Dose of Halacha

Question: My local Sefarim shop sells Shabbos Toothbrushes.  What’s wrong with brushing my teeth with a regular toothbrush? Answer:  There are a few potential Halachic issues to be aware of. R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC 1:112) and R’ Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss (Minchas Yitzchak 3:48; 50) write that one must not brush one’s teeth with regular toothpaste on Shabbos, as smoothing the toothpaste onto one’s teeth is the transgression of memareiach, smoothing out a solid (or semi-solid) object, as well as sechita , squeezing the liquid out of the bristles. However, R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer OC 4:27:2; 28) disagrees, maintaining that the memareiach only applies when one leaves a layer of paste and not when it gets brushed off immediately. Nonetheless, R’ Eliezer Waldenberg (Tzitz Eliezer 7:30 ) challenges this, explaining that one purposely rubs the toothpaste into one’s gums and teeth. Even if it gets washed away soon after, one has transgressed the issur of memareiach. R' Y...

Question: I see some men walking around with a blue techeles thread on their tzitzis . If we know what techeles is, why don’t we all wear it? Answer: Wearing techeles was always an integral part of the mitzva of wearing t zitzis . Unfortunately, however, the art of making techeles from the chilazon has been lost for close to 2,000 years. The Midrash (Tanchuma, Shelach) laments that “now we have no techeles , only white, as techeles has been hidden.” While the Tosefta (Bava Metzia 61:) writes that one who doesn’t wear techeles has transgressed the mitzva of tzitzis, we see in the Gemara (Bava Metzia 61b and Menachot 40a, 43a) that wearing the wrong techeles invalidates the tzitzis. But what is the chilazon? In the 1880’s, the Radzyner Rebbe, R’ Gershon Henoch Leiner, maintained that a particular squid ( Sepia officinalis ) was the long lost chilazon. He published 3 seforim on the subject, though while many used this dye to make techeles, it was far from blue and white! In 19...

Question: At a recent business meeting, a lady proffered her hand for a handshake. Was I allowed to shake it? Answer:  The question of whether it is okay for a non related man and woman to shake hands largely depends on whether this contact is classified as a דרך תאוה וחיבה , a ‘way that is based on attraction’. Lenient authorities have quoted the Shach (YD 195:20), who, quoting Rambam, writes that it is (only) forbidden for a man and woman to touch in any manner that causes attraction ( chiba ). Where touching yields no pleasure, it would be permissible (YD 157:10). Thus, R’ Moshe Feinstein paskens (Igros Moshe EH 2:14) that one can sit on a tram next to a woman even if they are accidentally touching. R’ Chaim Berlin (Nishmas Chaim, EH) writes that today, shaking hands is a regular way of greeting people. One has to bear in mind what reputation such a refusal will leave Religious Jews with. Rather shake hands than give others the impression that we’re crazy and are lackin...

Question: I have heard various things about drinking on Purim. Is it an actual requirement? Answer: The Gemara (Megilla 7b) teaches that one should drink enough on Purim that one can no longer tell the difference between cursed is Haman and blessed is Mordechai . While some rishonim (Rif Megillah 3b; Tur OC 695:1) read this Gemara literally, many other rishonim and acharonim interpret this statement differently. Thus, the Rema (Darkei Moshe 695:1) writes that the Gemara is referring to a particular piyyut . One would need their full wits in order to be able to sing the lyrics properly, and even a little drink could confuse them (See Aruch Hashulchan OC 695:3; Kaf Hachaim OC 695:16). The Baal Hamaor (Megilla 3b) and Ran (Megilla 3b) quote Rabbeinu Ephraim who write that as the Gemara continues with a story about the dangers of drinking on Purim, the maskana (conclusion) is that one should not drink. The Beis Yosef (OC 695:1) adds that there is no greater sin than being intox...