Dose of Halacha

Question: I need to order tefillin for our son, who will become bar mitzva next year. Is it preferable to have the parshiyos written by a right-handed sofer , or by a left-handed sofer whose handwriting is of a higher standard? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 32:5) rules that a sofer should write with his right hand, while a left-handed sofer should write with his left hand, since for him this is equivalent to the right hand of a right-handed person. The Magen Avraham (32:5), citing the Rema Mipano (38), records a case of a sofer in Egypt who wrote tefillin by holding the quill in his mouth. His tefillin were declared passul , even when no others were available. The Mishna Berura (32:5) explains that writing in this manner is not considered normal writing. There is, however, a machlokes concerning a left-handed sofer . The Shaarei Teshuva (27:11) cites the Mahari Tzemach, who writes that, for Kabbalistic reasons, a left-handed sofer should write tefillin with his righ...

Question: I omitted yaaleh veyavo in Shacharis on Rosh Chodesh and only realised my mistake after removing my tefillin and davening mussaf. Am I required to put my tefillin back on before repeating the shemoneh esrei ? Answer: The Gemara (Berachos 14b) teaches that one should wear tefillin whilst reciting Shema and davening the amida . Tosafos (Berachos 26b) cites a machlokes amongst the rishonim regarding one who omitted yaaleh veyavo . Some maintain that his shemoneh esrei is regarded as though it was never davened , whilst others hold that he fulfilled his basic obligation of tefilla , but must repeat the amida because he omitted yaaleh veyavo . The Mishna Berura (422:4) rules that, because there is a doubt whether he is required to repeat Shacharis, he should repeat the amida on condition that it be a tefillas nedava if no repetition is actually required. R’ Ovadia Yosef (Chazon Ovadia, Chanuka p281) explains that this same machlokes also affects whether one...

Question: When I bought my tefillin the kesher touched the bayis but it no longer does. Does it need to be secured with a string so it stays in place? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 27:2) writes that the kesher in the shape of the letter yud of the shel yad should face inwards towards the heart, and one should be careful that it remains in contact with the bayis . The Aruch Hashulchan (OC 27:10) notes that there is no explicit Talmudic source requiring that the yud of the kesher face the heart or remain in constant contact with the bayis , as the Gemara only requires that the tefillin shel yad itself be positioned opposite the heart. Nevertheless, he writes that these practices are firmly rooted in Kabbala. He therefore observes that those who wrap the retzua away from the body, in accordance with Sephardic custom, are less likely to draw the kesher away from the bayis . The Mishna Berura (27:10) citing the Zohar (Pinchas 232b), notes a strong emphasis that the yud re...