| Ask
Rabbi Leff a Question |
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| 484 | Is it permissible for a Jewish man to hear a Jewish woman whom he knows playing a musical instrument over the phone? If she is performing especially for him, e.g., playing a song for him on a guitar or piano, is it outside the bounds of propriety? Shlomo Zalman Jessel,
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| 483 | I was wondering if it is a problem for an 18 year old, unmarried girl to sleep in a house by herself while her parents are away. I ask this question, because I have heard that there may be a problem of shaidim when the girl is alone at night. I would appreciate it if the Rav could clarify this. Thank you so much for this inspiring and thought-provoking website! Esti, |
| 482 | I see this done all the time. Posters claim that all the Gedolim of today have forbidden smoking yet people do so. Also I have seen posters that all of today's Rabbinic authorities forbid it today on Yom Tov as opposed to past psakim which allowed it. What has changed? and Is there any heter b'zman ha'zeh currently to allow smoking on Yom Tov? Thank you for your time. Tal Zwecker, |
| 481 | I've heard that you are only allowed to leave Israel to learn Torah, find a shidduch or parnasa. Does this apply nowadays? Specifically can one leave Israel to Visit Family or attend a Simcha in Chutz L'Aretz? Aaron, |
| 480 | Concerning the book, "When Bad Things Happen to Good People", I've heard many people say that it's epicursus, and that the "Rabbi" who wrote it is an apikorus. Is this so, and if so, what is it about the book (and it's author) that is objectionable? Does it mean that all of his books are apikoursus, and shouldn't be read? I've heard that they have been very helpful and comforting to millions of people around the world who have lost love ones, or have had to deal with other tragedies. Does that account for anything? If it is against the Torah, shouldn't someone try to mekarav the author, and teach him the error of his ways, and get him to use his talents for good? Anonymous |
| 479 | Does eating (e.g. breakfast on way to work) in ones car, constitute "ochel b'shuk" which is domeh l'kelev or pasul l'edus ? Thank you T. Nathan, |
| 478 | What are the halochos regarding davening the Amidah while on a journey? I know that one should sit down, but what about taking 3 steps backwards and forwards and bowing? Anonymous, |
| 477 |
Are you allowed to hug and/or kiss your married sister? Anonymous, Rabbi Leff's response |
| 476 |
Are you allowed to hug and/or kiss your married sister? Anonymous, |
| 475 | What is the procedure in simple terms for giving a get to a woman who wants one? Do I take back the rings? Anonymous |
| 474 | I was giving a shiur in the topic o sex and a student came out with a question of why a man can marry a women and he can find out if she is a betula or not and if that was a condition of the kidushin he can divorce her and she doesn't have any way to prove if he is a man that hadn't have releations with any women before. The question in other terms is; why there is a need of betulim for a woman and why a man can marry more than one women |
| 473 | Since in 1967 everyone in Israel was in direct physical danger and were all miraculously saved, why don't we say Hallel or acknowledge it in any way? Aaron,
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| 472 | Dear Rabbi Leff, shlita, Anonymous, |
| 471 |
What is the Halachic reasoning for some to wear tefillin during mincha in addition to wearing at shacharit. Thank you Anonymous, |
| 470 | Now that we have heard the Rav's thoughts on Yom Haatzmaut, What is the Rav's shittah about Yom Yerushalayim? Menachem Hojda, |
| 469 | Regarding the Rav's response to question #429, I have seen some shuls where the prayer for the State of Israel is recited, omitting the words "Reishis Tzmichas Geulaseinu." Would this solution serve to alleviate the concerns of those reluctant to recite this tefillah? Yechekzel G. |
| 468 |
Why is it that it's only a mitzvah for a man to get married when the commandment was given in the plural? Zevi, |
| 467 | Does the psak of the chazon ish of yaihareg v'al yaavor apply to the current version of sherut l'eumi, & if so what is the rationale for this psak ? T. Nathan, |
| 466 | If one eats cake shabbos morning after making Kiddush. Does he have to make “al hamichya” and “al hegefen” providing that he washes for the shabbos seuda within the hour? Anonymous, |
| 465 |
I heard that when a woman is pregnant it is not in her best interest to step on nails(clippings) Anonymous, |
| 464 |
I'm a baal tesuvah and I just started becoming shomer negiyah. Right now it's really hard for me, and i wanted to know if there's any form of contact that is permissible (gloves...) Anonymous, |
| 463 | I am a talmid in a beis medrash. Firstly I have a very strong leaning towards "bekius" learning. However I am worried that since I don't spend much time on "iyun" outside of first sedarim it can be ruining my future ability to become a talmud chochem. Secondly, people say that you need a rebbe that you can grow in your learning ability from. However after a year of listening writing and reviewing the rebbe's "shuir" I dont know what abilities if any I gained? Please tell me the Rav's opinion. Thank you. Anonymous |
| 462 | : I've read about selling tzitzit to goyim on a website pertaining to the laws of tzitzit. The saying went like this "lest he (goy) put it on and thereby, by gaining the confidence of some Jew, lure him to his death." What does that mean? Would a goy wear tzitzit for ulterior, evil motives? Thank you for your time. Ari H., |
| 461 | I was doing a research project on the Torah, and I came across some rather dismaying passages in Leviticus that call for the death of homosexuals. Can you explain what these actually mean? Nathan Leff, |
| 460 |
Kvod HaRav Shlita, Akiva, |
| 459 |
My question is what is the Jewish outlook on the nation of Amalek nowadays? How can we, the Jewish people, feel that we have been wronged by the Nazis Y"SH and their goal to exterminate the Jewish people? Aren't we as Jews required by the Torah to annihilate Amalek. Furthermore, the Torah goes as father as to command us to kill every single mother and child, regardless of age. Although we don't know who Amalek is nowadays, if we did know, do we still hold them accountable for the sins of their fathers over 2,500 years ago and seek to destroy them? An answer would be greatly appreciated. Barry, |
| 458 | Even if the techeles of today is wrong is there any negative aspect of wearing it on account that it might be the right one? Anonymous, |
| 457 |
Can you please tell me advice on how to keep a high spiritual profile while in galus? I get very inspired from time to time, sometimes enough that I can almost cry. At certain points of the week I feel a physical down. I get grinded and turn into a zombie-ish state of unclarity and lack of fear from the Hashem. After it my yeser hara passes, I can see clarity to no extent, as if Hashem turned on a foglight. Anonymous, |
| 456 |
My wife and I are considering adoption, but she spoke to friends who said there is a big problem of yihud and I would not be able to hug my adopted daughter. Could the Rav please lay out the Anonymous |
| 455 |
I am reading up on Tu B'av and I am not understanding why the ladies had to go out to the fields the way they did, I cant find any mekor on the reason for it and I wonder if you can help me. Tzvi Burstein, |
| 454 | If I decided in my mind to donate an object to tzedakah, but now would like to keep it for myself, am I bound by my original decision. Similarly if I set aside money to purchase a new pair of tefilin, & now would like to change my mind, am I bound to my original commitment? T. Nathan, |
| 453 | In order to make a siyum on a mesechta, does one have to leave over the last piece for the siyum, & if not, how soon after completing the masechta does one have to make the siyum? T. Nathan, |
| 452 |
Is it necessary to "speak out" when learning torah to fulfill the mitzvah of talmud Torah? T. Nathan, |
| 451 |
Is it necessary to dry off the handles of the netilas yadaim cup before washing ? T. Nathan, |
| 450 | I'm writing after listening to your answer on Posting 398 about the subject of the wife working to support her husband in learning. Gila, |
| 449 |
If I may ask a question on the answer to question 418. The question referring to hats and jackets for davening. People refer to a siman in Shulchan Aruch to support the custom or halachah of wearing at least a hat for davening referring to a law of a double head covering or the like. Can the Rav please explain and resolve my confusion. Thank you so much. Anonymous |
| 448 |
