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: We were on holiday and had no shofar for shacharis . We only managed to obtain one later in the day. Should we have blown it at maariv ? Answer:  The Rema (OC 581:1) writes that the minhag Ashkenaz is to blow the shofar each morning after shacharis throughout the month of Elul. He notes that some have the practise to blow in maariv , too. The Mateh Ephraim (Elef Lemateh 581:8) quotes the Elya Rabba who records that this was the practice in Prague. However, the Aruch Hashulchan (OC 581:12) writes that one must not blow the shofar at night-time even to practice as that is not an opportune moment for mercy. Therefore, R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC 4:21:5) explains that the Rema is evidently referring to those who davened maariv while it was still daytime. He notes that the Chayei Adam (2:138:1) specifies that some people would blow a second time during mincha which is still an acceptable time. R’ Moshe Feinstein explains why the shofar is specifically blown af...

Question:  Last Rosh Hashana I started saying the yehi ratzon printed in my machzor between the tekios, but someone motioned to me not to say it. Can I say it if I want to? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 592:3) states that one should not talk between the various tekios . The Tur (OC 592:2) adds that while someone who spoke would not need to repeat the berachos and listen to the shofar again, they should still be advised not to talk. The Rema notes that davening and shofar related speech does not constitute a hefsek , an unnecessary interruption. R’ Ben Zion Abba Shaul (Ohr Letzion 1:39) holds that reciting the yehi ratzon does not constitute a hefsek , as the Arizal deemed such words of vidui appropriate during tekias shofar . Similarly, the Mateh Ephraim (590:36) records the minhag to recite the yehi ratzon but cautions against mentioning the names of the malachim (angels). However, the Mishna Berura (592:12) clarifies that the Rema's leniency applies specifically to te...

Question: I have been asked to blow shofar for people who are housebound. Should I repeat the berachos each time even though I have already fulfilled the mitzva ? Answer: The Gemara (Rosh Hashana 29a with Rashi; Shavuos 39a) teaches that Jewish people are spiritually responsible for each other. As such, one person can recite certain berachos for another even if they don’t need to recite it themselves. The Magen Avraham (167:40) explains that because of this responsibility ( arvus ), if one knows that another person hasn’t performed a mitzva , it is almost as if they haven’t performed the mitzva themselves. Therefore, one who has already fulfilled their obligation for kiddush can recite kiddush for another person who has not. There is a machlokes as to whether one can recite a beracha on a mitzva that one is not commanded to perform. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 589:6) writes that as women are not obligated to hear the shofar , they do not recite the beracha as they cannot say vetz...

Question: I am scheduled to be on security rota on Rosh Hashana morning and don’t know if I’ll make it back in shul for the beginning of the shofar. What should I do if I arrive late? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 590:2) writes that one must listen to at least 30 sounds of a shofar . The Mishna Berura (585:11) writes that one who wasn’t present for the berachos should recite them quietly by themselves before the baal tokea begins blowing. If one comes in and doesn’t have time to recite the berachos before the blowing then one can no longer do so as they have fulfilled the mitzva mideoraisa by hearing thirty blasts. The Kaf Hachaim (OC 585:39) quotes the Pri Haaretz (9) who writes that one can still recite the berachos . Tosafos (Sukka 39a) and the Rosh (Sukka 3:33) write that if one picks up the lulav and esrog before they said the berachos they can still recite them as they are still involved in performing the mitzva when they shake them (See Mishna Berura 651:26) ....

Question: Last year, I joined a new shul where they do many things differently to what I am used to. I have always done hataras nedarim by myself, though in this shul people do it together. Is this okay? Answer: The Gemara (Nedarim 23b) writes that if one doesn’t want their nedarim , vows, to endure throughout the year, they should proclaim on Rosh Hashana that they wish them to be annulled. According to the Ran (Nedarim 23b), this is the source for saying kol nidrei on Yom Kippur. According to the Mishna Berura (619:2), kol nidrei does not automatically annul all vows, however. Likewise, the Shaarei Teshuva (581:1) quotes various poskim explaining why one should specifically perform hataras nedarim on erev Rosh Hashana, while it is still Elul (See Kaf Hachaim OC 581:12; 19; Minchas Yitzchak 9:61) . The Chayei Adam (138:8) stresses the importance of performing hataras nedarim at this time, writing that people erroneously view it as another prayer. Rather, people should s...

Question: I have always found it difficult to get up extra early for selichos before Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur though have read that they should not be recited after maariv . What should I do? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 581:1) writes that one should say selichos at the break of dawn. The Magen Avraham (565:5; 581:1) and Mishna Berura (565:12) write that the end of the night is an auspicious time for selichos . Thus one should not recite selichos before chatzos , midnight, for Kabbalistic reasons. R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yechave Daas 1:46) quotes the Chida (Birkei Yosef OC 581:1) who explains that this time is one of din ¸ judgement, rather than rachamim, mercy. This is so important, that if one is present when others are saying selichos at this time, they should not participate. According to the Chida (ibid.) it would be better not to say selichos at all than to say it at this time of night (See Mateh Ephraim 581:20; Rav Pealim OC 2:2). While there are poskim who write that...

