Dose of Halacha

Question: At what age should children begin waiting between meat and milk? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 343:1) writes that parents mustn’t feed their children non-kosher food. Thus, one can’t even feed a baby meat and milk together. How long children need to wait after eating meat before eating milky foods depends primarily on their age. The Rema (OC 328:17) writes that very young children have a similar halachic status as a choleh shein bo sakanah (a bedridden patient), who doesn’t need to wait long between eating one meal and the next. Thus, R’ Shmuel Wosner (Shevet Halevi 4:84) and R’ Moshe Stern (Be’er Moshe 8:36:4) write that one can feed babies milk just after they’ve eaten meat, though the baby’s mouth should be cleaned first (See Chochmas Adam 40:13). R’ Mordechai Yaakov Breish (Chelkas Yaakov YD:16; 17) writes that children only need to wait an hour until they’re nine. R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer 1:YD:4; 3:YD:3) writes that if older children want to hav...

Question: Occasionally, I daven in a shul that has multiple minyanim going on at the same time and I can hear another minyan clearly while I am davening . Is it correct to respond to their kaddish and kedusha , etc? Answer: The Gemara (Pesachim 85b) teaches that even an iron wall does not act as a barrier for tefilla . Thus, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 55:20) writes that one may respond to kaddish and kedusha from another room. The Rema (OC 125:1) writes that if one walks into a shul while they are saying kedusha¸ they must join in even if they have already said it. R’ Chaim Kanievsky (quoted in Ishei Yisrael 24:n62) maintains that one who is davening and hears kedusha from another minyan needs to respond . R’ Eliezer Waldenberg (Tzitz Eliezer 11:3; 12:49:4) quote opinions that even the chazzan would have to respond to the other minyan (see Yabia Omer OC 9:3). Nonetheless, R’ Ephraim Greenblatt (Rivevos Ephraim 1:89:2) writes that according to R’ Yosef Shalom Elyashiv ...

Question: We’ve been invited by some friends to Friday night dinner. Where should we light our Shabbos candles? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 263:9) writes that one who lights their candles inside their house but eats in the courtyard needs to ensure that their candles burn longer so that they can see them when they come back inside. Failure to do so will result in the beracha being a beracha levatala. The Mishna Berura (263:40) writes that while it is ideal for the candles to burn into the night, it is sufficient even if they burn during his meal when one eats before nacht (See Baer Heitev 263:14) . The Shulchan Aruch (OC 263:6) writes that students who learn away from home should ideally light their Shabbos candles in their bedrooms. Thus, the Mishna Berura (263:46) writes that while the hosts should light on the Shabbos table, guests should ideally light in their own room even if they aren’t eating there at all. Following this, R’ Ephraim Greenblatt (Rivevos Ephraim 1:1...

Question: I am travelling to Israel on asara b’teves . Can I end my fast when it ends in Israel or do I need to wait until the fast ends in England? Answer: R’ Shmuel Wosner (Shevet Halevi 7:76; 8:261:2) writes that as there are some poskim (Tosafos, Avoda Zara 34a; Vilna Gaon OC 562:1; Aruch Hashulchan OC 562:9) who hold that the minor fasts ( asara b’teves , shiva asar b’tammuz and taanis Esther ) end at shekia , one who started their fast earlier due to travel may rely on these opinions and end their fast at shekia . One travelling from Israel to America, for example, who found their taanis significantly lengthened, would be able to end their fast early if necessary, based on the timing of their departure city. One doing so must only eat what’s necessary, and not eat a proper meal until the fast is over in their arrival city. R’ Ephraim Greenblatt (Rivevos Ephraim 8:176) writes that one doing so should only eat in a quiet area and not in public where they’ll be seen by othe...

Question: I am eating out on Friday night and won't return until very late. I’m concerned about leaving my menora burning unattended for that long. Is it a problem if I’m not home during the first half hour after the menora is lit? Answer: Since we light the menora earlier than usual on Friday, we must ensure that there is enough oil or that the candles are long enough to burn for at least half an hour after tzeis hakochavim. The Chayei Adam (2:154:18) writes that if one does not provide enough oil or candles to burn for this duration, the mitzva has not been fulfilled. R’ Yaakov Katz (Shev Yaakov OC 22) writes that remaining with the menora for half an hour is an integral part of the mitzva of lighting the menora. Thus, we recite "ein lanu reshus.. ela lirosam bilvad," indicating that while we are not allowed to benefit from the lights, we should stay to see them (see Yalkut Yosef 677:2). Similarly, the Aruch Hashulchan (OC 673:3) writes that one should not light t...