Dose of Halacha

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 the Maharil (Shabbos 1) who writes that if a woman forgot to light Shabbos candles one week, she should light an extra candle from then on. The Mishna Berura (263:7) explains that this acts as a kenas (fine) to deter people from forgetting. R’ Shmuel Wosner (Shevet Halevi 5:33) adds that this applies even nowadays when there are also electric lights on in the house. Many have the minhag to light an extra candle for each child born. R’ Yisrael Chaim Friedman (Likkutei Mahariach, Hisnahagus Erev Shabbos) explains that this is in keeping with the Gemara (Shabbos 23b) that writes that one who lights Shabbos candles properly is rewarded with children who are talmidei chachamim (Torah scholars). R’ Menashe Klein (Mishne Halachos 7:35) explains that this is akin ...

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 Shulchan Aruch Harav (OC 475:32) explains that when the Torah tells us to eat matza on the other days, it clearly means to eat something other than regular bread. There is a machlokes among the rishonim and acharonim ¸ however, as to whether one performs a mitzva by eating matza on the remaining days of Pesach. According to Ibn Ezra (Shemos 12:15), one is obligated to eat matza all seven days (See Chizkuni 12:18). R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yechave Daas 1:22) quotes the Baal Hamaor (Pesachim 26b) who asks why we don’t recite a beracha when eating matza throughout Pesach, just like we do upon eating in a sukka following the first day of sukkos. He answers by differentiating between Pesach and Sukkos, when one can live for six days by eating other food, thus one ha...

Question: Can I use maaser money for kimcha depischa ? Answer: The Gemara Yerushalmi (Bava Basra 1:4) teaches that one who has lived in a city for twelve months is considered to be a resident. Thus they must give wheat to the poor and are entitled to receive wheat if necessary. Following this, the Ohr Zarua (Pesachim 255) writes that the minhag is to distribute wheat to those in need before Pesach. This serves as the Rema’s opening words to hilchos Pesach (OC 429:1) . Thus, we see in the Shulchan Aruch Harav (OC 429:5) that the prevalent custom was for communities to levy taxes on their townspeople for this purpose (See Mishna Berura 429:3). The Mishna Berura (Shaar Hatziyun 429:10) explains that it is inappropriate for us to celebrate Pesach, knowing that our friends are unable to. Additionally, we must consider the added costs of Pesach food. R’ Yaakov Betzalel Zolty (Mishnas Yaavetz OC:7) explains that the Rema wrote this halacha in hilchos Pesach rather than hilchos ...

Question: I know that we’re not supposed to use soap bars on Shabbos but can we use liquid hand soap? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 328:22) writes that one may rub oil into a (minor) wound on Shabbos, but not fat that will melt. The Mishna Berura (328:71) adds that this applies equally to oil that has solidified. The Rema (OC 326:10) explains that one cannot use bar soap on Shabbos because it is nolad, (creating a new entity). The Mishna Berura (326:30) explains that doing so is also an issur of memachek (smoothing). R’ Moshe Feinstein (OC 1:113) writes that he didn’t allow liquid soap in his house, either, as it is also a potential issur of memachek. Nonetheless, the Aruch Hashulchan (OC 326:11) and Kaf Hachaim (OC 326:43) write that one can prepare liquid soap before Shabbos. R’ Yaakov Yechezkel Posen (Kitzur Hilchos Shabbos 32:4) writes that common practice is to be lenient like these poskim . Similarly, R’ Yosef Shalom Elyashiv ( Kovetz Teshuvos 1:38, quoted in Orchos Sha...

Question: May one use a non-electric thermometer on Shabbos? Answer: The Mishna (Beitza 28a) teaches that one mustn’t measure things on Shabbos or Yom Tov. Tosafos (Shabbos 126b) explains that doing so is uvdin dechol , mundane, weekday activity, while Rambam (Shabbos 23:12) implies that it may lead to writing (See Shulchan Aruch OC 323:1). The Shulchan Aruch (OC 306:7) writes that one may measure, however, for mitzva and health purposes (See Shabbos 157b). Thus, R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe 1:128), R’ Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss (Minchas Yitzchak 3:142; 7:22; 10:31:8), R’ Eliezer Waldenberg (Tzitz Eliezer 3:10; 14:30), R’ Yehoshua Neuwirth (Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasa 40:2) and R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer OC 9:108:156; Yechave Daas 4:29 ) write that one may use a (glass) thermometer on Shabbos. There is a machlokes , however, as to whether one can use a strip thermometer which changes colour according to the temperature. R’ Neuwirth writes that R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach only al...

Question: I know that one isn’t supposed to touch the sefer Torah with one’s hands. Does this apply to the megilla , too? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 147:1) writes that one mustn’t touch a sefer Torah without a cloth. The Rema writes that while some extend this prohibition to other kisvei kodesh, holy writings, that isn’t our minhag. Nonetheless, he cautions that one should ideally wash one’s hands before handling them (See Beis Yosef OC 147:1). The Magen Avraham (147:1) writes that Rema was referring to printed sefarim . The Rema would agree, however, that one must wash one’s hands before touching a kosher megilla . The Elya Rabba ( 147:1 ) and Panim Meiros (1:76) however, disagree, writing that when the Rema writes that it is ideal to wash one’s hands, he was referring to writings such as the megilla which don’t contain the same kedusha as a sefer Torah. One only needs to wash one’s hands if they are dirty (See Aruch Hashulchan OC 147:5; Kaf Hachaim OC 147:5; 7). ...

Question: I walked out of our holiday home on Shabbos and realized that there were some papers in my pocket. What should I have done? Answer: Rambam (Shabbos 12:9; 13:5) writes that in order to transgress the melacha mideoraisa of hotza’a, carrying on Shabbos, one needs to have picked an item up ( akirah ), carried it into another reshus (domain) or at least four amos in a reshus harabim ( hiluch ) and have put it back down again ( hanacha ). If one finds oneself inadvertently carrying on Shabbos, one should try one’s utmost to eliminate one of these stages in order to minimize the prohibition. An area enclosed by an eruv is considered a reshus hayachid while most streets and parks would be a carmelis. Carrying from one to the other is assur miderabanan (See Shabbos 6a; Shulchan Aruch OC 346:1) . Rambam (Shabbos 13:8) writes that if one stops walking, it is considered to be hanacha . Thus, one who accidentally carried something to another domain and immediately broug...