R’ Ben Zion Abba Shaul, (Ohr Letzion 2:7:8) however, writes that it would be preferable to stay home and daven rather than eat before going to shul.
Sunday, 29 December 2013
Eating Before Kiddush on Shabbos Morning
R’ Ben Zion Abba Shaul, (Ohr Letzion 2:7:8) however, writes that it would be preferable to stay home and daven rather than eat before going to shul.
Sunday, 22 December 2013
Tovelling Toasters
Kiddush on Whisky
Saturday, 14 December 2013
Babysitting on Shabbos
Sunday, 8 December 2013
Scrabble on Shabbos
Sunday, 1 December 2013
Time to Light
Thursday, 28 November 2013
Shabbos Chanuka
Wednesday, 27 November 2013
Spin that Dreidel
Sunday, 24 November 2013
Mezonos Bread
Monday, 18 November 2013
Gifts on Shabbos
Sunday, 10 November 2013
Washing Hands on the Go
Sunday, 27 October 2013
Beracha on Chocolate
Sunday, 20 October 2013
Kiddush in Shul
Thursday, 10 October 2013
Making Aliya
Sunday, 6 October 2013
Kiddush Levana
Sunday, 29 September 2013
What to do with Dvar Torah sheets
Tuesday, 24 September 2013
Computers on Chol Hamoed
Question: Am
I allowed to make a sign on my computer on chol hamoed to advertise a shiur?
Answer: The Mishna (Moed Katan 11a) teaches us that ma’aseh uman (the work of a craftsman) must not be performed on behalf of an individual on chol hamoed. Only ma’aseh hedyot (the work of an ordinary person) that is necessary for that chag is allowed.
Rambam (Yom Tov 7:14) writes that personal letters are considered ma’aseh hedyot and so may be written, though the Rema (OC 545:1; 5) adds that one should do so in an unusual manner. Thus, the Magen Avraham (545:21) suggests writing the first line on a slant, while the Mishna Berura (Shaar Hatziun 545:8) writes that one can write in a different script. He emphasises (Biur Halacha 545:1), however, that one should only write when absolutely necessary.
R’ Moshe
Sternbuch (Moadim Uzmanim 4:301) considers printing to be ma'aseh
uman and therefore assur.
Nonetheless, the Eshel Avraham (545:7) writes that while
using stamps and seals on Shabbos would be an issur of kosev,
writing, one may use them on chol hamoed if necessary, as they are considered
to be ma’aseh hedyot. R’ Yehoshua Neuwirth (Shemiras Shabbos
Kehilchasa 66:55; n209) extends this to using typewriters, etc., writing that
R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach compared them to stamps which are considered to be ma’aseh
hedyot. Likewise, R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer 8:48) writes that one may use
a computer for mitzva related tasks such as typing Divrei Torah (See
Baer Moshe 7:39).
In conclusion,
one may use a computer to design a sign for things related to the chag.
Wednesday, 18 September 2013
Travelling Sukka
Sunday, 15 September 2013
Learning during Chazaras Hashatz
Sunday, 1 September 2013
Totally Nuts!
Monday, 26 August 2013
Opening Post on Shabbos
Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 314:1) writes that one may crack open a barrel on Shabbos to get to the food inside. While the Mishna Berura (314:25) allows opening a container to access the food inside, he writes (340:41; Biur Halacha 340:14) that one mustn’t open a sealed letter on Shabbos as the envelope becomes a usable kli, though one may ask a non-Jewish person to do so if absolutely necessary. R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC 5:21:5) also forbids opening post nowadays, writing that with modern day communication, it’s difficult to say that regular post is so important.
Sunday, 18 August 2013
Folding a Tallis on Shabbos
Sunday, 4 August 2013
Beracha on Lightning and Thunder
Question: I
learned as a child that one should only recite the beracha upon seeing lightning if they
have also heard thunder. Is there any basis to this?
Answer: The Gemara (Berachos 59a) teaches that there are two berachos to be recited upon seeing
lightning and hearing thunder though there is a machlokes as to which beracha should be recited for each.
Tosafos (Berachos 59a) write that one recites either she’kocho ugvuraso malei olam or oseh ma’ase bereishis while Raavad (Berachos 10:14) writes that one should
recite both berachos.