My last wish is to discredit what I perceive to be a wonderful faction of frum Yidden. However I'm just curios as to how the Rav feels about certain practices of the Chabad Chassidim. Aside from the whole Yechi scandal... I've read that for kabbalistic reasons the Lubavitcher chassidim do not sleep in the sukkah on succos, nor do they eat shalosh seados on shabbos. How do we understand this while still accepting this group? Additionally, in light of Rav Shach's sentiments about the Rebbe and Chabad, how have the gedolei yisroel perceived Lubavitch? Again, I have the deepest respect for Lubavitcher Chasidim, I'm just wondering as many of these issues have become relevant recently. Thank you very much. Dovid B., |
| 447 |
I know there is a custom among many chassidim to use the mikvah on shabbos morning for kabbalistic reasons. I recently saw a chassidishe sefer that praised this practice and quoted the Ben Ish Chai as being for this practice. I'm curious how this fits in halachically, i.e. how does one dry himself off, and is there any problem of Rechitza or other malachos. Thank you very much Dovid B., |
| 446 | I have heard from several rabbonim that a frum Jew who lives in America must vote Republican and not Democrat since Republicans are anti-abortion and anti-gay, which is consistent with the halacha. But just because the Torah is against abortion and gays, does that obligate one to vote for a president who coincidentally happens to share those views? Besides, that opinion seems somewhat absurd, since Jews lived for thousands of years under governments which worshipped idols and committed acts of immorality and no one had any problem with that. What is the Rav's opinion in this matter? Moshe Peretz Mann, |
| 445 | Dear Rabbi, is a woman who was born Jewish but was converted to Christianity as a child still considered Jewish according to Halachah? Anonymous, |
| 444 |
What exactly are the halachos of washing negel vasar when waking up and after touching parts of the body that should be covered? I understand that before washing negel vasar after sleeping one is not suppose to touch openings on their body such as their eyes and mouth etc. Does this apply as well to the other times (other than after sleeping) when a person is supposed to wash negel vasar? In addition, does a person have to wash negel vasar after all types of sleeping (ex. on plane) and naps? I want to thank the Rav for his the time and clarification. Anonymous, |
| 443 | Are we living in the times of the final redemption, If yes, how can we tell from world events and how close to it are we? Anonymous, |
| 442 |
I have heard that it is forbidden to patronize tourist attractions like the Tanachi zoo in Yerushalayim or the Ramat Gan Safari since they operate on Shabbos, is this true? Does this also apply to businesses? What about outside of Israel ? Tal Zwecker, |
| 441 |
Why did Avrohom daven for the people of Sodom , who were a vicious evil people, shouldn't he have been concerned for the future victims? T. Nathan, |
| 440 |
Is a shaitel (wig) that is so well made that it looks like real hair valid for kisui harosh (head covering)? T. Nathan, |
| 439 |
Is it forbidden to study secular philosophy that discusses G-d in the bathroom? Tal Zwecker, |
| 438 | Would a Jewish person be allowed to read the Koran or “New Testament” (i.e. for research or for reading for school)? What sorts of books would one be prohibited from reading? Anonymous, |
| 437 |
A few weeks ago I was walking past a bank and saw some cash hanging out of an ATM. No one was around so I took it. 2 minutes later i passed by again and noticed a man withdrawing money. He resembled someone I think I had seen earlier across the street. Later I felt guilty I didn't check this was the owner. I therefore gave most of the money to tzedaka, as there was no way of confirming the owner. Anonymous |
| 436 |
Shalom Aleichem Rabbi, this website/forum is great both you and the designer deserve much praise. Since the day of Yom Ha'atzmaut is coming up I wanted to ask an apolitical/objective question which is unfortunately a hot topic of controversy. Many different facets of observant Jews will be observing this date very differently some will recite Hallel with or w/o a Bracha, some will be saying Tachnun some will even be saying Kinnos. According to the Satmar Rav Zatzal whose sefer VaYoel Moshe I have looked at this day may be quite negative. He also writes that the sefer is meant to clarify Halacha. His case there is well backed up with sources cited from Talmud, midrash commentary etc. Is there a counter argument as halachically sound as his? Also is there any Halacha precedent for or against saying Hallel? Kinnos? Tachnun? Can any one of these 3 forms be called "correct" as opposed to the others? Anonymous, |
| 435 | Seeing as how Yom Haatzmaut is coming up, I was wondering why some people hold it as a holiday and others don't? I know that there is a certain amount of animosity between the 2 sects that hold it and those who don't hold it and I was wondering why that is. I heard different reasons for saying Hallel or not saying Hallel. Should we say Hallel on this day or not? also if one goes to a Yom Haatzmaut party since its during sfira can music be played and listened to. if you could help me that would be great. Anonymous, |
| 434 | I have a traditionally observant close relative who lives in Israel as I do. She couldn't understand how my Yeshiva will not be taking off for Yom Haatzmaut. Please could you advise the best way to respond to such a question in a way that someone coming from that more traditional and Zionistic background could understand? Thanks so much for making yourself available for our questions! Anonymous, |
| 433 | Over 9 years ago my husband left me and we divorced several months later. At the time we had 2 children together. Boruch Hashem I re-married within the year and my children are being raised exclusively by me and my new husband. Our blended family also includes my 2 step children and the 2 children we have been blessed with together (we are expecting I"YH another child in a few weeks). My question is; my ex-husband is Ashkenazi, and my husband is Sephardic. Since my children from my previous marriage are being raised in our household exclusively are they to hold Ashkenazi minhagim or Sephardic minhagim. My daughter is 14 1/2 and my son is 9 1/2. My son has been raised by my Sephardic husband since he was a year and a half and considers him his father. He doesn't even remember a time that his biological father was even around since he was only 8 months old when he left. At the time of his Bar Mitzva will he be obligated to take on Ashkenazi minhagim even though the rest of the family follows Sephardic minhag? Susan Benzaquen, |
| 432 | Often, towards the end of davening, there are several kaddishes said in rapid succession of each other. If I am still davening, must I answer amen at every permissible point or not, since I can hardly utter a full sentence without having to answer amen? Moshe Peretz Mann, |
| 431 |
For those who are machmir not to rely on the sale of chometz for chometz gamur, what exactly falls into the category of chometz gamur? For example are foods like ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise or sauces that list wheat in the ingredients included in this category? T. Nathan, |
| 430 | Assuming that the duty free shops in Ben Gurion Airport are owned by a Jew, is one allowed to purchase whiskey from the stores, as there may be a CHASHASH that the produce was not sold for Pesach. If so, does one have to wait for the stores to replenish their stocks before buying? Thanks. Raphy Garson, |
| 429 | Why do some shuls not say the prayer for the State of Israel on Shabbos? If it's a problem with asking for things on Shabbos then why is a regular Mi SheBerach different? Thank you. Aaron, |
| 428 | Is one permitted to shave during the Omer period once per week just before Shabbos? Anonymous, |
| 427. | Many sefarim talk about the deep meaningful insights in the practices in the chagim apart from giving us a better understanding of Hashem and out avoda should we have thease ideas as part of our kavonoh when we perform the mitzvah? ie the four cups on pesach and the many reasons why we drink them. Thank you so much for your wonderful help. Gidon Lyons, |
| 426. | Do we see anywhere that burying items with the dead is practiced. Gidon Lyons, |
| 425. | Why on Shabbat does the Shmonei Esrei not come in the form of requesting and just in the form of statements? Gidon Lyons, |
| 424. | It is well known that one cannot cry on Shabbat. Gidon Lyons, |
| 423. | Why is it that the Gedolei Yisrael, and basically all the Jews in Europe for five hundred years, preferred to speak Yiddish as a vernacular as opposed to speaking in loshon Kodesh? I thank the Rav for taking his time out to help me with this question. Zai Gezunt Dovid, |
| 422. | Does the Torah tell us anything about ghosts, aliens, and something like the Lochness monster? Anonymous, |
