The gatherings of family and friends, the giving and receiving of gifts, the making and/or breaking of New Year’s resolutions – however you and yours celebrate, the end of a calendar year heralds many traditions.
Here at Stack Exchange, we wanted to get each of you an awesome, personal gift, and mail it to you as our way of saying “thanks.” But our accountant pointed out that there are 4.5 million of you, which promptly reminded us that the holidays aren’t about gifts. The real spirit of the holidays can only be captured with… …
If I am wearing Tefilin, and I feel very thirsty, should I take off my Tefllin to drink, (if I am even allowed to interrupt) or am I allowed to drink water while wearing Tefilin?
There is a halacha that one may not name a child after an evildoer, a principle known as shem reshaim yirkav. This comes from Yoma 38b:
ועל בן קמצר וחביריו נאמר ושם רשעים ירקב מאי ושם רשעים ירקב אמר ר' אלעזר דקביבות תעלה בשמותן דלא מסקינן בשמייהו
Regarding Ben Kamtzar and his companions ...
