Dose of Halacha

Question: I recently saw a mezuza on the entrance to a lift, though we don’t have one in our office. Do we need to attach one? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (YD 286:11) writes that one doesn’t need to affix a mezuza to a room on a boat. R’ Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss (Minchas Yitzchak 4:93) writes that there is a machlokes as to whether this halacha would apply to all moving rooms or not. Accordingly, there is a machlokes as to whether one needs to affix a mezuza to a caravan or not (See Minchas Yitzchak 2:82). While rooms smaller than four amos by four amos don’t typically require a mezuza, the Teshuvos Chamudei Daniel holds that when such rooms are typically so small, they do require a mezuza (See Pischei Teshuva, YD 286:11; Yechave Daas 4:51). Based on this, R’ Weiss writes that ideally one should place a mezuza on a lift. One should only place it on the lift itself, and not at the entrance on each floor. Nonetheless, R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Minchas Shlomo 2:97:23) ...

Question: Does one say a beracha on affixing a mezuza to one’s office doorway? Answer: The Gemara (Yuma 10a) teaches that a sukka does not require a mezuza since it is a temporary dwelling. Thus, the Shulchan Aruch (YD 286:11) writes that sukkos, boats and shops do not require mezuzos . Elsewhere, the Shulchan Aruch (YD 286:2) does require that one affix a mezuza to a storage room. The poskim have suggested different answers to explain the difference. The Taz (YD 286:10) explains that one is more likely to access the storage area at any time of day and night. Shopkeepers do not typically go to their shops at night. As such, shops are exempt from mezuzos. However, the Pischei Teshuva (YD 286:10) quotes R’ Dov Berish Gottlieb (Yad Haketana Mezuza 2:21) who writes that the Shulchan Aruch is referring to temporary market stalls, comparing them to sukkos that do not require mezuzos . A permanent shop, however, would require a mezuza (see Perisha 286:22). According to the Aruch Ha...

Question: On a recent trip to Eretz Yisrael, our tour guide warned us not to place our fingers into the stones of the kosel. Are we not allowed to place a note inside or touch the stones? Answer:  According to the Mishna (Kelim 1:8) it is forbidden mideoraisa to go into the place of the beis hamikdash while tamei (See Zevachim 32b) . There are various midrashim (Shemos Rabba 2:2; Bamidbar Rabba 11:2; M idrash Rabba Shir Hashirim 2:9:4, et al.) that talk of the uniqueness of the Western Wall of the beis hamikdash . Based on this, the Radbaz (2:648; 691) believed that the kosel is a remnant of the beis hamikdash itself. Thus, the Chayei Adam (Mishpatei Eretz 11:8) writes that one can walk close to the kosel though one shouldn’t touch it (See Yabia Omer 5:YD:27). However, the Avnei Nezer (YD 450),  R’ Yechiel Michel Tukachinsky (Ir Hakodesh Vehamikdash 4:2) and R’ Ovadia Yosef (ibid) write that the kosel is not a wall of the beis hamikdash but a retaining wall...

Question: If one comes late to shul on Friday night, can they still daven Mincha? Answer: The Mishna (Berachos 26a) writes that one can daven Mincha until evening. There is a machlokes among the rishonim as to when this is. While Mincha corresponds to the afternoon korban tamid, there is a machlokes as to whether its blood had to be offered up by shekia , sunset, or tzeit hakochavim, nightfall. Chassidim (and many sefardim ) typically follow the Rema (OC 233:1) who writes that one can daven Mincha until tzeit (See Shaagas Aryeh 17; Yechave Daas 5:22). Others, however, typically follow the Gra (OC 261:2), Aruch Hashulchan (OC 223:9), Mishna Berura (233:14) and R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC 1:24) who write that one must daven before shekia and it would be better to daven alone before shekia rather than daven with a minyan after shekia. Rabbenu Yona (Berachos 18b) writes that one must be consistent and follow one opinion rather than change whenever one wants...