| 421. | My Chavruta told me that men have to cover their elbows and cited as proof the Mishna Berurah on Siman 2:1 which says "a man may expose his arms up to the 'kovdo'" Is this true? What are the laws of modesty for men and do they have the same level of stringency as for women. T. Gordon, |
| 420. | Where does the minhag of putting shoes on right-left and then tying them left-right? Anonymous, |
| 419. | I have an interesting book written by fanatic Christian wackos. Nevertheless, there are some good points. The book is called "the power of positive thinking." It contains quotes from the bible including from the tanach. Is it asur to read this book in the bathroom? Thank you Rabbi Leff Anonymous, |
| 418. | Where does the Minhag of wearing hats and jackets to Davening originate from? Anonymous |
| 417. | I've heard that the Chazon Ish Z"YA said that Lincoln was wrong for freeing the slaves, if this is true what was his reasoning? Does the Torah law to treat slaves well because we were slaves still apply to African Americans? Also I have unfortunately noticed a high amount of prejudice toward blacks in the Jewish community, how does the Rav feel about this, and how should one react to examples of prejudice? Dovid B. |
| 416. | Concerning the practice of naming people with non-biblical or non Lashon-kodesh names (i.e. Yiddish Zalman or Israeli Oren) are these names really their names?, do they have a higher status than a purely secular name like Edward? Why are they used in calling a person up for an aliyah? and what is the mekor for the use of yiddish names, which generally are based in secular languages (i.e. Shlomo Zalman, or Yitchok Aizik) Thank you very much Rav Leff Dovid B. |
| 415. | If one tied a permanent kesher on shabbos, if the knot is saved, can some of the damage be undone retroactively if one unties the knot on motzaei shabbos? Dovid B. |
| 414. | The Gemara in Megilla(12a says that there is a Machlokes Rav and Shmuel if Achashveirosh was a Melech Tipesh or Melech Pikeach for inviting the farther or closer people first to his seudah... I understand if it was that one said he should have don't it one way and one said the other way. But saying Melech Tipesh, that means that ( let's say Rav held he was smart for doing the way he did it ) that means that if he would have the choice to do it , he would have done it the same way. And Shmuel would be calling him Tipesh!?! How do we reconcile this apparent insult? Anonymous |
| 413. | Is the Lubavitcher Rebbe Moshiach? Thank you Ovi F. |
| 412. | If G-d hates divorce, why did he allow Moses or make it available to gods people in the bible. did he allow his people to make decisions without asking in prayer first. Thank you. Linda Filipiuk |
| 411. | Does Minhag have to be based in Halachah. I always understood that is what was what minhag is people refer to family Minhagim if they need to be based in halachah then some may not be minhagim that how the ideas of a minhag shtoos was formed. How did Minhagim form? Gidon Lyons, |
| 410. | A friend of mine told me that if a Jewish women is the center of attention - that is if she sings on stage in front of women or giving a speech for women or even if she teaches - she breaches some level of HER tznius. If you teach - then for chinuch it's okay but it still breaches tznius. Michal, |
| 409. | I understand the concept of bitul (bitul b'rov, bitul b'shishim) that exists before Pesach. With Chametz this does not exist during Pesach as chametz is oser b'mahshehu (prohibited with the smallest amount).
Dovid Travers, |
| 408. | We have a 4 year old apricot tree which is just now producing fruit. Is the fruit permitted to us or do we have to wait 3 years from the time it starts to give fruit? Shoshana Roth, |
| 407. | Many thanks to the Rav for taking time to answer this question. Who was Lilith? The only answer I have been given so far is that she was the predecessor of Chava. But that is just a definition. Who is she and what happened to her and why? Aviva, |
| 406. | Who holds that one should wear the techailes that they have now? Thank you very much for this wonderful website. Anonymous |
| 405. | My friend is planning to get married on the third of Sivan. Is he exempt S.Z. Jessel, |
| 404. | I am not a Rabbi, but in my Jewish community, something strange happens...: Mordechai, |
| 403. | What is the Rav's opinion on buying German made products like car and other things? Should I go out of my way not to buy them? Zevi, |
| 402. | I will like to know if a messianic Jew may indulge in smoking of India hemp smoking. Ejim Timothy, |
| 401. | Is there a need to do teshuvah for sins transgressed before marriage, since chazal say getting married wipes away sins? Thank you and regards. Erez Rozen, |
| 400. | What is the prohibition in taking a photograph on Shabbos with a simple camera that has no batteries? If one removes the film from a camera after exposure, one cannot discern anything whatsoever. In fact if no care is taken, NOTHING remains, Anonymous |
| 399. | I have 4 questions that have been bothering me. A.K., |
| 398. | It has become more and more common these days to see men learning all day while the wives work. I am a little confused about this. I was under the impression that the man is supposed to work while the mother is supposed to stay home and teach the kids the proper way. Rambam also says that a man should not learn without working because it is a disgrace to Hashem's name. I was listening to parshas Yisro in shul a few weeks back and when the baal korei read the commandment about shabbos, I noticed it says that six days a week you shall work. That sort of language sounds like its mandatory not optional. I am not knocking people that learn all day; I am just trying to understand. Thank you very much for this service and the great website. Much Hatzlacha. Zev, |
| 397. | We hear each day of people waiting for organ donations. 1: Can and should we sign up to be organ donors, halachically speaking and 2: if halachically it is permissible then are we obligated to do so. Moshe, |
| 396. | Kvod HaRav Shlita, Akiva, |
| 395. | When Amoraim or Rishonim qualify the statements of their predecessors and limit their statements to a very specific case, do we have to assume that was really the intention of the braisa or maimra, or is it merely the amora's/rishon's interpretation? Yossi, |
| 394. | Why is it that Avraham Avinu pleads for the city of Sedom but does not say a word when Hakadosh Boruch Hu commnads him to kill his own son? I recently heard a pshat that seems heretical that Avraham actually failed for this reason. Can the Rav please explain- Thank you. Anonymous |
| 393. | I recently saw a Beis Halevi which says that hishtadlus is merely a heter given because one may not yet be on a madrega where he realizes that everything is from Hakadosh Boruch Hu. After hearing many shmoozim on Bitachon I still haven't been able to get a straight answer on how one is to evaluate the balance between hishtadlus and bitachon in a practical manner. Will the Rav please offer some specific guidelines or methods of being able to tell where one is at and how one can tell if he has real bitachon or is merely fooling himself. Thank you very much for your time. Yossi, |
| 392. | my pregnant wife have to take vitamins with a hechsher? Aharon Natinsky, |
| 391. | When Yaakov purchased the b'chora from Eisav, did that include the brachos, & if so why was it necessary to trick Yitzchok into thinking he was Eisov, why couldn't he just show him the proof of purchase? T. Nathan, |
| 390. | I am doing a project for my World Religions course in school and the topic that I need to research is: If G-d is so powerful, why is there suffering in the world? I have researched this topic and have only found the Christian side to the story; however, I need the Jewish side to it. Could you please tell me what the Torah has to say about this topic? Ariel Picillo, |
| 389. | Is there any problem (such as b'chukosayhem losaylaychu - following the ways of the nations) in going to a sporting event at a stadium? T. Nathan, |
| 388. | Since I am in the parsha of shidduchim, may I leave my cell-phone on during davening as it might be a shidduch call which the shadchan will forget about completely if I don't answer? Anonymous, |
| 387. | Dear Rabbi Leff, I would like to know the Torah view on this. Is it allowed? Is it totally an aveira? I read the teshuva of Rav Moshe Feinstein awhile back and it seems to me that it only applied in a certain woman's case. Because of this many women seem to be using it as an excuse to leave that half a tefach showing because "technically" it's not showing the amount that is completely assur. I would appreciate any input you have on this subject as it's a very sore topic among many people. Thank you again. Anonymous, |
| 386. | Dear Rabbi Leff, Anonymous |
| 385. |
I want to grow long-curls (peyos) like Orthodox Jewish men do? Could you please email me, telling "step-by-step" on "how to" grow them? Anonymous, |
| 384. |
