Dose of Halacha

Question: I am flying over Chanuka and won’t be home to light the menora . What should I do? Answer: R’ Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss (Minchas Yitzchak 7:46) writes that there is a machlokes among the poskim as to whether one who is away from their house can fulfil their obligation to light the menora by having a family member light on their behalf. The Mishna Berura (677:2) writes that one can fulfil his obligation with his wife lighting at home. R’ Weiss writes, however, that if one is in a different time zone to one’s wife at a time when he wouldn’t be able to light himself, then he wouldn’t be able to rely on his wife’s lighting. R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Halichos Shlomo, Chanuka 13:4), however, writes that one can rely on one’s family members back home regardless of the time zone. R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer 2:OC:17; 3:OC:35; Yechave Daas 4:38; 5:24), R’ Eliezer Waldenberg (Tzitz Eliezer 1:20:12) and R’ Binyamin Zilber (Az Nidberu 3:1-2) write that while one can use electric l...

Question: When listening to chazaras hashatz I sometimes hear the chazzan say modim quietly while everyone else says modim derabanan. Is this correct? Answer: The Gemara (Sota 40a) writes that when the chazzan reaches the beracha of modim , the tzibbur say modim derabanan (See Rambam, Tefilla 9:4) . This beracha is so important that the Gemara (Berachos 21b) writes that one who comes late to shul should not begin davening the amida unless he knows that he will finish before the chazzan reaches modim (See Shulchan Aruch OC 109:1) . The Mishna Berura (124:41) questions the practice of some chazzanim who say modim quietly. The chazzan must raise his voice if necessary, to ensure that he can be heard by at least a minyan of men. Thus, R’ Ephraim Greenblatt (Rivevos Ephraim 1:91:1) questions whether the tzibbur should say modim derabanan quietly so as to ensure that they can hear the chazzan. Elsewhere, (ibid. 2:185:17; 5:76) he quotes R’ Yosef Shalom Elyashiv a...

Question: Do I need to remove my watch before putting on my tefillin ? Answer: The Mishna (Megilla 24b) teaches that there must not be anything in between one’s tefillin and their arm ( chatzitza ). Thus, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 27:4) writes that one should ensure to place one’s tefillin directly on their head and arm. The Rema, based on the Rashba (1:827), qualifies this to the tefillin boxes, though allows one to have something under the retzuos (straps). The Taz (OC 27:4) and Magen Avraham (OC 27:5) challenge the Rema, as the Rashba concludes that one should ideally refrain from any chatzitza under one's retzuos. The Mishna Berura (27:17) writes that this leniency only applies to the winding around the arm ( kerichos ). There must not be any chatzitza by the tying ( keshira ), however. R' Moshe Sternbuch (Teshuvos Vehanhagos 2:26) explains that the seven kerichos around the forearm are not essential to fulfil the mitzva , one would fulfil the mitzva even if one di...

Question: Can we use plasters (band aids) on Shabbos? Do they need to be prepared beforehand? Answer:  The Shulchan Aruch (OC 328:1) writes that one mustn’t perform any act of healing for one who is healthy but slightly uncomfortable ( mechush ) on Shabbos. Nonetheless, as plasters primarily serve to protect the wound from becoming infected, one may apply plasters to cuts on Shabbos (See Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasa 34:3). The Shulchan Aruch (OC 340:14) writes that sticking is a tolda of tofer , sewing. Thus, R’ Eliezer Waldenberg (Tzitz Eliezer 8:15:14:6) writes that ideally one should stick the plaster onto one’s body, rather than stick the ends over each other, thereby creating a weaker attachment. The Rema (OC 317:3) cites a machlokes as to whether one may undo temporary stitching on Shabbos or not (See Mishna Berura 317:21). Accordingly, there is a machlokes as to whether one may remove the plastic tabs from plasters on Shabbos. R’ Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss (Mincha...