Dose of Halacha

Question: I have seen Seforim that are inscribed, ‘bought with maaser money’. Is it okay to do that? Answer: Ideally one should give one’s maaser to the poor (Rema YD 249:1; Minchas Yitzchak 8:83). Today, this includes donations to Torah institutions which will help those who can’t otherwise afford a Torah education. The Taz (YD 249:1) quotes R’ Menachem of Merseburg that allows one to use one’s maaser to buy Seforim if they cannot otherwise afford to buy them. One doing so must make them available for others to use and write in them that they were bought with maaser funds (See Chafetz Chaim, Ahavas Chesed 2:19:2). R’ Eliezer Waldenberg (Tzitz Eliezer 9:1:2) explains that one who borrows Seforim that they don’t have is considered poor. Such lending is akin to distributing spiritual food, and thus considered a form of Tzedaka. Most contemporary Poskim hold that as nowadays Seforim are far more accessible, one should not rely on this leniency. The Aruch Hashulchan (YD 249:...

Chazal (Avodah Zarah 35b) were concerned that some non-Kosher milk may get mixed into Kosher milk, and so instituted that milk production must be supervised by a Jew who must ensure that any parts or containers used don’t come into contact with non-Kosher milk.  R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe YD 1:47-49, 2:31, 35, YD 4:5) wrote that so long as the milk production is regulated by government standards, it is considered supervised. Such milk is referred to as  chalav stam . Initially R’ Moshe wrote that while a  baal nefesh  should refrain from  chalav stam,  one mustn’t criticize others who drink it. In his later Teshuvos, (perhaps as  chalav yisroel  became more prevalent in the US), he wrote that one should only rely on this  hetter  under extenuating circumstances.  While many in the US follow R’ Moshe’s (earlier)  psak,  in the UK (and Eretz Yisroel), most follow R’ Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss (Minchas Yitzchak 1:1...

Question: May I use my maaser money to pay for my children’s school fees? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (YD 245:4) writes that parents have an obligation to teach their sons Torah or hire another to teach on their behalf. Many poskim (Aruch Hashulchan YD 249:10; Chafetz Chaim, Ahavas Chesed 2:19:2) therefore write that as this is an obligatory Mitzva one should not use one’s maaser to pay for it. R' Shmuel Wosner (Shevet Halevi 5:133:2) points out that the primary obligation is to teach Torah Shebichsav. As schools today teach Torah Shebaal Peh, one may use one’s maaser if absolutely necessary . R’ Yitzchak Blazer (Shut Pri Yitzchak 2:27) writes that one may use one’s maaser for one’s older children in Yeshiva or Seminary (or even above the age of six). Some poskim differentiate between boys and girls tuition. R' Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss (Minchas Yitzchak 10:85) allows one to use one’s maaser to pay for their daughter’s tuition if necessary as one is not obligated to tea...

Question: I see lots of adverts saying that the optimum way of fulfilling Matanos Laevyonim is by giving to charities in Israel. Should I give to them instead of my local Tzedaka? Answer: The halachos of matanos laevyonim are similar to those of tzedaka . While you are allowed to give tzedaka to whomever you wish to, the Gemara (Bava Metzia 71a) writes that one should donate locally before sending money out of town. The Shulchan Aruch (YD 251:3) writes that there is a hierarchy of who takes precedence. One must support one’s poor relatives first, followed by one’s neighbours, then poor people in one’s city and lastly poor people in Eretz Yisrael. The Aruch Hashulchan (YD 251:8) writes that even if the poor people from another city are talmidei chachamim , and the local poor aren’t, one should support the locals first. While the poor in Eretz Yisrael take precedence over those in other places, the Shach (YD 251:6) writes that the local poor come before those of Eretz Yi...

Question:  Can I use my   maaser   money for   matanos laevyonim   and   kimcha depischa ? Answer:   While there is a clear mitzva deoraisa to give tzedaka , there is a machlokes as to whether giving maaser (10% of one’s earnings) is deoraisa, derabannan, or just a minhag . Tosafos (Taanis 9a) writes that maaser is deoraisa and Maharil (54) writes that it is derabannan though most poskim (Bach YD 331; Chavos Yair 224; Shaalos Yaavetz 1:3) maintain that it is a laudable minhag. (See Aruch Hashulchan YD 249:5; Tzitz Eliezer 9:1). Thus, the Chafetz Chaim (Ahavas Chesed 18:2) advises one to stipulate that they are giving maaser, ‘ bli neder’. Based on this, there is a machlokes as to what one may use his maaser money for. The Rema (YD 249:1) writes that it may only be used to support the poor and not for any other mitzva , while the Shach (YD 249:1) quotes the Maharam who allows one to use one’s maaser for a mitzva that one would not have ot...

Question: Can I open and close the hood on my baby’s buggy on Shabbos? Is it okay to put a rain cover over the hood? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 315:1) writes that Chazal forbade making a temporary o hel on Shabbos. The Gemara (Shabbos 138a) writes that one may unfold a folding chair on Shabbos. While doing so creates a shelter over the space underneath the chair that is not considered making an ohel. Thus, it would be muttar to open buggies and foldable cots on Shabbos (Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasa 24:23) R’ Yechezkel Landau (Noda B’yehuda OC 1:30) writes that umbrellas are not included in this category and may not be opened or closed on Shabbos. While many Acharonim (Chasam Sofer OC:72; Tiferes Yisrael, Kilkeles Shabbos, Ohel) disagreed with R’ Landau’s arguments, they did not allow their use. Following R’ Landau, R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC 4:105:3) and R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yalkut Yosef, Shabbos 2:p536) write that the hood may only be closed (unfolded) providing it is ...