Dose of Halacha

Question: I find that music really relaxes me and find it very difficult not to listen to music during the sefira. Can I listen to chazzanus ? Answer: The Gemara (Yevamos 62b) teaches that 24,000 students of R’ Akiva died between Pesach and Shavuos. Therefore, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 493:1) writes that we observe certain mourning practices during this time. The Aruch Hashulchan (OC 493:1) adds that this has been intensified by the tragedies of the Crusades that ravaged European communities in more recent times. While there is no mention in the Shulchan Aruch of the prohibition on listening to music during the sefira , the Magen Avraham (493:1) writes clearly that one must not dance during this time. As music and dancing are often synonymous, R’ Moshe Feinstein writes (Igros Moshe YD 2:137) that it has become the prevalent minhag to refrain from listening. Likewise, the Aruch Hashulchan writes (OC 493:2) that while engagement parties are permitted, there must be no musical accompa...

Question: I was davening without my Siddur and realised that I may have said mashiv haruach accidentally. Was I allowed to walk to get a siddur to look up the halacha in the middle of my amida ? Answer: The Mishna (Berachos 20b) teaches how one must conduct oneself when davening the amida , not even interrupting to respond to a (Jewish) king’s greeting (See Shulchan Aruch OC 104:1). Nonetheless, the Mishna Berura (104:1) writes that if one is distracted by a child who is crying and one cannot motion to them to quieten them, one may move away to complete their amida . Likewise, he writes (96:7; 104:2) that if one gets confused while davening they may walk to get a siddur . The Chayei Adam (25:9) writes that it is even permissible to ask somebody the appropriate halacha if necessary. R’ Chaim Kanievsky (quoted in Dirshu Mishna Beura 104:n8; Ishei Yisrael Teshuva 115) adds that once one has found the siddur or appropriate sefer , they should continue davening   immedia...

Question: This is the first time we are making seder. Both my mother and mother-in law have always fried schnitzel for seder night though I see that this is not common. Is this wrong? Answer: The Gemara (Pesachim 53a) teaches that one may only eat roasted meat on seder night in places where it is customary to do so. Otherwise, it is forbidden to do so. Rashi explains that doing so gives the mistaken impression that one is partaking of the korban pesach outside the holy places. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 476:2) writes that this prohibition extends to roasted fowl, too. The Mishna Berura (476:9) writes that one may eat roasted fish and eggs, however, as we are not concerned that people will mistake those for roasted lamb. The Gemara (Pesachim 41a) teaches that there is a machlokes as to whether the korban pesach can be roasted in a pot. Rambam (Korban Pesach 8:8) rules that one mustn’t cook the lamb, whether before or after roasting it. The Aruch Hashulchan (OC 476:2) writes that...

Question: May one eat matza balls ( kneidlach ) or meat balls made from matza-meal on Erev Pesach? Answer: Rambam (Chametz Umatza 6:12) writes that one must not eat matza on Erev Pesach. The Mishna Berura (471:12) notes that some have the minhag not to eat matza from Rosh Chodesh Nissan. R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC 1:155) notes that some abstain from eating matza for 30 days before Pesach as according to one view in the Gemara (Pesachim 6a) this is when our Pesach preparations begin. The Rema (OC 471:2) writes that one cannot eat matza that had been broken up and kneaded with wine and oil. Thus, one would not be able to eat matza brei , etc. on Erev Pesach . The Mishna Berura (444:8; 471:20) explains that even if one does so, it is still considered to be matza . However, if one cooked the matza , to make kneidlach one would be able to eat it up until sha’ah asiris, three halachic hours before Yom Tov. R’ Shmuel Wosner (Shevet HaLevi 8:117) writes that this prohibiti...

Question: Is it ideal to give the final aliya of a Sefer to the baal korei , or is saying chazak a hefsek before his beracha ? Answer: The Avudraham (Tefillos Shabbos 57) suggests a reason for the minhag to say chazak. The Midrash teaches that when Hashem speaks to Yehoshua and tells him chazak ve’ematz , he was holding a Sefer Torah (See Rema OC 139:11; Aruch Hashulchan OC 139:15). Others compare this to the hadran that one recites upon completing a sefer (See Taamei Haminhagim 339). R’ Moshe Stern ( Baer Moshe 3:28:2) and R’ Shmuel Wosner (Shevet Halevi 7:202:2) note that the words chazak, chazak venischazek are aimed at the one who was called up to the Torah. It makes no sense, therefore, for him to recite these words. Doing so be fore the beracha , would certainly constitute a hefsek. If they do want to say Top of FormBottom of Form it, they should do so after reciting the beracha .   R’ Ephraim Greenblatt ( Rivevos Ephraim 2:98; 4:80) adds that for this re...

Question: I cannot keep up with the pace of davening at our minyan . Is it okay to start the amida early so that I can be finished in time for kedusha ? Answer: The Gemara (Berachos 8a) teaches the importance of davening with the tzibbur whenever possible. Rambam (Tefilla 8:1) codifies this as a halacha . The Shulchan Aruch (OC 90:10) adds that one is not allowed to begin their davening earlier than the tzibbur unless it is getting really late due to adding in various piyuttim or for some other reason. The Chayei Adam (19:1) writes that tefilla betzibbur specifically applies to the amida . One should be particular to come on time to shul so that they can maintain the pace of davening . The Pri Megadim (Eshel Avraham 109:2) writes that one only fulfils their obligation of tefilla betzibbur when they begin the amida at the same time with the tzibbur . Nonetheless, R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC 3:4) writes that as everybody davens at a different pace, the tzibbur ...

Question: We have the minhag not to eat matza between Purim and Pesach. Can we use a matza for lechem mishne if our minhag is not to eat it? Answer: Rambam (Chametz Umatza 6:12) writes that one must not eat matza on erev Pesach. Later poskim, including the Mishna Berura (471:12) note that some have the minhag not to eat matza from Rosh Chodesh Nissan. R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC 1:155) notes that some abstain from eating matza for 30 days before Pesach as according to one view in the Gemara (Pesachim 6a) this is when our Pesach preparations begin. R’ Eliezer Waldenberg (Tzitz Eliezer 11:23) quotes the Pri Megadim (Mishbetzos Zahav 274:2) who writes that one who is particular not to eat pas akum , bread baked by a non-Jewish baker, can still use such bread for lechem mishne. So too, one may use matza for one’s lechem mishne even on erev Pesach. Additionally, even if one cannot eat the second bread, it still serves to remind us of the double portion of mann. R’ Be...