Sefarim by Rabbi Chaim Cohen: Mekor Chaim ↗ בס״ד

  1. Haggada in English

    Question: I have been invited to my parents-in-law for Pesach. Rather than everyone reading the haggada like I’m used to, they take turns reading the haggada out, much of it in English. Is it best for me to read it all quietly…

  2. Tovelling a Seder Plate and Kos Shel Eliyahu

    Question: We bought a new matching seder plate and kos shel Eliyahu for seder night . Do we need to tovel them? Answer: The Gemara (Avoda Zara 75b) stipulates that any keilim employed during meals necessitate tevila . The Shul…

  3. Covering the Sefer Torah

    Question: I sometimes stand next to the bimah to help out during leining though am confused as to when to cover the sefer Torah . Should it be covered after every aliya ? Answer: The Gemara (Shabbos 5b; Eruvin 98a) teaches …

  4. Read Along Parshas Zachor

    Question: I usually see some people read parshas zachor quietly along with the baal korei . Is this ideal? Answer: The Mishna Berura (146:15) writes that there is a machlokes as to whether the tzibbur should normally read …

  5. Returning a Sefer Torah

    Question: We accidentally took out a Sefer Torah that was not rolled to the correct place. Should we have returned it to the aron hakodesh and swapped it for the correct one, or should we have rolled it to the correct place? …

  6. Kosher Soap

    Question: I recently visited Israel and saw hechsherim on so many non-food products, even some bath products . Does it matter if body soap is made from non-kosher ingredients? Answer: Rambam (Maachalos Asuros 8:15) writes t…

  7. Post It Notes on Shabbos

    Question: Is it permissible to use Post-it notes as bookmarks on Shabbos? Answer: The Rema (OC 317:3) writes that while one is technically allowed to open temporary stitching that ties clothes together, one shouldn’t do so i…