Dose of Halacha

Question: I sometimes receive wedding invitations that include pesukim . Am I allowed to throw them away, or do they need to go in sheimos ? Answer: The Gemara (Shabbos 115b) states that one who writes berachos unnecessarily is as if they have burned the Torah, since such writings are likely to be discarded and treated disrespectfully. For this reason, Rambam (Teshuvos Harambam 268) and the Shulchan Aruch (YD 283:4) rule that pesukim should not be written on a tallis . Regarding the use of short pesukim on documents, the Gemara (Gittin 6b) presents a machlokes as to whether writing three or four consecutive words from a passuk on a document gives it the status of kedusha . As a result, Rambam (Sefer Torah 7:14) and the Shulchan Aruch (YD 283:3) disagree on the matter. The Tashbetz (1:2) clarifies that this concern does not apply when the words are rearranged or written on separate lines rather than in a single, continuous phrase. R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe YD 2:1...

Question: If I want to leave a chasuna early, what do I do about bentching with a mezuman ? Answer: There are two potential issues with leaving a chasuna early. The first is whether one who is part of a large gathering can bentch without a mezuman of ten. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 193:1) writes that one eating along with nine other men must not leave early and bentch with a smaller mezuman without a minyan. The Mishna Berura (200:5) writes that if one really needs to leave early, it is best if he makes a zimun with two others. The second issue is whether one can miss the sheva berachos that are recited after bentching . R’ Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss (Minchas Yitzchak 2:43:15) writes that while sheva berachos needs to be recited at the meal, that doesn’t mean everyone needs to participate. The Gemara and poskim make no mention of staying as they do for bentching . Thus, one who can’t stay until the end may leave early. R’ Eliezer Waldenberg (Tzitz Eliezer 11:84) agrees, writin...

Question: If my cholent dries out on Shabbos, may I add hot water to the pot? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 318:4) writes that one can pour hot water into a hot dish that has already been cooked on Shabbos. Yet, elsewhere, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 253:5) writes that it is forbidden to pour hot water from a kettle into a pot of food. The Beis Yosef (OC 253:15) explains that we are worried that the dish has cooled down and it is now being ‘cooked again’ by the hot water (or vice versa). Thus, providing both pots are hot, it should be permitted to pour from one to the other. Nonetheless, R’ Benzion Abba Shaul (Ohr Letzion 2:17:8) writes that there are other reasons why the Shulchan Aruch writes this halacha and one shouldn’t add hot water to the pot regardless as to whether it’s on the stove or not. Thus, R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yechave Daas 4:22) writes that sefardim should ideally not add hot water to hot dishes. R’ Yehoshua Neuwirth (Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasa 1:16) writes that on...

Question: Should girls celebrate their  bas mitzva  with a seuda ? Answer: The Magen Avraham (OC 225:4) writes that parents are obligated to make a seuda for their son on the day of his  bar mitzva  just as one does when he marries. R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC 1:104) wrote that while one can celebrate one’s  bas mitzva  at home, it is no different to any other birthday party. He continues that if it were up to him, he would even put a stop to  bar mitzva  celebrations, especially as they often have little religious content and can cause chillul Shabbos. Elsewhere, (Igros Moshe OC 2:97) he questions why there is a difference at all between celebrating a boy’s  bar mitzva  and a girl’s  bas mitzva . He later wrote (Igros Moshe OC 4:36) that it is appropriate to make a kiddush in shul to mark this milestone. R’ Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg (Seridei Aish 3:93), however, argues that while people didn’t celebrate bas mit...