sense, are simply supernatural creatures or beings that are not worshiped. Jinns, for example, would be a subject of Islamic demonology; they can be good or evil. In Western culture, and especially Christianity, the word demon usually connotes evil. Demonologists are theologians who specialize in making stuff up studying demons. Most cultures posit some form of invisible spirits which may or may not be benevolent, but which generally all share the same characteristic of being an invisible friend or foe, that's not quite a deity, but not quite mundane.