Dose of Halacha

Question: I am flying during Chanuka and won't be home to light the menora . What should I do? Answer: R’ Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss (Minchas Yitzchak 7:46) notes a machlokes regarding fulfilling the obligation to light the menora when away by having a family member light on one's behalf in a different time zone. The Mishna Berura (677:2) states that one can fulfil this obligation if their wife lights at home. However, R’ Weiss specifies that this applies effectively only if both parties are in a similar time zone and obligated simultaneously. On the other hand, R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Halichos Shlomo, Chanuka 13:4) permits relying on family members back home regardless of the time zone. R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer OC 2:17; OC 3:35; Yechave Daas 4:38; 5:24), R’ Eliezer Waldenberg (Tzitz Eliezer 1:20:12) and R’ Binyamin Zilber (Az Nidberu 3:1-2) assert that while electric lights are permissible for Shabbos candles under extenuating circumstances, Chanuka lights must consi...

Question: When listening to chazaras hashatz I sometimes hear the chazzan say modim quietly while everyone else says modim derabanan. Is this correct? Answer: The Gemara (Sota 40a) writes that when the chazzan reaches the beracha of modim , the tzibbur say modim derabanan (See Rambam, Tefilla 9:4) . This beracha is so important that the Gemara (Berachos 21b) writes that one who comes late to shul should not begin davening the amida unless he knows that he will finish before the chazzan reaches modim (See Shulchan Aruch OC 109:1) . The Mishna Berura (124:41) questions the practice of some chazzanim who say modim quietly. The chazzan must raise his voice if necessary, to ensure that he can be heard by at least a minyan of men. Thus, R’ Ephraim Greenblatt (Rivevos Ephraim 1:91:1) questions whether the tzibbur should say modim derabanan quietly so as to ensure that they can hear the chazzan. Elsewhere, (ibid. 2:185:17; 5:76) he quotes R’ Yosef Shalom Elyashiv a...

Question: Do I need to remove my watch before putting on my tefillin ? Answer: The Mishna (Megilla 24b) teaches that there must not be anything in between one’s tefillin and their arm ( chatzitza ). Thus, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 27:4) writes that one should ensure to place one’s tefillin directly on their head and arm. The Rema, based on the Rashba (1:827), qualifies this to the tefillin boxes, though allows one to have something under the retzuos (straps). The Taz (OC 27:4) and Magen Avraham (OC 27:5) challenge the Rema, as the Rashba concludes that one should ideally refrain from any chatzitza under one's retzuos. The Mishna Berura (27:17) writes that this leniency only applies to the winding around the arm ( kerichos ). There must not be any chatzitza by the tying ( keshira ), however. R' Moshe Sternbuch (Teshuvos Vehanhagos 2:26) explains that the seven kerichos around the forearm are not essential to fulfil the mitzva , one would fulfil the mitzva even if one di...

Question: Can we use plasters (band aids) on Shabbos? Do they need to be prepared beforehand? Answer:  The Shulchan Aruch (OC 328:1) writes that one mustn’t perform any act of healing for one who is healthy but slightly uncomfortable ( mechush ) on Shabbos. Nonetheless, as plasters primarily serve to protect the wound from becoming infected, one may apply plasters to cuts on Shabbos (See Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasa 34:3). The Shulchan Aruch (OC 340:14) writes that sticking is a tolda of tofer , sewing. Thus, R’ Eliezer Waldenberg (Tzitz Eliezer 8:15:14:6) writes that ideally one should stick the plaster onto one’s body, rather than stick the ends over each other, thereby creating a weaker attachment. The Rema (OC 317:3) cites a machlokes as to whether one may undo temporary stitching on Shabbos or not (See Mishna Berura 317:21). Accordingly, there is a machlokes as to whether one may remove the plastic tabs from plasters on Shabbos. R’ Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss (Mincha...

Question: Is one supposed to say a beracha on a fruit hors d'oeuvre if they’ve washed for a bread meal? Answer: The Gemara (Berachos 41b) writes that one must say a beracha before eating fruit that was brought in to a meal, unless it serves as an actual dish or is eaten as a condiment together with the bread. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 177:1) explains that the beracha of hamotzi that one recites over bread only exempts foods that are eaten primarily to satisfy one’s hunger. Thus, the Mishna Berura (177:4) writes that if one has fruit as a dessert, one will need to say a beracha first. If one started eating the fruit with bread, they wouldn’t need to say a beracha. The Mishna Berura writes that there is a machlokes as to whether one should say a beracha on fruit cooked together with another dish. He suggests that it is ideal to eat a piece of fruit first and say the beracha on that (See Shaar Hatziyun 177:7). The same would apply to a dish made of fruit served as part o...

Question: I have an early morning work shift. Is it better to daven shacharis alone before work or wait and daven later with a minyan ? Answer: The Gemara (Berachos 14a) teaches that one must not attend to personal affairs before davening. Based on this, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 89:3) rules that engaging in work or travel before davening is prohibited. This restriction begins at alos hashachar (dawn), the earliest time one may daven . However, as davening is not allowed before alos hashachar , it is permitted to work during that time. The Mishna Berura (89:17; 37) advises that if one plans to start work within half an hour of alos hashachar , they should first recite birchos hashachar (see Rema 89:3; Biur Halacha 70:5). Additionally, the Mishna Berura (70:23) explains that someone who starts working before alos hashachar may continue working afterward, provided they ensure they recite shema and daven shacharis before their respective deadlines ( zemanim ). The Mishna Berura...

Question: I will be visiting Eretz Yisrael during Cheshvan / November. Do I say vesen beracha or vesen tal umattar ? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 117:1) writes that in Eretz Yisrael we begin saying vesen tal umattar (prayer for rain) in the beracha of barech aleinu from the seventh of Cheshvan. In chutz la’aretz , we do not begin saying it until the sixtieth day of the tishrei season. As this season begins on the seventh of October, we begin saying vesen tal umattar during maariv on the fourth or fifth of December (See Taanis 10a). We continue saying this until Pesach . The Shulchan Aruch (OC 117:5) writes that one who forgot to say vesen tal umattar after this time must do so in the beracha of shema koleinu. Failing that, they would have to repeat the shemone esrei. The Mishna Berura (117:5) quotes different opinions as to what someone visiting Eretz Yisrael during this time should do. The Pri Chadash (OC 117:2) and Pri Megadim (Mishbetzos Zahav OC 117:1) write that p...