Dose of Halacha

Question: Is it okay to have a quick snack and drink before I daven Shacharis? Does the same apply to my wife and children? Answer: The Gemara (Berachos 10a) writes that one mustn’t eat before davening as it is considered haughty to take care of one’s personal needs first. While most Poskim (Bais Yosef OC 89:3) hold that this prohibition is derabanan, the Minchas Chinuch (248:5) writes that it is mideoraisa and the Chayei Adam (16:1) writes that as the Gemara brings a Pasuk, it is akin to being mideorraisa. One isn’t even allowed to taste food (Shulchan Aruch OC 89:3). The Shulchan Aruch allows one to drink water and the Mishna Berura (89:22) includes coffee and tea (if it will help his davening ) though writes that one shouldn’t add sugar or milk. R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Halichos Shlomo, Tefilla 2:2) and R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer 4:11) however, allow milk and sugar, as these are no longer considered such luxuries (See Aruch Hashulchan 89:23). The Shulchan Aruch (OC 89:...

Question: Our cars use E10 petrol which contains ethanol, much of which is derived from wheat. Some of our toiletries contain wheat-based-ethanol, too. Does that mean we have to sell our cars and toiletries over Pesach? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 442:9) writes that food that has been destroyed to the extent that it is no longer rauy l’achilas kelev (fit to be eaten by a dog) is no longer considered chametz , and one may own it over Pesach. The Mishna Berura (442:43) qualifies this ruling: while one may own it, one is still forbidden to eat this inedible ‘food’ miderabanan (See Rosh, Pesachim 2:1). Defining what is rauy l’achilas kelev and eino rauy (unfit) is not so straight forward, however. Certain cleaning agents and cosmetics (including nail polish remover) contain denatured alcohol, ethanol that has been made unfit for human consumption by adding chemicals (denaturants) to it. It is possible, however, through adding various chemicals, to reverse the process (though othe...

Rashi (Pesachim 2a) and Ran (Pesachim 1a) maintain that bedikas chametz is  deoraisa . Tosafos (Pesachim 2a) argues that it must be derabanan , as one can technically avoid owning chametz by being mevatel (nullifying) it. The Bach and Magen Avraham (OC 431:1) write that one should begin one’s search after shekiah. Most follow the Mishna Berura (431:1), however, who writes that one should begin promptly at nacht . One should not learn or eat (a meal) for half an hour beforehand, as doing so may cause one to forget to search. While the Mishna Berura (431:8) brings reasons both for and against davening Maariv first, he maintains that ideally one should. While one needs to search all of one’s cupboards, too (unless they are being sold), one can rely somewhat on them having been checked previously ( Daas Torah 433:2; Shaar Hatziyun 432:12 ). Many follow the Arizal’s minhag of having someone else hide ten pieces of chametz around the house before bedikas chametz. The Taz (OC...