Dose of Halacha

Question: Is it true that one mustn’t use regular scissors to cut tzitzis ? Answer: The Torah (Devarim 27:5) prohibits use of metal implements in hewing out stones for building the mizbe’ach . The Mishna (Middos 3:4) teaches that one mustn’t even use a metal trowel to apply plaster to the stones. Since iron was created to form weapons which shorten lives, it is not befitting to use iron for the mizbe’ach which was created to prolong lives. The Ramban (Shemos 20:22) explains that this is why the foundational sockets were made from copper rather than iron. R’ Simcha Rabinowitz (Piskei Teshuvos 11:29) notes that tzitzis also serves to prolong lives (See Shabbos 32b). The Shulchan Aruch (OC 11:12) writes that one should trim the tzitzis before inserting them into the begged . Nonetheless, the Rema (OC 11:4) writes that if they are too long, one can cut them even once they have been tied. The Magen Avraham (11:18) writes that lechatchila one should avoid using a metal knife to ...

Question: I watched a Rabbi sing havdala online and noticed that he looked at his hands before saying the beracha over the candle. Don’t we usually recite the beracha before performing the mitzva or benefitting from anything? Answer: The Mishna (Berachos 51b) teaches that one shouldn’t recite the beracha of meorai haeish unless they benefit from the light of the candle. The Gemara (Berachos 53b) cites a machlokes as to whether one needs to benefit from the light or if it is sufficient for it to be bright, and a further machlokes as to what is considered benefitting. Following this, Rambam (Shabbos 29:25) and the Shulchan Aruch (OC 289:4) write that one needs to actually benefit from the flame and it must be bright enough that one can differentiate between different types of currency. The Tur (OC 298:1) notes that nowadays we look at our hands, particularly as we don’t have money on us. R’ Asher Weiss (Bereishis 2:2) explains that there is a machlokes as to how to cla...

Question: I ran out of grape juice on Shabbos and so don’t have enough for havdala. Can I be yotze by watching someone saying it live online? Answer: The Mishna (Rosh Hashana 3:7) teaches that one who blew a shofar into a barrel only fulfils their obligation to listen to the shofar if they hear the actual sound rather than an echo. The poskim discuss whether a phone or microphone with (virtually) no delay is equivalent to hearing the actual sound or not. R’ Chaim Elazar Shapira (Minchas Elazar 2:72) and R’ Zvi Pesach Frank (quoted in Minchas Yitzchak 2:113) allow one to use a microphone for mitzvos derabannan. R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC 2:108; 4:91:4) writes, however, that as the electronic sound produced is not the actual human voice, it is not ideal to listen to the megillah through a microphone. Nonetheless, bedieved one fulfils their obligation this way. Likewise, he allowed a woman in hospital to fulfil her obligation to hear havdala over the phone when t...

Question: I have always held the wine in my right hand while reciting havdala. Last week, I watched a Rabbi making havdala online and saw him switch hands in the middle. What is the ideal way of doing this? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 296:6) writes that when reciting havdala one should begin by holding the wine in their right hand and the besamim in their left hand until they reach the beracha on besamim at which point they should switch hands, holding the besamim in their right hand. The Mishna Berura (306:18) explains that as one’s right hand is considered to be more prominent, one should use it to hold mitzva items while reciting the appropriate beracha . The Aruch Hashulchan (OC 296:17) , however, explains that this isn’t strictly necessary as nowadays we place the besamim and candle on the table in front of us. Rather, one should simply hold each one in their right hand as they recite the beracha. Thus, when saying the beracha on besamim¸ one should put the c...