About the Peninei Halakha Series
The Peninei Halakha book series is the creation of Rabbi Eliezer Melamed, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva and Rabbi of the Har Bracha community.
The series is a unique and comprehensive halakhic work that transmits the tradition of halakhic ruling with a refreshing Land of Israel spirit – “fine, aged wine in a beautiful new vessel.”
Fitting for an era defined by the return of the Jewish people to their homeland and the unfolding of our redemption, the books are written in clear, contemporary language. They illuminate the halakhot by explaining their underlying spiritual meaning and respectfully address the customs of various Jewish communities.
The halakhot are explained from overarching principles down to practical details, with a special emphasis on contemporary issues that have emerged in modern times. In doing so, the books help establish halakha within the Jewish nation as a bridge between Divine morality and everyday life, fostering a deeper love for Torah among those who study it.
To date, the Peninei Halakha series has been translated into four languages, including English, French, Russian, and Spanish. Over 1,200,000 volumes have been sold in Israel and abroad, and the series serves as the foundational curriculum for halakha study programs in educational institutions across Israel.
The entire series is available to the public for free learning on the Peninei Halakha website and through the dedicated app for Android and iPhone. Physical copies of the books can be purchased on the Har Bracha Institute website and at Judaica stores.
Below is a brief overview of the topics covered in each of the published volumes of the Peninei Halakha series:
Tefilah (Prayer) – The foundations of the laws of prayer, the preparations before prayer, the three prayers themselves, the Amidah, the Shema prayer before sleep, the appropriate place for prayer and the minyan, the differing versions of prayer, and more.
Tefilat Nashim (Women’s Prayer) – The laws of prayer with an emphasis on the uniqueness of women’s prayer in Halakha and its reasons. In addition, some of the laws of prayer and Kiddush for Shabbat and holidays were added to the book, with emphasis on the laws relating to women, and a general chapter on differing versions of prayer and customs.
Berachot – Includes the laws of blessings over food and washing of the hands, the blessings of fragrances, the blessings on unusual sights, blessings over happy occasions, the blessing ‘Hagomel’, and the laws of ‘Derech Eretz’.
Shabbat A – Includes preparations for Shabbat, the times of Shabbat, the lighting of the Shabbat candles, the laws of Kiddush, Havdalah, and the meals. It also covers the forbidden acts (melachot) of: cooking, kindling and extinguishing fire (and electricity), washing clothes, carrying from one domain to another (eruvin), agricultural melachot, and selecting (borer).
Shabbat B – Deals with saving a life on Shabbat (Pikuach Nefesh), Eruvin, Shabbat boundaries (Techumin), the spirit of Shabbat, Muktzeh, and more.
Zemanim – The laws of Rosh Chodesh, the counting of the Omer, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Yom Yerushalayim, Lag B’Omer, Chanukah, the month of Adar and Purim, the Three Weeks, and the Fasts over the Destruction of the Temple – the 10th of Tevet, the 17th of Tammuz, Tisha B’Av, and the Fast of Gedaliah.
Pesach – The meaning of the holiday, the rules of the prohibition of chametz, checking for and destroying chametz, annulment and elimination, mixtures of chametz, topics dealing with the kashrut of different foods on Pesach, legumes (kitniyot), kashering utensils and the kitchen, the laws and customs of Erev Pesach, the mitzvah of eating matzah, and the laws of the Seder night.
Moadim (Festivals) – The laws of Yom Tov, Chol HaMoed, and Shavuot.
Yamim Nora’im (Days of Awe) – Deals with the Halakhot of the Days of Judgment, including Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the prayers and Selichot, the Ten Days of Repentance, the laws of fasting, an explanation of the service of the Kohen Gadol, and more.
Sukkot – The laws of building and residing in a Sukkah, the Four Species (Arba’at HaMinim), Hoshana Rabba, Simchat Torah, and the mitzvah of Hakhel.
Likutim B – Deals with the laws between man and his fellow man, such as: telling the truth, deceit, stealing, loans, charity, hospitality, the laws of a murderer and one who commits suicide, guarding one’s life, road safety, abortion, autopsies, transplants, society, and agency. (Note: The Likutim books present the basic halakhot on each topic and do not encompass every halakhic detail).
Kashrut 1 (Animals and Plants) – Covers the laws concerning kosher animals and vegetation, including Halakhot related to Challah separation, Kilayim (forbidden mixtures) of the vineyard and seeds, the separation of tithes, Shiluach HaKein (sending away the mother bird), Tza’ar Ba’alei Chaim (preventing cruelty to animals), and more.
Kashrut 2 (Kosher Kitchen) – Addresses the laws of Kashrut concerning food and the kitchen, including Halakhot of non-kosher animals, blood and the preparation of meat, forbidden creatures, meat and milk, non-Jewish foods, Kashering utensils and the kitchen, mixtures, matters of danger, the food industry, and more.
The Nation and the Land – Deals with the virtue of the Land and settling the Land, the army and war, refusing orders, laws of the State, mutual responsibility, Hebrew labor, remembering the Temple, and converts. The book includes halakhic responses from Rabbi Goren zt”l and other rabbis on these issues.
Family – Deals with laws concerning family life, such as: honoring parents, preparing for marriage, Kiddushin and the Ketubah, wedding customs, forbidden relationships, the laws of modesty, Brit Milah, Pidyon HaBen, and mourning.
Simhat HaBayit U’Virkhato – Focuses on the foundations of marriage and the essence of the spousal relationship. It details the value and sanctity of the Mitzvah of marital relations (Onah), the Mitzvah of procreation (P’ru U’rvu), challenges of fertility, and the termination of pregnancy.
Family Purity – Deals with the laws of Niddah, the sighting of blood and stains, prohibitions during the restricted days, the Seven Clean Days, calculating cycles, preparations for immersion and interpositions (Chatzitza), laws of a bride, pregnant women, women after childbirth, and the laws of Mikva’ot.
Shmita and Yovel – Deals with the Mitzvah of the Sabbatical Year (Shmita), the command of resting the land, the waiver of fruit rights, Shmita produce, the time, place, and people involved, Shmitat Kesafim (waiver of debts), the Heter Mechira, Otzar Beit Din, buying produce during Shmita, the Mitzvah of the Jubilee Year (Yovel), and the vision of the Sabbatical Year.
Conversion – Covers the topic of conversion (Giyur), the status of the righteous convert (Ger Tzedek), complex conversions, the Beit Din, practical conversion procedures, conversion in exigent circumstances, conversion of minors, family law, and the status and laws of the convert.
Faith and its Mitzvot A – Deals with Jewish faith, faith versus idolatry (Avodah Zarah), the prohibitions of Avodah Zarah, self-sacrifice (Mesirut Nefesh), Avodah Zarah for Noahides, Christianity, Islam, Eastern religions, and more.
Faith and its Mitzvot B – Deals with Prophecy, the Divine Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh), nature versus miracles, sorcery, practical Kabbalah, Rabbis and miracle workers, curses and blessings, fortune-telling, astrology, faith in our generation, and more.
Sacred Objects – Covers the laws of Tzitzit, Tefillin, Kippah, Mezuzah, Torah scrolls and sacred books, Genizah, and the Synagogue.
Additional volumes are currently in the works and will be published soon.