Dose of Halacha

Question: I find it difficult to visit my friend in hospital and so call and email her. Have I done the mitzva of bikur cholim ? Answer: Although the mitzvah to visit the sick, bikur cholim, isn’t written clearly in the Torah, the Behag (Asei 36) and Smak (47) classify it as one of the 613 mitzvos. The Tur (YD 335) writes that this mitzva includes 3 components: to pray for them, see to their needs and give them encouragement. The Beis Yosef (YD 335) writes that the primary m itzvah is to pray for the patient. According to the Rema (YD 335:4) one who visits a patient without praying for them has not properly fulfilled their obligation. R’ Moshe Feinstein ( Igros Moshe YD 1:223) and R' Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss  (Minchas Yitzchak 2:84)  write that while one can’t fulfil every component of this mitzva by calling a patient, one who can’t visit them in person still performs a mitzva by calling.  R’ Asher Weiss (Minchas Asher, Bereishis 20) disagrees. Chazal said that...

Question: I once heard that one can avoid tearing keriah at the kosel by visiting on a Friday. Is this correct? Answer: Rambam (Taanis 5:16; Aveilus 9:10) and the Shulchan Aruch (OC 561:2) rule that upon witnessing ‘Yerushalayim in its state of destruction’, one should recite the verse ‘Zion has become a desolate wilderness’ and tear keriah. When seeing the actual site of the Beis Hamikdash, one tears keriah again, while reciting, “Our holy and glorious House, where our forefathers praised You, has been consumed by fire, and all that we held dear has been laid waste.” The Mishna Berura (561:2) explains that Yerushalayim is only considered ‘in a state of destrution’ when under foreign rule. Accordingly, R’ Moshe Feinstein writes (Igros Moshe OC 4:70:11) that since Yerushalayim is now under Jewish sovereignty, there is no obligation to tear keriah upon seeing the city. However, one is still required to tear upon seeing the Har Habayis itself. R’ Moshe Sternbuch (Teshuvos Veh...

Question: I am left handed. Other than placing Tefillin on my right arm, are there any other considerations that I should be aware of? Answer: Which hand a left-handed person should use, depends on which reason a right-handed person is supposed to use their right hand: either because their right hand is more prominent, or because Kabbalistically, the right hand represents the force of Chessed. The Mishna Berura (4:22) writes that when washing one’s hands, one washes one’s right hand first irrespective as to whether one is right or left-handed. Likewise, everyone should put their right sleeve, etc. in first when getting dressed (See Mishna Berura 2:4). Unlike right-handed people who tie their left shoes first, however, left-handed people should tie their right shoes first (corresponding to which arm they would tie their Tefillin on). R’ Chaim Kanievsky (Ish Iteir n19) writes that when saying Shema, one should always use one’s right hand to cover one’s eyes. The Mishna Berura ...

Question: I have always stored food under my bed and recently learned that this is not recommended. Do I need to dispose of it? Answer: The Gemara (Pesachim 112a) advises against storing food under a bed, as it is believed that a ruach ra’ah (evil spirit) will pass over it. The Shulchan Aruch (YD 116:5) upholds this ruling. However, Rambam (Hilchos Rotzeach 12:5) offers a different perspective, suggesting that this evil spirit no longer exists (see Lechem Mishne, Hilchos Shevisas Asor 3:2). R’ Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss (Minchas Yitzchak 4:117) permits placing food at the bottom of a buggy, even if a baby is sleeping in it. Medications, not being classified as food, may also be stored under a bed (Halichos Shlomo, Tefilla 13:17; Tzitz Eliezer 17:35). R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer YD 1:9) states that as the Vilna Gaon and others were stringent about this practice, if food is inadvertently placed under a bed, it should ideally be discarded. However, if the food is expensive, one may re...

Question:   Am I allowed to meet people in a coffee shop if they are eating non-Kosher food and I am just having a coffee? Answer: The Mishna (Shekalim 3:2) writes that the person who took the teruma from the shekalim in the Beis Hamikdash had to ensure that they were not wearing shoes or that their clothes had any pockets, etc. so that no one could falsely accuse them of stealing any money. While this prohibition is typically referred to as maris ayin, R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC 2:40; 4:82) explains that there are, in fact, two separate prohibitions. Maris ayin means that one should avoid doing something which will easily lead people to jump to the wrong conclusion that something else is permissible. Therefore, one should avoid going to daven in a shul that lacks a mechitza even if one is going to daven in a separate room, as others may think that it is permissible to daven in such a shul . Chashad, on the other hand, is giving others the impression that one ...