Many places in the siddur, as well as in common parlance, we use the phrase "Ribono shel olam." Why is it "Ribono?" Doesn't that mean His mastery? Shouldn't it be "Ribon shel olam?" Robert, |
| 383. |
For the sake of Chinuch, Loving your children and Shalom Bayit, how should a parent deal with a child that is having difficulty in adhering to mitzvot, without turning them away? How do you deal with the other children who you hope will not be affected negatively by the experience? Moshe, |
| 382. | Some girls from my high school recently designed a sweatshirt which has "im ain kemach ain Torah" written on the back. Would one be allowed to wear this sweatshirt in the bathroom? Anonymous, |
| 381. |
Concerning the bracha of a Rebbe or great Rav. Many thanks. Reuvein Ben Dov, |
| 380. | If the purpose of tefilla is to change ourselves and raise ourselves up to be mekabel Hashems gifts,then why is their a chiuv to daven btzibur or with a specific nusach? What if one finds it easier to focus and daven bychidus or in his own words? Yossi, |
| 379. | Dear Rabbi Leff, |
| 378. | If I am in the middle of the bracha to be mekadesh levana and someone comes over to me and says sholom aleichem, am I allowed to answer aleichem sholom or is it a hefsik? Zevi, |
| 377. | Oftentimes, when I wake up, I need to run to the bathroom. Is this a problem, since I go before I have a chance to say Modeh Ani, and netilas yadaim? Thank you. Anonymous, |
| 376. | May I preface this question by stating that I my intent is not to be mezalzel in the minhag in question, just to understand it: Certain Chassidic groups have the custom that women who get married must shave their heads. Is not one of the purposes of a wife to be "beautiful" for her husband? As Chazal say says "En Isha Ela LeYOFI, Lebanim Ultachshtin". In addition, we find that in order to make the ISH YEFAT TOAR ugly, she too mush shave her head! I was told that there is a midrash that states: When Abraham went down to mitzrayim he said "I didn't know till now how beautiful you (Sara) was - this refers to his seeing her hair. Surely the above indicates that hair shaving should be frowned upon. I personally know of someone who was present at a wedding, when after the BEDEKENING a screen was put up and the KALA was shaved. I was told she broke down as this happened. She was then led to her chupa, after this "humiliating experience. Please clarify is possible the above minhag. Raphy Garson, |
| 375. | Which is the religious point of view (in the Orthodox Judaism) about the problem of the evil and the Shoah? |
| 374. | I've read that Rav kook had the practice of refraining from meat aside from on Shabbos. Additionally I've read that others have endorsed similar views, how does the Rav feel about this? Dovid B., |
| 373. | May one eat in a restaurant whose proprietor feels that the Lubavitcher Rebbe is the moshiach, if it is under a widely accepted hashgacha? Furthermore, is it permitted for a person to daven in a shul where the majority of the congregants feel that the Rebbe zt"l is moshiach, and perhaps participate in the recitation of Yechi? Dovid B.,
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| 372. | My wife and I live in Jerusalem and my only other family in Israel is a non-religious cousin, who I am quite close to, who lives in Tel Aviv. The only opportunity to really see each other is over Shabbos. If my cousin asks to come for a Shabbos meal (where she would be driving in) is there any reason to allow her to do so or should I try avoiding it completely. Thanks so much for this incredible service!! Anonymous |
| 371. | In the church there are persons with different gifts of the spirit that god has given to them .I want to known is the color that represents each gift of the spirit. In regards to Joseph's coat of many colors Anonymous |
| 370. | Shalom Ubracha! If one learns that his doctor is engaged in insurance fraud on an ongoing basis, by charging for procedures which never occurred, is it mesirah to notify the insurance company? What if one is reasonably confidant the insurance company will notify the attorney general? Yitzchok Shuster, |
| 369. | Why is it that Jews today seem to be of different descents; that is, there is a variety of skin tones, etc. Historically, can we be 100% certain that Jews today have descended throughout the ages without intermarrying with other nations. For example, is it possible that Sephardic Jews may be darker or Ashkenazic Jews may be lighter as a consequence of marrying into the native people of those places? Thank you for clarifying. Anonymous |
| 368. | Having just returned from Eretz Yisrael, I have found that most American are completely ignorant of what the real differences are between mehadrin and non mehadrin hechsharim in Israel (for example, the “regular”Rabbunat Hechsher in Yerushalayim and Rabbunat Mehadrin Yerushalayim). Adam, |
| 367. | Having had a sexual relationship for two years and then no sexual contact for the last year and still have a strong relationship and discovering we are still happy after the year it is necessary to become shomer negiah? If so why, since the contact has already taken place? Anonymous, |
| 366. | What is Goral Hagra? Gidon Lyons, |
| 365. | You recently wrote an article on parshat Shmot called "Living to Work." Aish.com published your writing and it was a fabulous article, quite illuminating. The only thing I didn't understand was your usage of the word avodah. You defined avodah as purposeless work/menial labor. But I thought the work done in the Beit HaMikdash was Avodah and that certainly was not purposeless or menial. I also thought that, according to Pirkei Avot, the world stands on three things, one of them being Avodah (which is often understood as prayer); I would be surprised if one of the three pillars of the world is meaningless/menial work. How do we reconcile all of this? Mark Newman. |
| 364. | I am flying to Italy arriving one half hour after Netz ( 8:30 ) However I leave Israel one hour before Netz in Israel which is 6:30 AM . When should I daven. If I should daven in Italy , can I eat the breakfast before. I need the answer today since I am flying late tonight. Thank you Yaakov,
|
| 363. | I learned in school that when it is time for kedusha - one raises themselves on their toes for kadosh, baruch, and yimloch. For some reason, many women in various shuls bow at the waist. Are they doing something that is incorrect? Is what they are doing equivilant to the lifting of one's feet?
Michal, |
| 362. | Dear Rabbi Leff, Anonymous, |
| 361. | There has been a lot of discussion about how publishers of gedolim biographies revise and censor out much of what that gadol did in order to make him look like a preset image of an "ideal" gadol. Does the Rav hold that this is right or wrong? Moshe Peretz Mann, |
| 360. | I teach college and prepare students for debate using factual material. I have been unable to find research or academic level material against yeshiva draft. Can you help? Thank you Linda Wolff, |
| 359. | I graduated elementary school 23 yrs ago. This past week my friends and I have " found each other" and we have been e-mailing back and forth. Tonight motzei shabbos when I checked my mail I saw that one person e-mailed on shabbos to me and the group. Obviously she isn't shomer shabbos. Should I say something? Miriam, |
| 358. | You discussed the idea of "developing your potential" in last weeks shabbos drasha and in the past. Anonymous, |
| 357. | Dear Rabbi Leff, Anonymous, |
| 356. | Kvod HaRav, Shalom U'Vracha, Akiva, |
| 355. | It is frightfully cold here in Massachusetts , and my hands get painfully chapped. Could you please explain to me how many times I must wash my hands with a vessel (since I already wash them after they become soiled and after using the restroom and before I prepare food). Between the restroom and the food, I am already washing my hands at least a half dozen times a day with soap and water. Robert, |
| 354. | What is the Rav's opinion of movies that have Torahedik themes (like there is a another dimension more "real" than this one, and our actions help influence how it interacts with us)being used to help teach Jewish concepts to nonobservant Jews? Anonymous, |
| 353. | L'chvod Harav Leff- Adina, |
| 352. | After learning SIMAN 257 in SH"A, the following question arose. Is one allowed to send a document with DHL/Fed Ex. on Friday? IS this considered "KEILU" you instructed the goy to deliver the document on Shabbat or not? I can not find the question discussed in the acharonim. Your view and perhaps some MEKOROT would be much appreciated. Raphy Garson, |
| 351. | Is there an prohibition involved if one rents out a hall for a function, when the hall in question is owned by a reform shul? Can the reasoning that one who rents the hall is considered the owner of the hall, be a reason to permit it? Thanks. Raphy Garson, |
