Rabbi Avraham Edelstein

The Mishnah, at the end of Horayos, teaches the laws of triage. Those principles convey the guidelines of determining whose life to save first when a rescuer encounters multiple people whose physical lives are in danger. Is there spiritual triage? If there are limited resources, how does an outreach professional determine which non-observant Jews take... Read more »

There have been many proclamations from the Torah leadership exalting outreach activities and declaring it obligatory for all those who could participate, to do so

Chanufah can be liberally translated as the prohibition against undeserved flattering. It includes giving undue compliments and praising transgressors. The prohibition also includes endorsing

The Shelah refers to tochachah as “a very great mitzvah.” However, the sources for mitzvas tochachah are quite spread out and therefore not easily accessible. In this chapter, we provide background to understand the kiruv applications of the mitzvah of tochachah. Tochachah: It’s All About Caring It is not good enough to be a “tzaddik”... Read more »

Issues relating to male-female interactions dramatically affect outreach in so many ways. Among the questions we will explore are: Can a man recite a

Teaching Torah vs. Tochachah Most outreach professionals teach Torah as the central part of their outreach efforts. The source for the mitzvah of teaching Torah to the unaffiliated is not the same as that for other aspects of kiruv, such as inviting them for Shabbos. Determining the original source for these laws has practical ramifications.... Read more »

It is prohibited to derive pleasure from this world without reciting a berachah. Even a Jew who is not observant is required to recite berachos over food. In fact, there are a number of anecdotes about the Vilna Gaon in which he encountered heretics and warned them that they would be held accountable for every... Read more »

Shabbos in general, and Shabbos meals in particular, are probably the most transformational experiences that one could offer to a non-affiliated Jew. While every ba’al teshuvah has a unique story and set of elements which influenced him/her, Shabbos almost always features as

There are several practical applications of the principle of lifnei iver to kiruv situations. May someone be invited for a Shabbos meal when he will inevitably drive there? May one make a shidduch for a couple who will not keep the laws of family purity? May one invite a co-ed group to a sleepaway weekend... Read more »

In the previous chapter, we cited the position of many poskim who stated that under extenuating circumstances, the status of tinokos shenishbu can be applied to contemporary non-observant Jews. The implication is that many of the lenient rulings that affect how we relate to non-observant Jews cannot be applied indiscriminately. Rather, to determine whether a... Read more »

Pages By: Rabbi Avraham Edelstein

NEW from the Laws of Outreach! The Final Installment – Triage in Kiruv

NEW from the Laws of Outreach: Torah Leaders on Engaging in Outreach

NEW from the Laws of Outreach: Chanufah & Outreach – Undeserved Flattering

NEW from the Laws of Outreach: Tochachah – Giving Rebuke

NEW from the Laws of Outreach! Male – Female Interactions

NEW from the Laws of Outreach! Teaching Torah

NEW from the Laws of Outreach! Kiruv Through Food

NEW from The Laws of Outreach: Invitations for Shabbos

NEW from The Laws of Outreach! Lifnei Iver

NEW from The Laws of Outreach! Halachic Applications of Tinokos Shenishbu in our Time

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