Dose of Halacha

Question: May I tour an ancient shul if I don’t intend to daven there? Answer: The Gemara (Megilla 28a), citing the Tosefta (Megilla 2:18), prohibits using a shul inappropriately. This includes eating, drinking, or walking through it without purpose. Accordingly, Rambam (Tefilla 11:6) and the Shulchan Aruch (OC 151:1) rule that one should not enter or stroll through a shul unless there is a specific reason to do so. The Kesef Mishna (Tefilla 11:6) explains that entering a shul simply to relax or de-stress is not permitted; one should enter only to daven or to read from the Torah. The Talmud Yerushalmi (Shekalim 5:4) recounts that R’ Chama bar Chanina and R’ Hoshiya once walked through a shul in Lod. R’ Yitzchak Falaji (Yafeh Lelev OC 151:2) explains that talmidei chachamim may do so, as their walks are considered a form of simchas mitzva , helping to prepare the mind for Torah learning and reflection (see Shaar Hatziyon 151:9). R’ Aharon Epstein (Kapei Aharon 16) notes...

Question: I know that we do not normally daven maariv on the first night of Shavuos until nacht . Can we make an earlier minyan ? Answer: The Shelah (Shavuos 1) states that one must not recite kiddush or begin the Yom Tov meal on the first night of Shavuos until it is nacht (nightfall). As the Torah writes that one must count seven complete weeks of the omer , bringing Yom Tov early would diminish this. The Magen Avraham (494:1) and Pri Chadash (OC 494:1) also write that one must wait until nacht on the first night of Shavuos to recite kiddush . However, the Yosef Ometz (850) notes that he never witnessed anyone in Germany wait until nacht to recite kiddush . He argues that waiting until nacht reduces the time available for learning on Shavuos night. Similarly, the Korban Nesanel (Pesachim 10:2) states that it is not necessary to wait until nacht to recite kiddush and begin the meal. The Mishna Berura (261:19; Biur Halacha 261:2) discusses a machlokes about whether the mitzva...