Rabbi Gil Student mentions the release of Gray Matter, Volume 2 by Chaim Jachter. Rav Jachter is a dayan (judge) on the Beth Din of Elizabeth New Jersey and is a teacher at the Torah Academy of Bergen County, New Jersey, a four-year Modern Orthodox yeshiva high school.

In this book, Rabbi Jachter covers practical issues in modern halachah, including issues with work on Shabbat, tevilah, the workings of a modern beit din (religious court), kashering dishwashers for Pesach, using electric Chanukah menorahs, and building and maintaing a mikvah.

I am very impressed by the breadth of the subject matter of this book, and I have added it to my never-decreasing reading list (along with volume 1, chich covers an equally impressive list of subjects). I also hope that all of our Messianic leaders read it, at least to better understand some of the practical measures taken in a modern beit din. We may not agree with everything Rabbi Jachter says, but he certainly can talk about some important issues that will help our movement grow.

Labels: Judaism