Dose of Halacha

Question: I forgot to put my Shabbos kettle on before Shabbos so took a thermos flask to my neighbours to fill up, though they thought it could be an issue of hatmana . Can one fill such a flask on Shabbos? Answer: The Gemara (Shabbos 51a) teaches that the issur of hatmana , insulating foods on Shabbos, only applies to the pots in which the food was cooked, though not to any container into which the food is dispensed. As one knowingly cools the food by transferring the food, it is unlikely that one will then heat the food. Rashi explains that by transferring the food, one demonstrates that they don’t mind if the food loses a little bit of its heat. One would, therefore, be able to insulate the second container. Rambam (Shabbos 4:5) explains that chazal only prohibited insulating the food in the pot in which it was cooked. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 257:5) follows Rambam. R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC 1:95) writes that according to Rashi, one may not be allowed to transfer hot ...

Question: I know that some people eat in the sukka on Shemini Atzeres while others don’t. My parents aren’t religious and so I don’t have a specific custom. What should I do? Answer: The Gemara (Sukka 47a) writes that there is a machlokes as to what one should do on Shemini Atzeres in chutz laaretz when there is a safek as to whether to treat it as the seventh or eighth day of Sukkos. The Gemara concludes that one should not shake the lulav and esrog though one should sit in the sukka without reciting the beracha, leishev basukka (See Rambam, Sukka 6:13; Rema OC 668:1; Yechave Daas 2:76). Tosafos explains that as people sometimes sit in a sukka during the year, it is less obvious as to why they are doing so than shaking one’s lulav and esrog . R’ Tzadok Hakohen wrote a sefer (Meshiv Tzedek) defending the practice of not eating in one’s sukka on Shemini Atzeres. Likewise, t he Aruch Hashulchan (OC 668:4) justifies this minhag explaining that Tosafos’ rationale would...

Question:  I heard that one is supposed to build their sukka on Motzaei Yom Kippur, but I don't always have the strength to do so after fasting. How important is it? Answer: The Rema (OC 624:5; 625:1) writes that it is ideal to begin building one’s sukka immediately after Yom Kippur to transition from one mitzva to another. The Pri Megadim (Mishbetzos Zahav 624:3) and Mishna Berura (624:19) add that one should complete assembling it the following day. The Kaf Hachaim (OC 625:11) emphasises the importance of building one’s sukka personally rather than delegating the task. As a minimum, one should place some sechach themselves. The Pri Megadim (Eshel Avraham OC 625:1) discusses whether one who is unable to build the sukka immediately after Yom Kippur should appoint somebody else to do so on their behalf. On the one hand, it is always preferable to perform a mitzva at the first opportunity. On the other hand, it is better to carry out mitzvos personally rather than by appoin...