Sunday 30 December 2018
Moving Furniture on Shabbos
Sunday 23 December 2018
Turn Lights off for Havdala
Sunday 16 December 2018
Insulating Food on Shabbos
Sunday 9 December 2018
Silver Menora
Sunday 25 November 2018
Defining Liquids and Solids
Sunday 18 November 2018
Accidental Cooking on Shabbos
Sunday 11 November 2018
Invitations on Shabbos
Sunday 4 November 2018
Children’s Tents on Shabbos
Sunday 28 October 2018
Lighting Shabbos Candles too Early
Sunday 21 October 2018
Early Maariv on Motzaei Shabbos
In conclusion, it is important to wait until nacht to daven maariv on Motzaei Shabbos.
Sunday 14 October 2018
Standing up for a Rabbi during Davening
Saturday 6 October 2018
Forgot to Wait after Meat
Sunday 30 September 2018
Children getting Aliyos on Simchas Torah
Sunday 23 September 2018
Rain on Sukkos
Question: What is the procedure for leaving the sukka if it rains?
Answer: The Mishna (Sukka 2:9) teaches us that
if it rains enough to ruin one’s food then one may leave their sukka.
While the Mishna writes that it is a bad sign if one has to leave due to rain,
the Aruch Hashulchan (OC 639:20) writes that this specifically applies in Eretz
Yisrael, but not in places where it is likely to rain. The Rema (OC 639:7) and
Aruch Hashulchan write that one who stays in the sukka when they are
exempt is considered to be unrefined (See Teshuvos Vehanhagos 2:304).
Nonetheless, the Rema (OC 639:5) writes that this halacha
does not apply on the first night, as if it is raining then, one must still
make kiddush and eat a kezayis of bread in the sukka.
According to the Mateh Ephraim (625:51), one should ideally eat a kebeitza.
While one who is mitztaer (uncomfortable) is usually
exempt from eating in the sukka, the Mishna Berura (639:35) explains
that according to the Rema, this exemption does not apply on the first night.
Then, one is obligated to eat in the sukka even if they are somewhat
uncomfortable, just like matza on seder night. As there are those
who disagree with the Rema and hold that one who is mitztaer is exempt
even on the first night, they should not recite leishev basukka so long
as it is raining. One should, therefore, wait until the rain stops to fulfil
this mitzva properly according to both views.
The Magen Avraham (OC 639:15) writes that one should wait
until chatzos for the rain to clear up if necessary. Nonetheless, the
Mishna Berura quotes the Shaarei Teshuva who writes that this is unnecessary,
especially as having to wait so long can ruin one’s simchas Yom Tov. Rather,
one should wait an hour or so, depending on whether one has young children or
guests, etc.
The Magen Avraham writes that if it is raining on the second
night, one can start the meal inside their house without having to wait for the
rain to clear. One should eat a kezayis of bread in the sukka at
the end of their meal, however. If it has stopped raining by then, then one
should say the beracha, leishev basukka (See Shaar Hatziyun
639:73).
In conclusion, if it is raining on the first night of Sukkos, one should wait before starting their meal. How long they wait will depend on their circumstances, though they should not wait so long that it will ruin their simchas Yom Tov. When it is too late to wait any longer, they should recite kiddush and eat a kezayis of bread in the sukka without saying leishev, before closing the roof or going inside to continue the meal. If it does stop raining before chatzos, one should go back into the sukka to eat another kezayis of bread and say leishev, washing again if necessary. If it rains throughout any other meal over Sukkos then one should close the roof or go inside.
Sunday 16 September 2018
Pills to Help One Fast
Sunday 9 September 2018
Group Hataras Nedarim
Sunday 2 September 2018
Early Selichos
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 we follow the
timing of chatzos in Yerushalayim which would allow those West of Eretz
Yisrael to say selichos earlier, R’ Ovadia says that we follow other poskim
who disagree with this.
