Dose of Halacha

Question: I used to wash negel vasser in the morning from the bathroom sink. Recently, I’ve been leaving a cup of water in a bowl next to my bed, so I don’t have to walk around before washing. Is this preferable, even though the water is uncovered? Answer: The Gemara (Avoda Zara 30b) states that mayim shenisgalu¸ water left uncovered, should not be poured out into the street, used for drinking, washing, or even construction due to the concern that a dangerous snake or scorpion might have contaminated it with poison. Although Rambam (Rotzeach Ushemiras Hanefesh 11:15) rules according to this halacha , the Tur (YD 116) and Shulchan Aruch (YD 116:1) write that this prohibition no longer applies, as such incidents are exceedingly rare in modern times. R’ Yaakov Chaim Sofer (Kaf Hachaim OC 160:2; YD 116:8) clarifies that this halacha is relevant only in places where snakes are common (see Mishna Berura 160:23). R’ Chaim Falaji (Kaf Hachaim 8:11) maintains that one should avoid u...

Question: Is one allowed to wash one’s hands in the morning in the sink if there are dishes there? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 4:9) writes that when one washes one’s hands in the morning ( negel vasser ), one must not reuse the water. One should not pour the water onto the floor where people may walk. Therefore, the Mishna Berura (4:20) writes that one must not give this water to one’s animals to drink. The Shaarei Teshuva (4:8) adds that one should not daven in the presence of this water either. The Piskei Teshuvos (4:14) writes that one must be careful not to wash one’s hands in a sink where there are dishes. One who did so, would have to ensure that they wash their dishes properly afterwards. However, R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Halichos Shlomo, Tefilla 20:7) maintains that one may wash one’s hands in a sink with dishes. As the dishes are going to be washed, there is no concern. The Mishna Berura (4:14) writes that if one touched food with unwashed hands, they should wash...

Question: Are we supposed to dip our bread into salt every time we eat, or only challa on Shabbos? Answer: The Gemara (Berachos 40a) teaches that one should not say hamotzi before eating bread unless one has salt or other dips in front of them. Rambam (Berachos 7:3) writes that this applies unless one intends on eating dry, plain bread. Likewise, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 167:5) writes that if the bread was already flavoured or salted, there is no need to have salt at the table. Nonetheless, the Rema quotes the Beis Yosef who writes that our tables are compared to the mizbeach , and our eating to the korbanos . As such, we should always have salt on the table with bread, just as the korbanos were all salted. The Mishna Berura (167:30) explains that when one shares one’s bread with the poor, one’s ‘table’ atones for their sins in place of the korbanos (See Berachos 55a). The Magen Avraham (167:15) writes that even though our bread contains salt, there are kabbalistic reasons fo...

Question: Since the beginning of Covid, we have been davening in different rooms in our shul. One of these rooms has an aron hakodesh but for security reasons, the sefer torah is removed on days when there is no leining . When saying tachanun on those days, should we not put our head down on our arms?   Answer: The Gemara (Megilla 22b, Bava Metzia 59b) teaches us that people would prostrate themselves ( nefilas apayim ) as part of their davening . The Shulchan Aruch (OC 139:1) writes that nowadays we bow our heads and rest them on our arm. (See Aruch Hashulchan OC 131:4) The Rema (OC 131:2) quotes the Rokeach (324) who writes that nefilas apayim is not practiced unless one is in the presence of an aron hakodesh and sefer Torah . This is alluded to in the incident of Yehoshua (7:6) at the battle of Ai, when Yehoshua fell on his face in front of the aron hakodesh . The Mishna Berura (131:11) writes that this applies equally if there is a sefer Torah without an aron hakod...