Question: I got a leaflet through my door advertising tefillin and mezuza checks, saying that one must check them during Elul. Do I need to check them every year? Answer: Rambam (Tefillin, Mezuza and Sefer Torah 2:11) writes that providing one’s tefillin come from a reputable sofer one can safely assume that they are kosher and they do not need to be checked even many years later. Similarly, the Tur (OC 39) and the Shulchan Aruch (OC 39:10) write that a good pair of tefillin does not need checking providing that they are worn regularly. Otherwise, they should be checked twice in seven years as we are concerned that they may have gotten mouldy (Magen Avraham OC 39:15; Aruch Hashulchan OC 39:6). The Magen Avraham (39:14) and Mishna Berura (39:26) write that as sweat can permeate the tefillin and ruin them, they should be checked periodically. Similarly, the Aruch Hashulchan (ibid.) writes that they should be checked regularly as the ink in his day would crack easily (See Ch...

Question:  I will be away for a couple of days in Elul without a minyan . Do I need to blow the shofar for myself? Answer: The Tur (OC 581) provides two reasons for the minhag of blowing the shofar throughout the month of Elul. According to Pirkei Derebbi Eliezer (46), the shofar was sounded in the camp when Moshe ascended Har Sinai on Rosh Chodesh Elul to receive the second set of luchos . Chazal instituted the blowing of the shofar on Rosh Chodesh to commemorate this event. The Tur adds that the practice continues throughout Elul to inspire us toward teshuva (see Rambam, Teshuva 3:4) and to confuse the Satan . R’ Ephraim Greenblatt (Rivevos Ephraim 1:394; 8:523:4) cites R’ Avraham Yitzchak Kook (Mitzvas Ra’ayah 581:1) who offers an additional reason. Just as we are required to begin studying the halachos of Yom Tov thirty days in advance (Pesachim 6a), we similarly begin practicing shofar blowing thirty days before Rosh Hashanah. Given these reasons, R’ Greenbl...

Question: Our shul makes a kiddush before tekias shofar . Isn’t it best to wait to eat until after hearing the shofar ? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 652:2) writes that one mustn’t eat a meal before shaking the lulav on sukkos as we are worried that they may forget to perform the mitzva (See Sukka 38a). The Magen Avraham (OC 692:7) and Mishna Berura (652:7) write that in case of great need, one may eat a small amount of food beforehand. This includes fruit and a small piece of cake, etc. (See Shulchan Aruch OC 232:3). Thus, R’ Betzalel Stern (Betzel Hachachma 4:147) writes that one shouldn’t eat before hearing the shofar on Rosh Hashana unless one is sick. Others, such as the Mateh Ephraim (588:2) allow one to eat (something small) if they wouldn’t be able to concentrate properly without eating. Similarly, the Kaf Hachaim (OC 585:26; 588:11) writes that as the Gemara only mentioned this halacha with regards to lulav and not shofar, one who is hungry and feel...

The minhag of tashlich dates back to at least the 14 th century. The Maharil (Minhagei Rosh Hashanah 9) writes about going to rivers that contain fish in order to throw our sins into the depths of the sea (Micha 7:19). The Rema (OC 583:2) records this minhag . The basic text is the final 3 Pesukim of Micha (7:18-20) which parallel the Thirteen Midos, Divine Attributes of Hashem. Many add more tefillos, composed primarily by the Chida. While not all observe this minhag, R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yechave Daas 1:54) writes that this is the minhag of Sefardim too, following the Arizal. Different reasons have been offered for this minhag : The Maharil refers to the famous Midrash (Yalkut Shimoni, Bereishis 99). The satan tried various tactics to dissuade Avraham from carrying out the akedah including creating a river. This explains why it took them 3 days to reach Har Hamoriah. The water of tashlich serves to remind us of Avraham’s self-sacrifice (See Gra in his notes to the Rema O...

The Rema (OC 583:2) writes that many have the custom to avoid eating nuts on Rosh Hashana. One reason for this is because אגוז is the same gematria as חט , sin (minus the א – the way it is spelled in Talmud Yerushalmi). Similar to the various simanim we eat on Rosh Hashana, we want to remind – and inspire - ourselves to do teshuva as one eats – or avoids - these special foods (Matei Ephraim 583:2). Thus, many avoid bitter foods. While many avoid nuts throughout the aseres yemei teshuva , there doesn’t seem to be any source for this. R’ Shmuel Kamenetsky (quoted in Kovetz Halachos: Yomim Noraim) holds that while one may eat food with nuts mixed or baked in, they should not be recognizable. (Thus, smooth peanut butter may be consumed, though chunky peanut butter should be avoided.) While this is an ashkenazic minhag , some Poskim point out that the Maharam Mi’Rottenburg used to eat nuts on Rosh Hashana. The Mishna Berura (583:5) writes that while some are particular not to pic...