| 350. | If a first born baby boy is not well enough to have the bris on time can you have the pidyon haben before the bris?If you can does it proceed as normal? Thank you for you time. Zev, |
| 349. | We recently had a very negative experience with a furniture store, and we know that they lied to us on more than one occasion. We are wondering if it is permitted for us to publicize our experience (in effect, to warn others), or would it be considered lashon hara? Anonymous, |
| 348. | : I have a non-Jewish friend who is unaffiliated to any religion however has always looked to Judaism in search of truths. He has been asking me recently (via email) if I could explain the role of the Non-Jew in the eyes of Judaism both in this world and in Olam HaBa. Could you please clarify and give me guidelines as to what areas I am permitted to answer him in. Anonymous, |
| 347. | Is a Kohen permitted to go to a reform levaya (for wifes grandfather) and cover the aron with earth as all relatives present are elderly the niftar was a kohen and the kevura will be in the kohens section of reform cemetery? R. Stepsky, |
| 346. | What is the daas torah on religious Zionism? Thanks! T. Nathan, |
| 345. | What is the bare minimum of men necessary answering amen to the chazras hashatz, i.e. how many have to have finished their 18 before the chazzan can begin? T. Nathan, |
| 344. | What tshuva (repentance) should a person do for the aveiros (sins) of hotzoas zerah l'vatalah (spilling one's seed) & the violation of hilchos tznius bein ish l'ishto (modesty between a man and his wife)? Anonymous |
| 343. | Dear Rabbi; Does the fact that a man's wife is no longer able to have children(due to a medical condition) change the halachot of "zera l'batala" (spilling one's seed unncessarily) for that man? Anonymous |
| 342. | What is the Jewish belief on the christian concept of lucifer being the angle of music who fell from grace, challenged G-d and became the satan? Tracey Limebeer, |
| 341. | What is the Rav's view regarding the HECHSHER for Aurbach Chickens sold here in ISRAEL. I've heard from various opinions and as of yet have no clear PSAK to indicate whether these chicked meet mehadrin standards. Thanks. Anonymous, |
| 340. | If I see a beggar smoking, may I refrain from giving him tzedaka since he uses the money to buy cigarettes? Moshe Peretz Mann. |
| 339. | What may a women daven for after she lights Shabbos candles? I've heard that on Shabbos one cannot daven for specific things, especially material requests. Therefore, can one daven for someone who is sick, sick people in general, or shidduchim for example? Tracey Rozen, |
| 338. | As a gabbai, I decide who I want to call up for an aliya on shabbat by taking their card from a box. Can I change my mind if I so desire? Anonymous, |
| 337. | I am wondering about the issue of cholov yiroel milk. i have heard that the rabanim made a takono only to drink cholov yisroel milk, but in the early days of USA, because barely no cholov yisroel milk was available, Rav Moshe Feinstein made a heter that because the government law was so stringent that only cows milk may be used, one could drink non-cholov yisroel milk. My question then is did Rav Moshe Feinstein say that the hetter was only available then, or is it also now ok to drink non-cholov yisroel milk? Furthermore, if it is that because kosher milk is widely available that it is now only right to drink cholov yisroel milk, if one were to travel to a remote area where no cholov yisroel milk was available, could one drink this milk? Gila, |
| 336. | How does the Rav suggest parents answer their childrens' questions about dinosaurs, age of the earth, etc.? Robert Rubovitz. |
| 335. | What are the parameters of being halachikally connected to the mesorah (tradition)? If one doesnt to attatch himself to a Rebbe Muvhak or doesnt inherit a specific derech halimud', is this person somewhat outside of the mesorah? Yossi, |
| 334. | I have to choose a good Beth-HaMidrash LaRabbanim where to study. What do you think about the Yeshiva University environment, jewish atmosphere,especially about The Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary? Is it more university than yeshiva or is it more yeshiva than university? Thanks! Anonymous |
| 333. | I know that we're not allowed to use lights on shabbos, because when we turn them on that might create a spark somewhere in the generator. But what if we were to come up with a method of creating lights (by the use of chemicals or nuclear reactions) where no sparks are involved. Are we allowed to use them then, and also, how does this opinion extend to the use of electricity that has nothing to do with lights? Anonymous, |
| 332. | Is it possible for Chazal to make mistakes regarding scientific & other non halachic information e.g spontaneous generation? Is the existence of the parsha of "par helem dovor" proof that they could make a mistake? Is the scientific & medical info in shas (Talmud) considered torah shel baal peh that was received at Sinai? TN, |
| 331. | What are the halacos for women regarding shaving? Anonymous, |
| 330. | Shalom Uvracha, Rav Leff Shlita,
My eight year old son Yonnason asked his Rebbe last year a question. I have an answer but could not find anyone who speaks about. In Sefer Shmos Perek Gimmel Pasuk Ches Hashem tells Moshe that (Benei Yisroel) will go up from the land of Mitzryim to Eretz Tova Urchava El Arutz Zavas Chalav Udvash El Makom Ha Kahani... however in Pasuk Yud Zion when Hashem tells Moshe to tell Ziknay Yisroel it says El Eretz Kahani and then Eretz Zavas Chalav Udvash? I am thinking when Hashem speaks to Moshe, Moshe is on the level to hear the greatness of the land of Israel first and is not concerned about the difficulty of the Jewish nation occupying a land that has many inhabitants. When Hashem instructs the Moshe to tell the Ziknay Yisroel he must speak on their level which would be first concerned with the occupants of Eretz Yisroel. Emanuel Gentilcore |
| 329. | If a person's second name is left on on the ketubah, is this a problem that should be fixed? Should I fill it in myself or would I need aidim or someone else to do it. I was told by a rabbi it is okey but wonder if he is in error. Anonymous, |
| 328. | In the decades preceding WWII, many people preferred to remain in Europe and risk their life in spite of the imminent danger rather than emigrate to America and into what they perceived as an environment where it would be very difficult to remain shomer torah umitzvos. But what is the actual halacha with regard to that decision? Is one halachicly obligated to give up his life if he has a choice between being killed or moving to a place where it will be difficult to remain frum? Moshe Peretz Mann, |
| 327. | My children would like to get a dog. I was told by a rebbe in yeshiva that "Real Jews don't have dogs". And I live in a frum community where having dogs is frowned upon. And I've heard people say that if you have enough love and resources to share with a dog, then why not have another child and give your love and resources to the child rather than a dog. Now I don't really care either way whether we have a dog or not, but it would make my children happy, and they would be taking care of it, not me (yeah, right!). My son has said to me that we have the mitzva of "tzaar baalei chaim", and we are commanded to feed our pets before ourselves, so why, he asks, are we not allowed to have a dog which would give us the opportunity to fulfill these mitzvahs. Is there any halacha or minhag which prohibits owning a dog? How about other pets? Why is it that I see many frum families with fish, birds or even hamsters, etc, but not dogs or cats. Is there something inherently wrong with a dog? I've heard that the Maharal says that the word for dog in Hebrew - kelev is related to the words "kol lev" - all heart, and that sounds like a positive thing. Would the Rav please comment? Thank you very much. Anonymous |
| 326. | How do you know if an Ayin Hara is placed on you? If a Rav tells you that there is one on you, how do you remove it? What is the truth behind the "red string"? Anonymous, |
| 325. | Within our community is an academic who is highly critical of Israeli government policies and makes some of the Jewish students very uncomfortable with his pro-Palestinian views. What are the Shmiras Haloshen rules about what would be the "kosher" way to go about criticizing Israeli policies and politicians? He is getting older and I think is somewhat vulnerable and so I feel that if I presented him with a true Torah answer, he might do less public slandering of Israel. Many thanks. Cherille, |
| 324. | Does one get a mitzvah for learning Torah in a dream? Moshe Peretz Mann, |
| 323. | The Medrash states that as a child is born, the Malach comes and punches it under the nose and that is why we have an indentation under our nose. But I saw a photograph of an unborn fetus that already had an indentation. How does the Rav explain this? Moshe Peretz Mann, |