Nonetheless, the Aruch Hashulchan (OC 581:4) notes that nowadays
it is common for people not to recite selichos until much later when it
is already properly light outside.
R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC 2:105) acknowledges that
the ideal time to recite selichos is after chatzos though writes
that there is no mention of this throughout the Gemara. Thus, one who will not
be able to recite selichos early in the morning may do so at
night, though should preferably do so after the 10th halachic hour
or 2 hours before chatzos, as the Shulchan Aruch (OC 1:2) writes
that this is also an auspicious time (See Mishmeres Shalom 41:4).
In conclusion, the ideal time to recite selichos is between
dawn and shacharis. While Sefardim should avoid reciting selichos
early at night, Ashkenazim who find it too difficult to do so may do so,
ideally after the 10th halachic hour.
Sunday 26 August 2018
When to Affix Mezuzos on New House
Sunday 19 August 2018
Mezuzos on a Rented House
Tuesday 14 August 2018
Removing Mezuzos when Moving Home
Sunday 5 August 2018
Shelling Nuts and Peas on Shabbos
Answer: The Gemara (Beitza 13b) writes that one mustn’t roll grain between one’s fingers to remove its chaff on Shabbos. Such extraction, mefarek, is a tolda of the melacha of dosh, threshing. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 319:6), writes, therefore, that if one wants to eat the grain, one would have to remove the chaff with a shinui such as using one’s fingertips. The Magen Avraham (OC 319:8) and Mishna Berura (319:21) add that this prohibition only applies when the pod or shell is inedible.
There is a machlokes, however, as to what exactly mefarek applies to. According to the Taz (OC 319:4), it only applies when the food is attached to its outside shell such as peas in a pod while the Maharil (quoted in Elya Rabba 319:11) and Pri Megadim (Eshel Avraham, Introduction to 320) write that it applies specifically to loose food, unattached to its shell like peanuts. Following this, R’ Shmuel Wosner (Shevet Halevi 1:81) forbids shelling peanuts on Shabbos.
R’ Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss (Minchas Yitzchak 3:32) follows the Taz, however, and writes that one may shell peanuts right before one wants to eat them. Likewise, R’ Eliezer Waldenberg (Tzitz Elizer 10:24) writes that when it is normal for food to be removed right before it is eaten, there is no prohibition in removing its shell, especially when it’s a hard shell. He was critical of another Rabbi who wanted to prevent shelling peanuts on Shabbos. Thus, pistachio and sunflower seeds, etc. may be opened and eaten on Shabbos (See Mishna Berura 319:24; Igros Moshe OC 1:125).
In conclusion, one may shell loose nuts on Shabbos. Peas may only be removed normally if their pods are edible. Otherwise, they must be removed with a shinui.
Friday 27 July 2018
Maaser from Gifts
In conclusion, one should give maaser from any money that one earns, including as gifts, unless it was given for a specific purpose.
Friday 20 July 2018
Delayed Tisha B’av
Sunday 15 July 2018
Accidental Beracha on Meat During the Nine Days
Sunday 8 July 2018
Music Lessons During the Three Weeks
Sunday 1 July 2018
Baruch Sheptarani for Girls
Sunday 24 June 2018
Mezuza Fell on Shabbos
Sunday 17 June 2018
Fixed Place for Davening
Tuesday 12 June 2018
Carrying in Hospitals
Sunday 3 June 2018
Shabbos Staff
Sunday 27 May 2018
Washing Clothes on Friday
Tuesday 22 May 2018
Defrosting for Next Day Yom Tov
Sunday 13 May 2018
Sprinklers on Shabbos
Sunday 6 May 2018
Using a Peeler on Shabbos
Sunday 29 April 2018
Matza on Pesach Sheni
Sunday 22 April 2018
Checking Lettuce
Monday 16 April 2018
Building a Redemptive Nissan into a Transformational Iyar
- What has Israel got to be proud of?
- Where is it going?
- What does that mean for us?