The Taz (OC 227:1) and Mishna Berura (227:5) write that the minhag is to recite she’kocho ugvuraso malei olam when hearing thunder and oseh ma’ase bereishis when seeing lightning (which better demonstrates Hashem’s might). Some people do not recite a beracha after lightning until they hear thunder, too, though this practice is wrong, as the beracha must be recited toch kedei dibbur, within a couple of seconds (ibid. 227:12). If one sees and hears them together, one only says one beracha, preferably oseh ma’ase bereishis.
While Ashkenazim say the full beracha with Hashem’s name, some Sefardim follow the Kaf Hachaim (OC 227:1) who writes that one should recite the beracha without Hashem’s name. Other Sefardim follow R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yechave Daas 2:27) and recite the full beracha.
In conclusion, if one sees lightning and hears thunder close together, one recites the beracha of oseh ma’ase bereishis. Otherwise, one recites a separate beracha on each.
Monday, 29 July 2013
Kashrus of Scotch
Sunday, 21 July 2013
Repeat, Repeat, Repeat
Sunday, 14 July 2013
Breaking One's Fast
Monday, 13 May 2013
Too Cheesy!
The Maharam Mirottenburg (615) related that after eating hard cheese, he could taste it hours later. The Rema (YD 89:2) paskens that it is appropriate to wait after eating hard cheese before eating meat, just as one must between meat and milk. R’ Moshe Feinstein (YD 2:26) points out that this is only a stringency. Interestingly, the Maharshal (see Shach YD 89:17) dismisses this custom as heresy as the Gemara (Chullin 105a) writes that there is no need to wait between cheese and meat! The Gra disagrees, saying that it is similar to adopting other personal stringencies. Nonetheless, this has become the accepted practice for Ashkenazim (See Chochmas Adam 40:13). Sefardim have various lenient opinions to rely on (See Yabea Omer YD 6:7).
Exactly what constitutes ‘hard cheese’ is a matter of much debate. Fatty, greasy cheese and cheese that has developed holes would both qualify as ‘hard’ (See Taz and Aruch HaShulchan YD 89:11). The Shach (YD 89:15) writes that cheese that has aged for 6 months, such as ‘swiss cheese’ (Taz 89:4) generally qualifies as hard cheese. While some measure the 6 months from the time of production, R’ Yisroel Belsky maintains that the cheese only matures while in the factory, before it is packaged. Mild cheddar is typically a couple of months old, though mature cheddar is often older than 6 months.
R’ Aharon Kotler held (Ohr Yisroel 6:p89) that only cheese which needs a sharp grater to cut up is considered ‘hard.’ Following this, R’ Moshe Heinemann classes parmesan cheese as one of the few ‘hard cheeses’. R’ Moshe Feinstein (Mishneh Halachos 16:9) and the Chazon Ish (Maaseh Ish 5:p22) likewise, held rather leniently.
The Yad Yehuda (89:26) writes that if hard cheese is used in baking, it loses its ‘hard cheese’ status when it melts. R’ Yosef Shalom Elyashiv (Kovetz Teshuvos 1:582) disagrees, however, as melting the cheese doesn’t change its taste.
While eating dairy foods is certainly an important minhag, the Darchei Teshuva (89:19) challenges it, saying that there is a more important mitzva to eat meat as part of Simchas Yom Tov and this mitzva applies during every meal. R’ Moshe Feinstein, however, notes (OC 3:68) that we eat meat to remember the Korban Shelamim which was only brought once a day. Thus, one could have both dairy meals to fulfill the Shavuos custom and meat meals to properly fulfil Simchas Yom Tov.
Thursday, 25 April 2013
Meron on Lag B'Omer
Sunday, 21 April 2013
Shomer Shabbos Website
Sunday, 14 April 2013
Music during the Sefira
Sunday, 24 March 2013
How much Matza, Maror & Wine?
Shiurim in CC (ml)
|
Chazon Ish
|
R’
Moshe Feinstein
|
R’ Avraham Chaim Naeh
|
|
Larger Size
|
Smaller Size
|
|||
Revi’is
|
145
|
130.6
|
85.8
|
86
|
Kezayis
|
50
|
43.5
|
32.5
|
27
|