New Periodical: RJJ Journal LXII

New issue of the Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society:

• Tearing Keriah in the Presence of Death by R. Sariel Malitzky – Who tears keriah and on whom? Must doctors tear keriah? R Moshe Feinstein says yes but many others say no. Article includes a number of other details.
• Shabbat Morning Kiddush over Schnapps in a Plastic Shot Glass by R. Ari Zivotofsky – Very problematic
• Bourbon Owned by a Jewish Company over Pesach by R. Dovid Cohen – This was a big discussion in 2010. I was at the AKO conference when it was discussed in a boisterous way. This article summarizes the issues and the opinions of different authorities (footnote 4 has a list of the authorities but the article does not say who holds what). See also R. Yaakov Ariel, Be-Ohalah Shel Torah vol. 5 no. 40.
• The Halachic Status of Genetically Engineered Meat by R. Yehuda Spitz – Concludes that meat grown synthetically from a non-kosher animal’s cells are probably not kosher. Adds as a postscript that the meat uses calf blood as a growth medium, which should forbid the meat.
• Brit Milah Issues: Historical Controversies and Contemporary Halachic Issues by R. Eliyahu Asher Prero – Details on various problematic practices that can render a circumcision incomplete and require a second procedure.
• Letters – Brief discussion of how to understand the Chasam Sofer on whether the absence of the bigdei kehunah preclude the holy service.