Dose of Halacha

Question: Last year on erev Shabbos Chanuka, we did not have a minyan in time to light the menora before Shabbos. In such a scenario does one still recite the berachos when lighting or not? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 671:7) writes that we light the menora in shul in order to publicise the miracle of Chanuka ( pirsumei nisa ). R’ Yaakov Emden (Mor Uketzia 671) writes that one always needs ten people for pirsumei nisa . Therefore, one should only recite a beracha when lighting the menora in shul if there is a minyan present. Doing so without a minyan could be a beracha levatala (a beracha in vain). The Magen Avraham (671:10) and Chayei Adam (2:154:17) write that one should not wait for a minyan to light before Shabbos. One can recite the berachos if one knows that there will be a minyan present later while the menora is alight. The Shaarei Teshuva (671:9) writes that this applies to any weekday, too. The Mishna Berura (671:47; Biur Halacha 671:7; Shaar Hatzio...

Question: Is it appropriate to ask a ten-year-old boy to light the menora in shul ? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 675:3) writes that there is a machlokes as to whether children can light the menora or not. The Rema writes that nowadays when everyone lights at home, children who have reached the age of chinuch should light, too. Nonetheless, the Mishna Berura (675:13) writes that a child cannot light on behalf of an adult. The Beis Yosef (OC 671:7) gives three reasons for why we light the menora in shul. First, the guests who did not have a place to light their own menora would fulfil their obligation with the shul’s lighting (see Levush OC 671:8). Additionally, he quotes the Kol Bo (44) who writes that lighting in such a public manner where one shows people how to say the berachos correctly, publicizes the miracles ( pirsumei nisa ) which creates a kiddush Hashem. Lastly, the Rivash (111) explains that as we no longer light the menora outside our front doors, we ensure...

Question: I learned that I am not supposed to perform melacha while the menora candles are burning. Does that mean I cannot fry latkes? Answer: The Gemara (Shabbos 23a) teaches that while lighting the menora is a time-bound mitzva which women are normally exempt from, they share the same obligation to light the menora as they were also involved in the miracle of Chanuka. The rishonim debate what miracle the Gemara is referring to. According to Rashi this refers to the abolition of the threat that brides were under, while according to the Ran (Shabbos 10a) it was the famous incident of Yochanan’s daughter, Yehudis, who killed the Chief General (see Rema OC 670:2). The Shulchan Aruch (OC 670:1) writes that women should not do any melacha while the menora lights are burning. The Taz (OC 670:2) compares Yehudis’ actions to the women who did not participate in the Golden Calf, for which they were rewarded with Rosh Chodesh. Accordingly, this restriction only applies to women....

Question: We live on the third floor in a block of flats. Where should we light our menora ? Answer: The Gemara (Shabbos 21b) teaches that one should light the menora outside the entrance to one’s home. However, one who lives in an attic should place their menora in the window facing the street. The Beis Yosef (OC 671:8) explains that if one placed the menora downstairs at the entrance to the house, it would not be clear that it belongs to those living in the attic. The Mishna Berura (671:38; Shaar HaTziyun 671:42) writes that those who live in houses nowadays should ideally light in a window facing the street. Only if the window is higher than twenty amos from the ground, is it preferable to place at the entrance to the house. However, the Pri Megadim (Mishbetzos Zahav OC 671:5) disagrees, arguing that as we light indoors, it does not matter if the window is twenty amos up from the ground outside. R' Shmuel Wosner (Shevet Halevi 4:65; 7:84) adds that even when one lig...

Question: Our shul has commissioned a new sefer Torah . Can I fulfil the mitzva to write a sefer Torah by sponsoring one parsha ? Answer: Rambam (Sefer Hamitzvos Asei 18; Sefer Torah 7:1) writes that there is a mitzva mideoraisa to write a sefer Torah . The Rosh (Sefer Torah 1) writes that nowadays when people learn from sefarim rather than from sifrei Torah , the mitzva applies to chumashim, mishna and gemara . The Tur (YD 270:2) and Shulchan Aruch (YD 270:2) both pasken this way, but there is a machlokes as to whether this replaces the mitzva of writing a sefer Torah or not. However, there is a machlokes as to how to understand the Rosh. The Prisha (YD 270:8) and Shach (YD 270:5) write that the mitzva no longer applies to writing sifrei Torah . As we no longer learn from them, it would be inappropriate for everyone to needlessly write one. Nonetheless, the Beis Yosef (YD 270:2) and the Taz (YD 270:4) write that writing other sefarim is one way to fulfil the mitzva , b...

Question: My tallis falls off sometimes, especially when I am putting on my tefillin . Do I need to recite the beracha again? Answer: The Beis Yosef (OC 8:17) writes that there is a machlokes among the rishonim as to whether one recites a new beracha upon replacing a fallen tallis . In the Shulchan Aruch (OC 8:15), he writes that one does recite a new beracha . The Machatzis Hashekel (OC 8:20) and R’ Sholom Mordechai Schwadron (Maharsham 4:148) suggest that if one was wearing a tallis katan , then one should not recite a second beracha as the first beracha would apply to one’s tallis katan, too . However, the Mishna Berura (8:39) writes that it makes no difference whether one is wearing a tallis katan or not. R’ Moshe Stern (Baer Moshe 6:9) quotes R’ Meir Arik (Imrei Yosher 2:9) who writes that if one feels their tallis fall off and intends to put it back on, one does not recite another beracha as there was never any hesech hadaas (distraction from the mitzva ). R’...

Question: Do I need to affix a mezuza to my garage? If so, do I recite the beracha ? Answer: The Gemara (Yuma 11a) teaches that there is a machlokes as to whether storehouses require a mezuza. Rambam (Tefillin, Mezuza Vesefer Torah 6:7) writes that storage houses containing wood and grain, etc. do not require a mezuza. Nonetheless, the Rosh (Mezuza 15), Tur (YD 286:1) and Shulchan Aruch (YD 286:2) writes that one is obligated to affix a mezuza to such rooms (with a beracha ). The Aruch Hashulchan (YD 286:8-9) questions why we recite a beracha , though notes that this is accepted practice. R’ Moshe Stern (Baer Moshe 2:82) writes that garages only require mezuzos if they are also used for storage. R’ Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss (Minchas Yitzchak 10:96:2) and R’ Moshe Sternbuch (Teshuvos Vehanhagos 1:647) write that one only says a beracha on a garage that is attached to the house, thereby serving as an entrance to the house. Nonetheless, R' Binyamin Zilber (Az Nidberu 3:58) write...