Dose of Halacha

Question: By the time I get home in the Winter, it is already after shekia . Is it better to daven mincha by myself before shekia or to daven after shekia in a chassidishe shul after shekia ? Answer: The Mishna (Berachos 26a) cites a machlokes as to whether one can daven mincha up until plag hamincha or until the evening. Rabbeinu Yona (Berachos 18a) and Rambam (Tefilla 3:4) write that one only has until shekia as it corresponds to the korban tamid which must not be offered after shekia . Nonetheless, Rashi and others define evening as nightfall. Rabbeinu Chananel (quoted by the Hagaos Maimonos, Tefilla 3:3) writes that one can daven mincha until tzeis hakochavim , nightfall, corresponding to the time when the ketores must be offered by (see Shaagas Aryeh 17; Pnei Yehoshua, Berachos 27a). The Gemara (Berachos 27a) teaches that as this machlokes was never resolved, one can choose one time over the other (see Shibolei Haleket 48; Raavad 194). The Mishna Berura (Shaar...

Question: On Sukkos, we go sukka hopping, visiting various friends’ sukkas. If we say the beracha, leisheiv basukka in the first one, does that cover us for subsequent visits? Do we need to say a new beracha rishona and acharona at every sukka ? Answer: The Gemara (Pesachim 101b) writes that if one moves to another house while eating, they need to recite a new beracha rishona before continuing to eat (See Shulchan Aruch OC 178:1). The Mishna Berura (178:33; 40) writes that providing one intended on continuing their meal when they said hamotzi , they may continue eating elsewhere without reciting another beracha. The Mishna Berura (178:28) stresses that they must have eaten a kezayis of bread in the first location. The poskim extend this halacha to other food made from the 5 grains ( mezonos ) as well as the shivas haminim (See Shulchan Aruch OC 178:5; 184:3). As this halacha doesn’t apply to other foods, one who said another beracha such as shehakol would need to...

Question: Am I allowed to move an electric lamp in and out of my sukka on Shabbos and Yom Tov? Answer: The Mishna (Shabbos 3:6) teaches us that oil lamps mustn’t be moved on Shabbos while they are burning. The Gemara (Shabbos 45a) explains that there is a specific type of muktze prohibition for a fire. The Chazon Ish (Hilchos Shabbos 41:16) gives two reasons for why lamps are muktze. Firstly, in order to avoid extinguishing the flame, lamps are not usually moved around. Secondly, as lamps are not normally moved around, it is muktze to move them. R’ Moshe Feinstein writes about moving electrical appliances in a few teshuvos. He writes ( Igros Moshe OC 3:49; 4:91:5) that lamps, like fans, etc. are kelim shemelachtam leissur,  items that serve a forbidden action on Shabbos. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 308:3) writes that such items are allowed to be moved either if one needs the space ( letzorech mekomo ) or for personal need ( letzorech gufo ). He allowed the use of electr...

Question:   Our eleven-year-old daughter came back from school telling us about the three fasts that she is supposed to fast before her ­bas mitzva. What is this about? Answer: The Mishna (Yoma 82a) teaches that we start training children to fast for ‘hours’ before they are bar mitzva or bas mitzva. Thus, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 616:2) writes that when a child reaches the age of nine, we begin to educate them about fasting by feeding them a little later than usual on Yom Kippur. When they reach eleven, there is a rabbinic obligation to fast the whole day. The Rema, however, disagrees, writing that there is no such obligation. Nonetheless, the Bach (OC 616:6) demonstrates from the Gemara that children who study all day are considered to be weak and therefore have the status of a choleh who does not fast. This justifies the practice of children not fasting before they are bar mitzva or bas mitzva (See Kaf Hachaim OC 616:16) . Likewise, the Mishna Berura (616:9) writes that chi...

Question: Our shul makes a kiddush before tekias shofar . Isn’t it best to wait to eat until after hearing the shofar ? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 652:2) writes that one mustn’t eat a meal before shaking the lulav on sukkos as we are worried that they may forget to perform the mitzva (See Sukka 38a). The Magen Avraham (OC 692:7) and Mishna Berura (652:7) write that in case of great need, one may eat a small amount of food beforehand. This includes fruit and a small piece of cake, etc. (See Shulchan Aruch OC 232:3). Thus, R’ Betzalel Stern (Betzel Hachachma 4:147) writes that one shouldn’t eat before hearing the shofar on Rosh Hashana unless one is sick. Others, such as the Mateh Ephraim (588:2) allow one to eat (something small) if they wouldn’t be able to concentrate properly without eating. Similarly, the Kaf Hachaim (OC 585:26; 588:11) writes that as the Gemara only mentioned this halacha with regards to lulav and not shofar, one who is hungry and feel...