Dose of Halacha

Question: I arrived at shul and realised that I had forgotten to make my eruv tavshilin . Can I rely on my Rav to make eruv tavshilin on my behalf? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 527:7) states that the Rav should make an eruv tavshilin on behalf of anyone in his community who forgets or loses theirs. However, one cannot depend on this as a substitute for making an eruv themselves. If someone forgets to make an eruv two consecutive times, it is no longer considered accidental, and relying on the Rav's eruv would not suffice (Baer Heitev OC 527:6). If someone arrived at shul and realises that they forgot to make an eruv before Yom Tov, they should go home if there is still time to make one. Alternatively, they may call home and ask someone else (such as their wife) to make it on their behalf. The Tiferes Yisrael (Beitza, Boaz 2:1) mentions that one can designate food at home and omit the words " behadein eruva , (with this eruv )." However, R’ Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss (M...

Question: I have a fruit tree that has started blossoming. Do I need to wait until the month of Nissan to recite the beracha on blossom? Does it matter that I have already seen the blossom, or can I still recite the beracha ? Answer: The Gemara (Berachos 43b) teaches that one should recite a beracha on a tree when it blossoms in the month of Nissan. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 226:1) writes that this beracha can only be recited once a year. According to some poskim (Halachos Ketanos 2:28; Kaf Hachaim OC 226:1) the beracha should only be recited in the month of Nissan, though most poskim (Ritva, Rosh Hashana 11a; Mishna Berura 226:1; Aruch Hashulchan OC 226:1; Tzitz Eliezer 12:20:3) write that one should say it whenever when one first sees the blossom. R’ Ephraim Greenblatt (Rivevos Ephraim 5:173) writes that he witnessed R’ Moshe Feinstein say the beracha in Iyar. Thus, R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer OC 8:8:4; Yechave Daas 1:1) writes that one should ideally wait until Nissan to reci...

Question: It is my father’s yahrzeit on Sunday, though there is another avel in my shul. Can I make a separate minyan on Motzaei Shabbos in my home? Answer: The Gemara (Berachos 6a) teaches that tefilla is best accepted when davening in shul. One who chooses not to daven in their local shul is considered to be a ‘bad neighbour’ (ibid. 8a). Rambam (Tefilla 8:1) and the Shulchan Aruch (OC 90:11) codify this Gemara as halacha , though the Magen Avraham (90:15) adds another reason. The Gemara (Berachos 53a; Yoma 70a; Megilla 27b, et al.) teaches that berov am hadras melech, it is preferable to perform mitzvos with a large presence. Therefore, even when one can daven with a minyan in their home, one should still go to shul . The Mishna Berura (90:38) adds that one should strive to daven in shul even if there is no minyan there. While one may not be considered a bad neighbour, nonetheless, a home minyan is not ideal as davening in a shul (See Shaarei Teshuva 90:4). R...

Question: Is it true that one should not tell others when they see a rainbow? Answer: The Gemara (Berachos 59a) teaches that one recites a beracha upon a seeing a rainbow, recalling the bris that Hashem made with Noach, and His assurance that the world would never undergo such a mabul again. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 229:1) writes that one should not stare at the rainbow (See Beis Yosef OC 229:1 where he quotes the Rosh). The Gemara (Chagiga 16a) teaches that looking at a rainbow is considered disrespectful to Hashem and that doing so can weaken one’s eyesight. The Pri Megadim (Eshel Avraham OC 229:2) asks why the Magen Avraham (229:2 and Baer Hetiv OC 229:2) quotes the Shela as saying this when this teaching can be found in the Gemara. Thus, the Mishna Berura (229:5) , Aruch Hashulchan (OC 229:2) and Kaf Hachaim (OC 229:5) stress that one should look briefly and then recite the beracha . The Chayei Adam (63:4) writ es that he once saw in a sefer that one who sees a rainbow should...

Question: Our son was born in Adar and he turns thirteen during a leap-year. I was always under the assumption that he turns Bar Mitzva in Adar Sheni , but we were told to observe a relative’s yartzheit in Adar Rishon . Are they not the same? Answer: There is a machlokes among the Rishonim as to whether ‘ Adar’ during a leap-year generally refers to Adar Rishon or Adar Sheni. Rambam (Nedarim 10:6) writes that ‘ Adar’ refers to Adar Sheni (See Kesef Mishna), while the Ran (Nedarim 63b) and Rosh (Nedarim 63a) write that it refers to Adar Rishon. The Mishna Berura (427:3) writes that for the sake of clarity the chazan should ideally announce ‘ Adar Rishon’ during mevarchim hachodesh. When one’s relative passes away during one of the Adar’s in a leap year, the yahrzeit is observed during that same month in a leap year; either Adar Rishon or Adar Sheni . However, when one’s relative passes away during Adar in a non-leap year, there is a machlokes as to which month t...

Question: I am always confused as to how exactly to do hagbah and so always refuse to do it if asked. Is there a particular way to open the Torah and turn? Answer: The Gemara (Megilla 32a) teaches that the honour of gelilah is equal to all of the other honours. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 147:1) adds that this honour is typically auctioned to the highest bidder. The Mishna Berura (147:5) writes that this applies to the way we do hagbah today, and notes that it is no longer treated this way. Ramban (Devarim 27:26) writes very strongly about the importance of performing the mitzva of hagbah and gelilah properly. The Magen Avraham (134:3) quotes Maseches Sofrim (14:14) which writes that the Torah should be opened three columns and shown to everyone as there is a mitzva for everyone to see and bow towards it. The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (23:25) and R’ Betzalel Stern ( Betzel Hachachma 5:54 ) write that it should specifically be opened three columns. T he Mishna Berura (134:8) writ...

Question: I forgot that it was Rosh Chodesh and so arrived late to shul. Should I have davened shacharis while the kehilla were davening mussaf , or davened mussaf with them and davened shacharis afterwards? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 286:1) writes that the correct time for mussaf is after shacharis . The Rema adds that if one davened mussaf before shacharis they have still fulfilled their obligation. The Gemara (Zevachim 90b) discusses which rule takes precedence, that of tadir, the more frequent of two objects takes precedence, or mekudash, the one of greater sanctity. R’ Yitzchak Elchanan Spector (Baer Yitzchak OC 20) argues that if one missed davening shacharis betzibur, they should at-least daven mussaf betzibur and daven shacharis later. While shacharis is an everyday occurrence, and therefore tadir, nonetheless, davening mussaf betzibur is considered mekudash , and so should be performed now, while one can do so with a minyan . While this applies t...