Category: Science and Health

We’ve already discussed what to do if a nazirite becomes impure during the period of their nazirite vow. But what happens if a nazirite becomes impure halfway through offering the sacrifices that conclude their vow? The mishnah on today’s daf presents two answers:  Rabbi Eliezer says: It negates them all.  And the rabbis say: Let him bring the rest of his offerings […]

How much money would you need to be happy in your daily life? Is too much bad for you? Researchers from Princeton University, led by Israeli-American psychologist and economist and 2002 Nobel Prize laureate Prof. Daniel Kahneman, found one result while a team from the University of Pennsylvania found the opposite. However, the two teams […]

There is a long history of Jews working in the alcohol industry, from running the majority of taverns in Poland in the mid-19th century to founding distilleries and wineries that are still in operation today. You may even be familiar with some of these businesses, such Herzog wineries, Seagram or the Carmel Winery. But what […]

The sight of hassidic adults giving cigarettes on Purim to children in the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) town of El’ad enraged the Israel Cancer Association (ICA). “Giving a child a cigarette on Purim is like handing out samples of poison,” the ICA said in a statement on Wednesday. Giving smokes to boys on Purim was a common […]

Imagine getting treatment for a perfectly healthy young heart that would allow it to recover from an otherwise devastating injury decades later. This seems very farfetched; after all, cardiovascular diseases that are humanity’s No. 1 or No. 2 cause of death (after cancer), aren’t generally regarded as something one can prepare for with preventive treatment. […]

Ridding two toxic by-products of fat that naturally accumulate over time could be the key to halting aging, and shedding a few pounds too, according to a new study.  The study, conducted at the University of Virginia and published last month in the peer-reviewed journal Current Biology, suggests that a longer life can be gained […]

With Purim in the rearview mirror, Jews who observe the annual cycle of holidays may now be setting their sights on Passover. That’s especially true for those who clean, kosher and otherwise transmogrify their homes in observance of the leaven-free holiday. Oy, time to start using up the Girl Scout Cookies … Passover and Purim […]

It doesn’t matter if you’re planning a pregnancy, already pregnant, or postpartum and breastfeeding, some small changes to your diet, sleep quantity and exercise habits can help you get through it all. These eight tips will help you be healthier in general, make pregnancy easier or ensure that the quality of your breast milk is […]

A peer-reviewed study published in the journal Nature last month found that genetic variations in the fatty acid desaturase (FADS) gene cluster increased the risk of bipolar disorder. What is bipolar disorder? Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition categorized by a manic swing of emotions, according to the National Health Service. While the exact […]

Differences in medical conditions and health are increasingly being discovered between males and females. There is growing evidence that women of all ethnic backgrounds and ages are more sensitive to salt than men and that this tendency to hold onto more salt – which drives up blood pressure – increases after menopause. Another important emerging […]