Sunday, 25 December 2016
Flying over Chanuka
Sunday, 18 December 2016
Saying Modim Loudly
Sunday, 11 December 2016
Tefillin over Watch
Sunday, 4 December 2016
Plasters on Shabbos
Sunday, 27 November 2016
Beracha on Fruit Hors D'oeuvre
R' Ephraim Greenblatt (Rivevos Ephraim 3:120) writes that one doesn't say a beracha before eating olives, etc. as it is normal to eat them during a meal.
Sunday, 20 November 2016
Working before Shacharis
Sunday, 13 November 2016
Visiting Israel During November
Sunday, 6 November 2016
Disturbance in Amidah
Saturday, 29 October 2016
Mincha Before Shekia
Sunday, 23 October 2016
Sukka Hopping and Berachos
Sunday, 16 October 2016
Move Lamp on Shabbos and Yom Tov
Sunday, 9 October 2016
Children and Fast Days
Sunday, 2 October 2016
Eating Before Shofar
Sunday, 25 September 2016
Pesukim on Invitations
Sunday, 18 September 2016
Leaving Dinner Early
Sunday, 11 September 2016
Adding Hot water to Cholent
Sunday, 4 September 2016
Bas Mitzva Celebrations
Similarly, R' Ephraim Greenblatt (Rivevos Ephraim 1:158) writes that parents should make a seuda for their daughters turning bas mitzva, as it is no different to a boy turning bar mitzva.
Monday, 29 August 2016
Preparing Egg and Liver on Shabbos
Sunday, 21 August 2016
Shaving before Shacharis
Friday, 12 August 2016
Guests on Shabbos Tisha B’av
Sunday, 7 August 2016
Gardening During the Nine Days
Sunday, 31 July 2016
Door Knocker on Shabbos
Sunday, 24 July 2016
Adjusting Fan on Shabbos
Sunday, 17 July 2016
Disposable Cup for Kiddush
Monday, 11 July 2016
Long Road Ahead
Sunday, 10 July 2016
Beracha after Coffee
Sunday, 3 July 2016
Milky Bread
Sunday, 26 June 2016
Cleaning Shoes on Shabbos
Monday, 20 June 2016
Havdala on Sunday for Children
Tuesday, 14 June 2016
Flowers in Shul
Question: In the shul
that I used to attend, they were adamant not to decorate the shul with flowers on
Shavuos, yet the shul I daven in now does decorate the shul.
Which is right?
Answer: The Rema (OC 494:3) writes that many have the minhag to place herbs in shuls and their homes over Shavuos to commemorate the giving of the Torah. The Mishna Berura (494:10) explains that there was grass or herbs on Har Sinai (See Kaf Hachaim OC 494:53).
The Magen Avraham (494:5) extends this minhag to trees, writing that as we are judged on Shavuos over the fruit, the trees should remind us to pray for a good produce (See Shulchan Aruch Harav 494:15). R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yechave Daas 4:33) quotes midrashim to explain why people place flowers.
The poskim
(Chayei Adam 2:131:13, Mishna Berura 494:10; Igros Moshe YD 4:11:5) quote
the Vilna Gaon who decried the practice of placing trees in shuls as it
has become the practice of idolaters. Thus, some shuls do not place any
plants in their shuls (See Aruch Hashulchan OC 494:6).
R’
Ovadia Yosef (Yechave Daas 4:33) explains however, why this is not a concern
and writes that this is an important minhag. Additionally, it seems that
while the Vilna Gaon disapproved of laying out trees, there would be no issue
with herbs and plants (See Kaf Hachaim OC 494:56).
In
conclusion, while most communities decorate their shuls with
flowers over Shavuos, there are some
shuls that avoid any flower decorations.
Sunday, 5 June 2016
Beracha on Seeing the Queen
Sunday, 29 May 2016
Davening in the Ezras Nashim
Sunday, 22 May 2016
The Silent Chazzan
Answer: The Gemara (Berachos 4b; 9b; 42a) writes that one should ensure to make no interruption between the berachos after shema and the amida, especially during shacharis (Rashi Berachos 4b). One who is particular to do so will be protected that day from harm.
The Shulchan Aruch (OC 66:7; 111:1; 236:2) writes that one should not make any hefsek, unnecessary interruption between go’al yisrael and the amida. Therefore, one must not answer amen. However, the Rema quotes the Tur (OC 66) who does not consider it to be a hefsek and writes that one should answer amen to the chazzan’s beracha. The Aruch Hashulchan (OC 66:14) writes that the minhag is to follow the Shulchan Aruch and avoid saying amen.
In order to avoid this safek, the Aruch Hashulchan (OC
66:15) and Mishna Berura (66:35) write that one should aim to finish the beracha
of go’al yisrael together with the chazzan, thereby exempting
oneself from responding at all.
While R’ Ephraim Greenblatt (Rivevos Ephraim 1:71; 6:42:1)
explains the rationale behind the practice for many chazzanim to end
this beracha quietly, he quotes R’ Yosef Eliyahu Henkin (Edus L’yisrael,
Beis Hakenesses 1:64) who often spoke out against this practice. Thus, in his
Ezras Torah calendar, it is written that according to R’ Henkin, ‘a chazzan
who says the ending of go’al yisrael in an inaudible voice, is violating
the Talmud’s ruling. Therefore, it is a mitzvah to correct this matter, and to insist that the chazzan
begin yotzer ohr and conclude go’al yisrael in an audible voice.’
R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Halichos Shlomo, Tefilla 7:18)
notes that throughout the discussion among the poskim as to whether to
say amen, they did not propose saying it quietly. Likewise, R’ Moshe
Sternbuch (Teshuvos Vehanhagos 1:105) writes that if the chazzan does
not end this beracha loudly, he is preventing those at other points in davening
from saying amen. He demonstrates that this follows Rambam, too (Tefilla
9:1).
In conclusion, it is important for the chazzan to end
the beracha go’al yisrael before amida out loud.