Dose of Halacha

Question: I usually buy commercially baked bread with a hechsher from my local supermarket. Do I need to avoid eating such bread during the aseres yemei teshuva ? Answer: The Mishna (Avoda Zara 35b) teaches that we must not eat pas akum , bread baked by a non-Jew. The Gemara explains that Chazal instituted this in order to prevent assimilation with non-Jews. Tosafos writes that according to the Yerushalmi, the ban on bread was lifted, as it was too restrictive to limit such a staple food. The Shulchan Aruch (YD 112:2) writes that while one may never buy bread from a non-Jewish ‘home baker’, one may buy from a commercial baker ( pas palter ) when there is no local Jewish baker. Nonetheless, the Rema (ibid; Toras Chatas 75:1) writes that one may buy pas palter even when there is a local Jewish baker (see Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 38:1; Aruch Hashulchan YD 112:17). Thus, R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe YD 2:33) writes that one may eat factory bagels if they prefer them to the local ...

Question: I usually grind my coffee by hand every morning. Am I allowed to do so on Yom Tov? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 495:2) writes that it is assur miderabanan to grind food on Yom Tov, though the Mishna Berura (504:1) notes that according to some poskim it is assur mideoraisa . The Shulchan Aruch (OC 504:1) writes that one may not use a commercial mill, as that is considered to be uvdin dechol , a mundane, weekday activity. However, one may grind spices on Yom Tov so as to have fresh spices. One may only grind salt with a shinui , as salt does not lose its freshness from one day to the next. Therefore, the Mishna Berura (504:9; Biur Halacha 504:1) writes that one must not grind coffee in a large mill, though one may use a small grinder. The Rema adds that one should use a shinui when grinding spices, too. Thus, the Mishna Berura (504:19) suggests that when grinding coffee, one could grind the beans straight onto a napkin rather than into a bowl. However, he stresses ...

Question: I live in Yerushalayim and I have not seen the sea in over thirty days. I am going to Netanya and will see the sea. What beracha should I say? Answer: The Mishna (Berachos 54a) teaches that upon seeing the ocean one recites the beracha, ..oseh maase bereishis . When one sees the ‘ yam hagadol’ , one should recite ..oseh hayam hagadol instead. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 228:1) writes that ‘ yam hagadol’ refers to the Mediterranean. The Mishna Berura (228:2) explains that the Mediterranean  is considered great due to its proximity to Eretz Yisrael. However, the Rosh (Teshuvos 4:4) writes that ‘ yam hagadol’ refers to the Atlantic Ocean. The Mishna Berura (ibid.; Shaar Hatziyun 262:2) quotes the Rosh, among other acharonim, and writes, therefore, that one says oseh hayam hagadol upon seeing the Atlantic Ocean (or Pacific Ocean, etc.). Nonetheless, t he Aruch Hashulchan (OC 228:4) and Kaf Hachaim (OC 228:5) write that due to the safek as to which sea is the yam ha...