| 322. | The Eida DATI LEUMI, Modern Orthodox in America,
recently began holding BAT MITZVA celebrations similar to that
of a boy. This FESTIVITY is now common in Israel. Are there
any issurim involved? If the latter is in the affirmative, is
there any room to be MEKIL since the event is not done in the
presence of men? Assuming this is a problem, can one attend a
SEUDA of such a girl, or is attending giving the GREEN LIGHT to
such events? TO avoid family feuds can the seuda be attended in
any event? Thanks for your time! Raphy Garson, |
| 321. | One area I have difficulty in explaining to the newly observant is the question "How do we explain the significance of keeping 2 days of YOM TOB in Chutz La-aretz nowadays?" They ask me "If the whole TAKANA was because of POSSIBLE MISTAKES in calculation of the calendar, nowadays we know the date!" Other than the concept that once CHAZAL make a TAKANA, "Lo Zaz Mimekomo", why keep 2 days? On a KABALSTIC level the seforim say that CHUTZ LA-ARETZ is on a lower MADREGA than Israel, and therefore in order to fulfill the YOM TOV, 2 days need to be kept. These answers for one who is MAMIN in the words of chazal and Torat Hashem are fine. They don't however appease the aforementioned group. Please help?? TIZKU LEMITZVOT Raphy Garson, |
| 320. | : I find the custom of blessing ones children on a Friday night a very beautiful one. My question is whether it would be appropriate to use the same blessing for ones wife also? If not, is there a blessing that one could or should say for ones wife? Thank you so much for all the time and effort you must put in to maintaining such a wonderfully helpful and enlightening site. Anonymous, |
| 319. | Where does the custom of putting a kvital (note) in the kotel come from? Aaron, |
| 318. | If a normal cohen married an almanah/widow and then the next day or week he was made cohen gadol does he have to divorce his wife? Yisrael Segall, |
| 317. | I have seen very learned Jews wrap part of the retzuah of the tefillin shel yad on the side that the yud is attached and I have seen others make a major fuss about this as a result of the kedusha of the yud. I once came across this issue but cannot find the source now. Could you please clarify. Is there a mahlokes about it in the poskim? Yisrael Kaniel, |
| 316. | I have heard from some very learned people in the name of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach that the cup for kiddush has to be filled to the very top. I have also heard from a talmid chacham and Rav in Yerushalayim in the name of Rav Shlomo Zalman that the cup simply has to be considered a full cup by normal standards, i.e. the liquid does not have to be filling every centimeter of the cup. Please clarify. Yisrael Kaniel, |
| 315. | Can a Jew learn and perform "Reiki" on others? (Reiki is a type of energy healing derived from Japan) I have heard that if taught by a shomer mitzvot person, it is allowed. I had been taught by a secular Jew, can I continue to do it? Rachel, |
| 314. | How are we supposed to relate to reshaim, for example, Nazis, Arab/Moslem terrorists, etc.? On the one hand, all people are supposedly created b’tzelem Elokim, but on the other hand, these creatures seem to have lost their tzelem Elokim. Is there a point at which we are supposed to stop davening for them to do Teshuva and to be happy when they die, or are we supposed to always daven for them? Are we supposed to be happy that they are burning in Gehennom, or are we supposed to be sad? Thank you. Yair, |
| 313. | How was King Solomon able to marry the daughter of Pharaoh, if the Egyptians cannot become Jewish for 3 generations. Levi, |
| 312. | Would we recognize a marriage
performed by a Conservative rabbi to be legitimate? I read that Moshe
Feinstein once wrote that any rabbi who associates himself with something
like the Conservative Movement cannot validly perform a wedding. If
that is true, then does that mean that children that come out of that
marriage are actually considered mamzers, which would mean that the
majority of people today who think the are Jewish could actually be
mamzers, because so many Jews today have parents who were wed according
to perhaps non-Orthodox standards.
I also read that a wedding requires two kosher witnesses that must be completely shomer-mitvos....is this true? If a requirement like this is not met, is the wedding considered invalid, like it never happened? Thank you for clarifying these points. Anonymous, |
| 311. | Shalom uVracha! I do not say the bracha of Yiru enenu between Hashkeveinu and the shmoneh esrei of Maariv, for I was taught that it constitutes a hefsek. If I come late to minyon and wish to daven shmonei esrei with the tzibbur, when I say bircas krias shma afterwards, should I say that brocha, since in that setting I need not be worried about hefsek, or since I don't usually say that brocha, I should not recite it here either. Thank you. Yitzchak Shuster, |
| 310. | What are the Halachos regarding not talking and doing things after saying the beracha of hamapil in kirias shema. If a time passes and a person can't fall a sleep are they allowed to talk or do thing. Adina Perlman, |
| 309. | Why do we read from the Torah every Shabbat? Anonymous, |
| 308. | Is it true that a woman is created with one rib less then a man if yes, please explain. Reuben Bennaim, |
| 307. | My question concerns a newly wed couple, married according to halachah, and this being the first marriage for both, and neither having children: may the woman use birth control pills (a method I have read most acceptable) before they have children? The reason would be so that the couple may finish graduate school and get an economic footing for a family first before having kids. They are Orthodox and very observant and certainly plan to have kids in a few years, after they are out of school and can earn a decent living. Many thanks for your reply. Anonymous, |
| 306. | One of my students ask me what is the point of view of the Judaism regarding marijuana. Eli Avram, |
| 305. | My wife and I just got married, 1 month ago, She does not want to have kids now and I do not want to have intimate relation with her if there is no intention of procreating children first. How do we resolve such conflict, who is right, who is wrong? Any halachas that could help? Thank you. Anonymous, |
| 304. | We are not Jewish but have been invited to a Bat Mitzva. What is an appropriate monetary gift (I had heard something like the amount needed to be divisible by 7?) Also, because of a conflict in schedules we will only be able to attend the services and not the reception - is this ok? Thanks Aubin Haestad, |
| 303. | When does one start counting for a Pidyon HaBen? Does one count the day of birth or 30 complete days? Thank you. Simcha Shaiman, |
| 302. | I recently was discussing the topic of creation with a friend who is not an observant person. My friend asked where did Hashem come from? Who created him? I could not answer him. I would appreciate the answer to this question. Thank you Rabbi Sam Davids, |
| 301. | During aseret y"teshuva after sim-shalom we say sefer chaim e.t.c. the words gezerot tovot seems superfluous. If u have chaim, bracha, parnasah, yeshua, nechama, thats already gerezot tovot? Avi Amor, |
| 300. | It has come out that after the terrorist attacks in New York City in 2001 that they had scrambled some fighter jets to shoot down the hijacked planes. From a Torah perspective is this justified? At the time there was no way of knowing how many people would die in the buildings. Even if they did know how many would die. Can you kill 250 people aboard a plane to prevent more people from dying in the buildings? An opinion on this would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Zev, |
| 299. | In Kedusha on Shabbos: do you bow by 'baruchu hu', or rise to your toes? Also, is it a real thing to bow right and left by 'vzeh el zeh v'amar'? Anonymous, |
| 298. | I got past the part about al hamichya and forgot I had grapes. Should I repeat the bracha using eitz, or should I go on, and say haeitz at the end part of the bracha? Anonymous |
| 297. | Kvod HaRav Shlita, Shalom
U'Vracha, Akiva and son, |
| 296. | The news consistently has reports of illegal radio stations being closed down. Many of these radio stations are reported to be charedi. Is there any halachic justification for these radio stations? In general, are there questionable areas (where the punishment is not death and the law is not requiring me to do something obviously against Torah) of "dina malchuta dina" in which we would not be required to follow the law exactly. Do the customs of the area come into play, such as jaywalking in a place where it is accepted? Thank you David, |
| 295. | I was very impressed with my neighbor's dog last week. When you put a piece of challah on a shelf above the light switch, the dog jumps up and turns the switch on or off as it gets the challah.
