Dose of Halacha

Question:  My Hebrew is not great, and I do not understand most of the davening. Is it better for me to daven in Hebrew or in English? Answer: The Mishna (Sotah 32a) teaches that one may recite the shema and the amida in any language. Thus, Rambam (Kerias Shema 2:10) and the Shulchan Aruch (OC 62:2) write that one can recite the shema in any language providing they pronounce the words clearly. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 101:4) writes that one may daven the amida in any language though brings different opinions as to whether this applies equally to public and private prayers. Tosafos (Sotah 32a) writes that one who does not understand what they are saying when they are reciting the shema or davening has not fulfilled their obligation. They should rather recite it in a different language that they do understand. The Magen Avraham (62:1; 101:5) paskens like Tosafos (see Pri Megadim, Eshel Avraham 62:1). Nonetheless, the Mishna Berura (101:13) quotes the Chasam Sofer (OC 8...

Question: I forgot to count the omer on Thursday night, and only remembered after davening kabbalas Shabbos . As this was before shekia , can I still continue counting with a beracha , or was it too late? Answer: Tosafos (Menachos 66a) discusses a machlokes regarding whether one may count the omer during the day or if it must specifically be done at night. Accordingly, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 489:7) stipulates that if one misses counting at night, they should count during the next day without reciting a beracha. They may then resume counting with a beracha on subsequent nights (see Mishna Berura 489:34; Shaar Hatzion 489:45). The Taz (OC 600:2) discusses a case where a community had not fulfilled the mitzva of hearing the shofar on the second day of Rosh Hashana, which fell on a Friday. They began davening kabbalas Shabbos early, and then someone brought them a shofar . The Taz rules that despite having already been mekabel Shabbos , they could still blow the shofar (see Taz OC ...

Question: I always daven maariv early in the Summer as I can’t stay up until after nacht every night to count the omer. Can I count the omer early or should I wait until the next day to count? Answer: The Gemara (Shabbos 34b) writes that there is a doubt as to whether the time period between shekia (sunset) and tzeis hakochavim (nightfall) known as bein hashemashos , belongs to the end of the day, or to the beginning of the following night. Generally, we follow the rule that when it comes to matters of doubt we rule stringently with matters that are mideoraisa and leniently with matters that are miderabanan. As there is a machlokes as to whether counting the omer nowadays is mideoraisa or miderabanan , there is a machlokes as to whether one needs to wait until tzeis to count. Thus, Rambam (Temidin Umusafin 7:22) who holds that counting the omer nowadays is a mitzva deoraisa writes that one should wait until tzeis to count (See Biur Halacha 489:1). Tosafos (M...

Question: We attended a Bar Mitzva where they played music even though it was during the omer . Was this okay? Answer: The poskim (Aruch Hashulchan OC 493:2; Igros Moshe YD 2:137) write that one mustn’t listen to music during the omer . R’ Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss ( Minchas Yitzchak 1:111 ) writes that this minhag is so important that one wouldn’t even be able to play music at a seudas mitzva . R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yechave Daas 1:45; 6:34), however, writes that one may play music at a seudas mitzva during the omer, be it a bris seuda, bar mitzva or siyum, etc. R’ Ben Zion Abba Shaul (Ohr Letzion 3:17:1) also allows playing music at such occasions, writing that the simcha of the mitzva overrides the minhag not to play music. R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC 2:95) allows one to play music at a sheva berachos for one who got married on lag b’omer. Elsewhere, ( ibid. EH 1:98) he writes that while one can make a party for a chassan and kalla who had returned to town after ...