Exploring Contemporary Halachic Issues with Rabbi Ari N. Enkin

`Dalet amot´ literally means ´4 cubits of Halacha´ and this is what we were left with after the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. In over 100 articles approaching diverse topics such as women&family, medical issues or inter-personal relationships, Rabbi Ari N. Enkin offers a consistent review of more or less known issues pertaining to the everyday Jewish practice.

The level of knowledge required is basic to inter-mediate, but personally I think that every person, regardless the level of Torah education, either you are a layman, scholar or observant Jew, everyone has something new to learn and think about after reading this book. Remember the answee to the question: who is a wise man?

Despite the diversity of topics, many of them - for example, the issue of adoption - I would definitely want to study later in a more systematic and in-depth way, there is something else I highly appreciated about Dalet Amot. Halachic Perspectives by Rabbi Ari N. Enkin: the generous way in which it includes different perspectives and approaches, without taking a definite stance. After all, in the author´s own words: `If Gd is infinite, then there must be an infinite number of legitimate ways to serve Him`. It is nothing wrong in following a certain path that you´ve been observed in your home, but this does not exclude the recognition of many other similar choices and possibilities, given than the halachic matrix is respected.

The author acknowledge the fact that we must ensure that women learn halacha, and there are aspects pertaining to women practice approaches in the book, for example kol isha, modesty and mikveh - the topic of building a mikveh and the various points of view is another topic I will be very interested to approach into more technical detail one day - one may not find any dispute or controversial statements on this issue, the neutral - halachically/legal - perspective being rather followed.

Personally, I´ve found the book very useful as a refreshment of some halachic topics and for the discovery of new problems that hopefully will keep me busy in the next weeks and months.

For anyone looking for a bit of Torah learning and a larger peace of mind in confused times, Dalet Amot. Halachic Perspectives by Rabbi Ari N. Enkin may offer solace, inspiration and eventually reasons to consider an even higher level of Torah learning and halachic observance.