Thank you. David, |
| 294. | Rav Leff - A simple question I think, but one I can't get a straight answer on. Can we kill spiders/insects etc in our homes (during the week - obviously not on Shabbos)? I've heard different reasons why we shouldn't - that we should have Hakaros HaTov for spiders because they shielded Dovid Ha'Melech or that if H" has a Malach that tells each blade of grass to grow etc..., then how can we freely destroy spiders/insects - his Beriyah. Chaim Boruch, |
| 293. | What's the reason we put our tzitzis in at a cemetery? Is it really possible to "embarrass" the deceased? Anonymous |
| 292. | Dear Rabbi Leff
I am currently studying the first book of the Torah. When H' tells Adam not to eat from the tree of good and evil, what makes Eve then tell the serpent that she can't eat it but all can't touch? H' only said don't eat it, but she somehow says also not to touch it. What made her say this? I have many theories, but I would appreciate the actual reason. Thanking you Mrs. Lawrence, |
| 291. | Why is it that some people put tefilin on on chol hamoed and some dont but on rosh chodesh when we say the shemonah esreh after hallel we take it off because its like a yom tov. Following this custom shouldn’t everyone not use tefilin on chol hamoed? Zevi, |
| 290. | How was the Hebrew Sabbath established and does it begin Friday evening and end Saturday evening or continue until sunrise on Sunday. Please forgive my ignorance on this subject but I am a gentile with little knowledge of such things...although I am willing to learn. James, |
| 289. | I have been married for 7 years and I started to grow a beard 1 1/2 years ago and peyos 4 months ago. It gave me a lot of chizuk. The problem is that my wife absolutely objects the beard and the peyos to a point that shalom bayis is suffering. How should I act? Do I have to shave off the beard and cut the Peyos? Anonymous, |
| 288. | On Rosh Hashana, should a woman without a husband make a shehechayanu on the candles and then make kiddush with a shehecheyanu (she will have company, but no men)? Chaviva Goldsmith |
| 287. | Is it true that an unmarried woman past menopause who is dating a man who is divorced al pi halacha do not have the restrictions of Shomer Negiyah/Yichud, given that Nidah is not an issue? Is this in Shulchan Aruch, or in Shailah V'Teshuvas? Chaim, |
| 286. | When cutting someone else's nails (one's child, for example) who needs to do netilas yadayim? The cutter or the cuttee or both? When I wipe my child’s bottom, do I need to do any kind of netilas yadayim? Anonymous |
| 285. | In our Shule there is a big "machlokes". People that come after Kedusha for Mincha wait till after Chazaras Hashatz and make what they call a "Hoiche Kedusha" Is this permissible since everyone has already davened. David, |
| 284. | In your drasha for yom kippur, with the moshol of bathing the child, you do not mention a most important reason for bathing (doing teshuva):even if we leave the child dirty, we will want him to look nice at certain important milestones such as birthdays. Since we don't know when the big milestone will come, when we will hopefully be sitting with the tsaddikim in Gan Eden, how can we expect to be welcomed there looking like a dirt ball? Therefore, we should do teshuva at least every year, so that we won't be all that dirty at the appointed time. Brenda Bronner, |
| 283. | Could you please review the
issue of a kittel. I have never worn one (and my father's line has
not been religous for several generations so there are no minhagim)
and have lived in places where many other married men did not wear
a kittel at all (even on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Erev Pesach).
I am temporarily living somewhere else now where most men do wear
a kittel. QUESTION #1 - Without the issue of minhag hamakom, I wanted to know how strong is the custom of wearing a kittel. QUESTION #2 - And if most men do wear one where I live now, do I need to wear one? QUESTION #3 - And if I return to a place where many men dont wear it, will I need to continue wearing it if I started due to my current residence? I also wanted to thank the Rav for this website and making the chagim and every day more meaningful with the Torah you share. Ketiva u'Chatima Tova. David, Rabbi Leff's response |
| 282. | This is a follow up to question # 272, re: fasting on erev rosh chodesh-and having a Yom Kippur Kattan. The Rav mentioned in the answer that one should make the kabbalah bli neder, and having in mind to be mekabel the fast only for the following day specifically- otherwise one could run into problems with possibly making a neder. If I made the kabbala bli neder but neglected to have in mind that it was only for Erev Rosh Codesh Elul- do I need to a have a specific hataras nedarim for this, or will the general hataras nedarim before the Yomim Noraim be sufficient? I thank the Rav for his time and attention. Kol Tuv! Anonymous |
| 281. | I am in regular contact with
communities of observant Bnei Noah -- Gentiles who strive to keep
the Torah as it pertains to them. Many of them honor the Sabbath Day
in some fashion, in accordance with the suggestions and limitations
set by Orthodox rabbis who guide them.
Some light candles and would like to say a variation of the prayer that is customarily said by Jews: May it be Your will, Hashem, G-d of Israel, and G-d of all Humanity, that You show favour to me [my husband, my sons, my daughters, my father, my mother] and all my relatives; and that You grant us a long and good life; that You remember us with a beneficent memory and blessing; that You consider us with a consideration of salvation and compassion; that You bless us with great blessings; that You make our household complete; and that You cause Your presence to dwell among us. Our question is, is the last phrase okay, or is the specific idea of the Divine Presence dwelling among us more appropriate to Jews. Also, what does it mean, "make our households complete" (tashlim bateinu)? Aside: If the rav wants, he can answer some or all of this question privately to me. I just thought it was an interesting question for the website and I also wanted non-Jews who see the site to know that their are Noahides around the world who they can make contact with. Shlomo Zalman Jessel |
| 280. | Shalom uVracha! What is your opinion on electric shavers? If you do approve of them, do you regard them as mutar lechatchilah? Yitzchok Shuster |
| 279. | Kvod HaRav Shlita, Shalom U'Vracha, Thank the Rav VERY much for taking from his time to answer my questions. This question is a "follow-up" to question 265, in which the Rav mentioned Rav Moshe Feinstein's ZTs"L Psak regarding the chiyuv of living in Eretz Yisrael today, that it is "…only a voluntary Mitzva.". It is on the understanding of this Psak, that I would respectfully ask the Rav's help. As far as I am able to understand the Igrot Moshe, Even HaEzer, Siman 102, the Rav says: 1. Most Poskim agree that living in Eretz Yisrael IS a mitzvah
today. As to the aforementioned Tosfot in Ketubot, HaRav Yizchok Nissim A"H, former Rishon LeZion quoted the RIMAT A"H "…and even R' Chaim of the Tosfot didn't negate the mitzvah of living in Eretz Yisrael in times when there was no danger on the travels there(Sakanat Drachim)….", and HaRav Chaim David HaLevi A"H writes"…and we can't trust AT ALL his(R' Chaim's) preposition(that there is no mitzvah now of living in Eretz Yisrael), since a mistaken student(Talmid ToEh) wrote it(misquoting R' Chaim)." But even if we accept the validity of R' Chaim's teaching as presented in the Tosfot in Ketubot, The SHL"A HaKadosh wrote "The holiness of Eretz Yisrael is like Gan Eden, even now while desolate, and she (Eretz Yisrael) is the gate to heaven for prayers to rise, as there is no possibility for them to ascend other than through there and then from there to the site of The Holy of Holies. AND I REJECT THE SATEMENTS THAT SAY THAT TODAY THERE IS NO MITZVAH TO LIVE IN ERETZ YISRAEL DUE TO THE UNIQUE MITZVOTH AND PUNISHMENTS FOR THOSE WHO TRANSGRESS THEM THERE. QUITE THE OPPOSITE, FORTUNATE IS HE WHO IS ABLE TO GO THERE (AS LONG AS THERE IS NO DANGER) AND BE AS ONE WHO HAS G-D AND THERFORE SHOWS THAT HE CLINGS TO G-D, AND HAS THE SHECHINAH REST ON HIM." In another place in the Igrot Moshe, Yoreh DeAh 122, the Rav says there (and it is with awe and trepidation that I paraphrase his words), that there can be no Halachic injunction today to live in Eretz Yisrael, as due to our dispersion amongst the far corners of the earth, it would be too difficult to reach Eretz Yisrael. While perhaps a valid point many years ago, is this relevant today? Today B"H, Eretz Yisrael is the center for Torah learning in the world. Millions of Jews live here in a free and open society in a high standard of living. Life expectancies and health care are among then highest in the world. Opportunities for livelihood are myriad and Tefilla and Torah learning have never been more accessible in any time in the past two thousand years. It is possible today to arrive in Eretz Yisrael, SAFELY from any point on the earth, as opposed to the hardships our forefathers had to endure when they came. In our times, the gates to Eretz Yisrael are easily and affordably opened. No pirates or plagues wait to ambush the Jew on his way here. And while there are dangers here, there are dangers (spiritual and physical) everywhere in the world, including supposedly "safe" places like America. In light of all this, and in light of the fact that Rav Feinstein's
opinion is a minority opinion regarding the chiyuv of living in
Eretz Yisroel today, how should a Torah observant Jew in Eretz Yisroel
regard his brethren who choose to live in the exile? Akiva |
| 278. | Hello dear rabbi: I am an Iranian 16 year old boy who likes to learn Torah and distribute
Torah all over. Thank you. Shalom. Yitchak, |
| 277. | Why do we hold the front 2 tzitzis by boruch sheamar? Yaakov |
| 276. | Is a Kohen allowed to be a member of ZAKA? David, |
| 275. | Hello, I am a yeshiva
student and I study a lot. While studying I find that I get a headache.
