Dose of Halacha

Question: I came late to shul during the week and went to the ezras nashim to daven as no ladies come then. Was I included in the minyan ? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 55:13) writes that the ten men who make up the minyan need to all be present in the same room as the chazzan . The Mishna Berura (55:48) adds that it does not matter if they cannot all see each other providing that they are in the same room. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 55:14) writes that one who is outside a shul can join in through an open window. Elsewhere, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 195:1) writes that a group of people who are split between two separate rooms can join together to recite the zimun if some of them can see each other through an open window. Nonetheless, the Mishna Berura (55:52; Shaar Hatziyun 55:53) questions whether davening in a minyan can be compared to zimun . He writes that while one can join a minyan from another room, it is best to go into the shul to daven. The Aruch Hashulchan (OC 55:20) wr...

Question:  I was the chazzan for shacharis at a different shul to which I usually attend, and the Rabbi told me that I should not have ended the beracha go’al yisrael before amida quietly. Why is this? 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 M...

Question: We were invited to friends out of town for Shabbos, though our hosts told us that we weren’t allowed to travel on Friday afternoon. Is that right? Answer: Rambam (Shabbos 30:11) writes that one mustn’t travel more than 3 parsa (approximately 7.5 miles) on Friday as their hosts (or own family) may not have had enough time to prepare for them. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 249:1) writes that if one is expected and no further preparations are needed, however, then they may travel further. The Shulchan Aruch Harav (OC 249:3) and R’ Ovadia Yosef ( Yabia Omer 2 OC 14:6) write that this limit applies to one walking. One travelling by other means has as long as it takes to walk this distance, or 3 hours and 36 minutes (See Shulchan Aruch OC 459:2). The Mishna Berura (249:3) writes that while many aren’t as concerned about this halacha nowadays, we need to ensure not to arrive too close to Shabbos. Likewise, R’ Yehoshua Neuwirth (Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasa 42:24) writes that as...

Question: I see that many people say leshem yichud before counting the omer yet we didn’t do so in yeshiva. Should I begin saying it? Answer: Many have a minhag to say the kabbalistic prayer, leshem yichud, before performing certain mitzvos, expressing one’s intentions to fulfil the mitzva to serve Hashem properly in order to properly focus and prepare themselves in advance. Thus, the Chida (Moreh Baetzba 1) and Yesod Veshoresh Ha’avoda (9:8) stress the importance of this mitzva , and write that one must channel their thoughts and emotions to prepare themselves for this mitzva by saying leshem yichud ( See Minhag Yisrael Torah  8:1). Nonetheless, this practice, while printed in most siddurim, is a most controversial one. R’ Yechezkel Landau (Noda Biyehuda YD 93) wrote very strongly against saying leshem yichud, trying to get it removed from the siddur. This debate aside, other poskim point to particular textual issues within the leshem yichud preceding the ...