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

  1. Fresh Challa

    Question: I like to bake fresh challa for Shabbos though it’s never enough to separate challa with a beracha . Should I rather bake a big batch for a few weeks so that I can take challa ? Answer: The Gemara (Bava Kama 82a)…

  2. Cutting Tzitzis with Scissors

    Question: Is it true that one mustn’t use regular scissors to cut tzitzis ? Answer: The Torah (Devarim 27:5) prohibits use of metal implements in hewing out stones for building the mizbe’ach . The Mishna (Middos 3:4) teaches…

  3. Looking at the Havdala Candle

    Question: I watched a Rabbi sing havdala online and noticed that he looked at his hands before saying the beracha over the candle. Don’t we usually recite the beracha before performing the mitzva or benefitting from anythin…

  4. Watching Havdala Online

    Question: I ran out of grape juice on Shabbos and so don’t have enough for havdala. Can I be yotze by watching someone saying it live online? Answer: The Mishna (Rosh Hashana 3:7) teaches that one who blew a shofar into a…

  5. Holding Havdala

    Question: I have always held the wine in my right hand while reciting havdala. Last week, I watched a Rabbi making havdala online and saw him switch hands in the middle. What is the ideal way of doing this? Answer: The Sh…

  6. Fewer Candles

    Question: Since our oldest child was born, I have always lit an extra candle for each of our children. Last week, I accidentally lit one too few. Do I need to add an extra candle every week? Answer: The Rema (OC 263:1) quotes…

  7. Matza Throughout Pesach

    Question: Is there a mitzva to eat matza throughout Pesach? Answer: The Gemara (Pesachim 120a) teaches that there isn’t the same requirement to eat matza on the last day of Pesach as there is on the first night. The Shulch…