Dose of Halacha

Question: We have just completed an extension to our house, but the doors we have ordered are not due to arrive for a few weeks. Should we attach the mezuzos in the meantime? Answer: The Gemara (Menachos 33a) records that when Rav Nachman was asked by the reish galusa to help him affix his mezuza , he instructed him to hang his door first. Rambam (Mezuza 6:1) writes that having a door is one of ten conditions for a doorway to be obligated with a mezuza . One must hang the door before affixing the mezuza (ibid. 6:5). In a letter to the Chachmei Lunil (quoted in Kesef Mishna Mezuza 6:1), Rambam explained that the Torah uses the word shaar to teach that only a doorway with a door is obligated to have a mezuza attached. However, Raavad (Mezuza 6:1) and Tosafos (Menachos 33a) explain that Rav Nachman instructed him to hang his door simply so that he could ascertain which side the mezuza should be affixed to. While the Shulchan Aruch (YD 286:15) quotes both opinions, he writes ...

Question: I have always been fascinated by magic tricks. Is it appropriate to study to become a magician? Answer: The Mishna (Sanhedrin 67a) teaches that one who performs magic ( kishuf ) is liable to the death penalty, though one who creates an illusion is exempt. Rashi explains that this refers to one who merely gives the impression that they are performing magic, i.e., sleight of hand. The Gemara (ibid. 67b) teaches that while one is exempt for performing such trickery, it is still prohibited. Rambam (Sefer Hamitzvos Lo Sasei 32; Avoda Zara Vechukos Hagoyim 11:15) includes sleight of hand among the 365 negative mitzvos and warns of the dangerous consequences that such trickery can cause. In addition, one transgresses geneivas daas (deception). The Shulchan Aruch (YD 179:15) writes that sleight of hand is forbidden. While the Tur (YD 179:1) and Shulchan Aruch concede that it is permitted to perform magic by utilising the Sefer Hayetzira, the Shach (YD 179:18) emphasises th...

Question: We have doors between our lounge and dining room, and I am unsure which side to affix the mezuza to. Can I affix one to each side? Answer: The Tur (OC 34:1) and the Shulchan Aruch (OC 34:2) write that one who wears ‘ Rashi tefillin ’ and ‘ Rabbeinu Tam tefillin ’ should wear them together. Unlike wearing tefillin with five parshiyos, doing so does not pose an issue of bal tosif . One should have in mind that only one pair are kosher tefillin , while the other pair are ‘no more than straps.’ The Magen Avraham (34:2) notes that this only applies as only one set is considered to be kosher . One wearing two sets of the same tefillin , however, would certainly be transgressing bal tosif . R' Yaakov Ettlinger (Binyan Tzion 99) compares placing two mezuzos on opposite doorposts to wearing two pairs of tefillin simultaneously. As only one doorpost can be the correct place for a mezuza , placing one on the other doorpost is akin to wearing the ‘wrong tefillin’. Likewise...

Question: Our patio door leads onto our back garden and can only be opened from the inside. Which side should we affix the mezuza to? Answer: The Gemara (Yuma 11b) teaches that one must affix the mezuza to the right-hand side of the house as one enters. The Shulchan Aruch (YD 289:2) writes that if one puts up the mezuza on the wrong side then they have not fulfilled the mitzva. The Beis Yosef (YD 289:10) and the Taz ( YD 289:4) quote the Maharil (94) who writes that if a door opens onto a courtyard that in turn opens onto the street, one places the mezuza on th e right side of the doorway into which the door swings ( heker tzir ). Nonetheless, the Chelkas Yaakov (YD 161) quotes the Levush who writes that we place the mezuza on the right side of the door going into the house, regardless of which way the door opens. R’ Meir Posner (Beis Meir YD 289:3) explains that as the garden itself is not obligated to have a mezuza , one must attach it onto the entrance to the house rat...