Halocho #1010 - Do a Mitzva: Keep your home safe

The Torah says in דברים פרק כב:ח:

 כִּי תִבְנֶה בַּיִת חָדָשׁ, וְעָשִׂיתָ מַעֲקֶה לְגַגֶּךָ; וְלֹא-תָשִׂים דָּמִים בְּבֵיתֶךָ, כִּי-יִפֹּל הַנֹּפֵל מִמֶּנּוּ

It's a Mitzvah to put a fence around one's roof to prevent people from falling off.

The fence must be at least 10 Tefachim high (80 cm, 2 feet 7½ inches) and must be strong enough that a person can lean on it and not fall. A roof that is never used does not need a fence.

Similarly, any life threatening danger needs preventive protection as appropriate. E.g. a well or pit needs a fence or a cover strong enough to ensure nobody falls in.

For the same reason one may not own a dangerous dog nor a shaky ladder.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 190:1,2

- Danny
Monday, 11 Tevet 5773

Halocho # 455 - Dangerous property

One must ensure that people do not get hurt on ones property.

E.g. a well or pit needs a fence or a cover strong enough to ensure nobody falls in.

Similarly one may not own a dangerous dog nor a shaky ladder.

Source Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 190:1

- Danny
Monday, 6 Kislev 5770

Halocho #347 - Must dogs eat Kosher food?

It's a Torah prohibition to cook meat and milk together.

This prohibition is only for milk and meat originating from Kosher animals.

Non-Kosher meat from a Kosher animal is also included. (A Kosher animal has split hooves and chews its cud.)

It's also a Torah prohibition to derive any benefit from such meat and milk that was cooked together.

If the ingredients of pet food include meat and milk, one has to ascertain they were not cooked together or were not from Kosher animals. Otherwise one may not feed such food to ones pets.

One may feed ones dogs non-Kosher meat and other non-Kosher food.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:5

- Danny Sunday, 22 Sivan 5769

Please daven for a complete recovery for Nathan ben Beila - נתן בן ביילא

Halocho #264 - Not feeding birds on Shabbat Shira

House pets or any other animals that depend on you for their food, may be fed on Shabbat.

Animals that do not rely on you for their food may not be fed, and you may not even throw them leftovers, with the exception of stray dogs.

One may not feed pigeons as they are capable of fending for themselves.

The custom to put out grain for the birds on Shabbat Shira (this week) is incorrect as birds do not rely on humans for their food. (One may put out grain for them before Shabbat.)

Source Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 87:18

Shabbat Shalom

- Danny Thursday, 11 Shvat 5769

Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה

Halocho #25 - Not feeding birds on Shabbat Shira

House pets are any other animals that depend on you for their food may be fed on Shabbat. Animals that do not rely on you for their food may not be fed, and you may not even throw them leftovers, with the exception of stray dogs. One may not feed pigeons as they are capable of fending for themselves. The custom to put out grain for the birds on Shabbat Shira (this week) is incorrect as birds do not rely on humans for their food. (One may put out grain for them before Shabbat.) Source KSA 87:18

סעיף יח בהמות חיות ועופות הגדלים בבית שמזונותיהן מוטלין עליך, מותר לתת להם מזונות בשבת, אבל אותן שאינם גדלים בבית ואין מזונותיהן עליך אסור לטרוח בשביל ליתן להם מזונות, ואפילו להשליך לפניהם אסור. ולכן אסור ליתן מזונות לפני היונים לפי שיוצאין ואוכלין בשדה. נותנין מזונות לפני כלב, ואפילו של הפקר יש קצת מצוה ליתן לו מעט מזונות, שהרי הקדוש ברוך הוא חס עליו על שמזונותיו מועטין, ומשהה אכילתו במעיו שלשה ימים. יש נוהגין לתת חטים לפני העופות בשבת שירה, ואינו נכון שהרי אין מזונותיהן עליך.

Halocho #11 – Protection from dangerous items

Any life threatening danger needs preventive protection as appropriate. E.g. a well or pit needs a fence or a cover strong enough to ensure nobody falls in. Similarly one may not own a dangerous dog nor a shaky ladder. Source KSA 190:1-2