It is different then a regular headache. It is like a strain in
the front of the head. I have gone to Doctors and specialists, but
no one had any help. This only happens when I study alone without
a study partner (chavrusah) please gives some Mechoel, |
| 274. | Shalom Aleichem! I was
asked about the doors one Yitzchak Shuster |
| 273. | Should bulimics say brachot acharonot? (if they don't receive nutritional benefit from the food). Thank you. Anonymous |
| 272. | If one wanted to fast on erev rosh chodesh-and have a Yom Kippur Kattan, how would one go about doing that? Does one need to have in mind, or say a 'kabbalah' during mincha of the previous day that they intend to fast the following day, I thought I had once heard something along those lines ...Also, can/does one make any adjustments in their tefillos if they are fasting on erev rosh chodesh/yom kippur kattan. I thank the Rav for his time and attention. Kol Tuv! Anonymous |
| 271. | Can you please explain what makes a community (Rabbim) special over an individual (yachid)? Anonymous |
| 270. | We have recently bought an apartment in Jerusalem with the intention of moving in the next few years. Our main dilemma is our children. They're ages range between 4 and 11 and are in Charedi schools in London. These schools have both a high level of chol (secular studies) and kodesh (religious studies). We find this very important to widen their option when they leave yeshiva. We have heard that finding English type Chareidi
schools is very difficult. Thank You Anonymous, |
| 269. | : I am hareidi and I have heard by many speakers about how the hareidi world knows how to listen to Gadolim and adhere to all they teach. I lately entered the business world and have heard all kinds of horror stories about the honesty of hareidim. I always took it as just a generalization. As time goes on I am seeing it more and more for myself and feel that this may not just be a generalization. The people that are looked down upon by the hareidim like the kipa saruga, have shown much higher standards in business. I feel uncomfortable with the hareidi business people and am very upset at them. HELP Confused, |
| 268. | Dear Rabbi My brother is gay and living in another city with another man as a couple. In some sense he is keeping kosher in his house, goes to Shul on Shabbos and supposedly nobody in his community knows about his double life. Even though we knew about this, our married children don’t and we don’t want them to find out. They consider him a nice uncle that divorced and is living by himself. In general, we tried to mentally block this situation and keep it kind of in the closet and keep the relationship. The situation is that Pesach is coming and he wants to come to us for Yom Tov by himself and our children and their families will come to us too. Our problem is that we feel that his being with us may affect the Kedushas ha Yom Tov but at the same time, we feel obligated to invite him to the Sedorim. Our question is if it is halachically proper to have him by our Seder. Thank you very much and have a Pesach Kosher VeSameach. Anonymous |
| 267. | I married a Cohain and I am a gerusha (divorced). We married Orthodox. He told me he is a Cohain after we married. Can we do tshuva (repent) for this? Chana, |
| 266. | A corporation (owned by 1 person, an observant Jew)contracted with a non-observant Jew to provide a service. The recipient refused to pay the full amount owed. The corporation won a court case. The judge awarded the amount plus 10% interest. Is there a way that the corporation can collect this 10%? Fred Bolotin, |
| 265. | Kvod HaRav Shalom U'vracha, I thank the Rav very much for taking the time to answer my questions. This one is a follow up to the Rav's answer to question 262. Allow me to say though, that I am by no means trying to be argumentative. I am simply trying to gain some insight into a sugiyah which I mull over very frequently, namely, the chiyuv of aliyah to Eretz Yisrael, and how to address those frum Jews who choose to live in the galut(especially America). If I understand the Rav's answer in 262, in which he compares the P'tor(and subsequent need to "at least consider aliyah", and "ask a Rav") from living in Eretz Yisrael to that of a person who for health reason's must ask a Rav before fasting on Yom Kippur, or keeping Shabbat, then how does the Rav explain the fact that the vast majority of frum Jews keep Shabbat and fast on Yom Kippur, but the vast majority of frum American Jews do not EVER make aliyah. If the chiyuv and subsequent reasoning behind P'torim of the Mitzvot are similar(as understood from the Rav's answer in 262), then wouldn't we expect similar percentages of observance(or non-observance)? And isn't the fact that the opposite is true, and that there seems to be a great level of "shichahchat Tzion" amongst American frum Jews, my original question stands. Isn't it time that we Torah observant Jews of Eretz Yisrael demand the observance of the Mitzva of Yishuv eretz Yisrael from our brethren in the exile? How can we further condone the presence of hundreds of thousands of seemingly Torah observant Jews in America when the overwhelming majority are there without halachic sanction. After all, aren't the reasons for a Jew being in Chul are very clear? Aren't the frum Jews of America "over Mitzvat aseh" every day of their existence? And if so, doesn't it behoove us to tell them so? Kol Tuv. With great respect and thanks for the Rav, and with
Tefilot for Yeshuot V'Nechamot. Akiva, |
| 264. | What are the guidelines for having a non Jewish live in maid / babysitter as far as kashrus is concerned ? Thanks!! T. Nathan, |
| 263. | I have heard that if one is in the medical/health fields, (i.e. doctor, nurse etc...) there are no halachic issues regarding negiah, since the care they are providing is "professional." To what extent does this apply- as I know that I, as a woman nurse, as well as the other health care providers, are often met with very great and personal/private needs by patients in the hospital. I thank the Rav very much for His time and attention. Anonymous |
| 262. | Kvod HaRav, Shalom U'Vracha, |
| 261. | Why does the revelation, i.e. disclosure, of "Moshiach" have to occur in the physical land of Israel as some commentators have suggested? Adam Neira, |
| 260. | I would like a translation
of the kaddish prayer& a philosophical explanation of its importance. Anonymous, |
| 259. | I was wondering how to commemorate
the upcoming yahrzeit of a young holocaust victim. He was my distant
relative; nobody from his immediate family has survived so he probably
never had kaddish said for him.
I decided to do something about it, so that it wouldn’t be forgotten that such person existed. Would you think that paying somebody to say kaddish for him or learn mishnayos would be a good idea? (they offer such services at www.yahrzeit.org) Could I, as a woman, learn mishnayos on his yahrzeit myself? If not, what should I learn on this day if anything? Which prayers/psalms should I say? I would appreciate any ideas how to honor this day. Thank you very much. Anonymous, |
| 258. | Are we allowed to go to the gym during the 9 days? Joseph, |
| 257. | Shalom Aleichem. If one begins the Birchas Krias Shma prior to the end of Zman Tefilla, may he finish those brachos once zman tefilla has passed? Yitzchak Shuster, |
| 256. | Why is there a small YUD in Pinchas? No one seems to discuss the issue. Its perfect Baal Haturim material yet he remains silent on the issue. Any insights? Raphy Garson, |
| 255. | Someone I know had a problem last week. They have the custom of mourning on Erev Shabbat, parshat chukat, which I believe is due to the burning of 2 Sifrei Torah. They followed this custom in Israel and then flew to America where chukat was the following week. They were unsure if they needed to fast again. Thank you. David, |
| 254. | A follow up to my onion
question (241): David, |
| 253. | May I inform someone via e-mail that there is a negative discussion about him on an internet message board? Is that rechilus? Or is it public enough to be considered be-apei telasa? Even if it is be-apei telasa, is that a heter in this case? Anonymous, |
| 252. | When daveining Shmona Esrei, when exactly are we supposed to say "Hashem sefasi tiftach oofi yagid tehillasecha"? before or after we take 3 steps forward? Anonymous |
| 251. | Shalom Aleichem, Is there any svorah to say that kol isha does NOT apply to goyish women singing? Yitzchok Schuster, |
| 250. | I am doing a science report on genetic engineering in food (that is where they insert pieces of DNA from different species into a plant or animal's DNA in order to produce an organism with traits it does not naturally have). Is this Halachically permissible, or is it considered kilayim? Tova, |
| 249. | During the week I daven mincha by a shul that davens 5 minutes before shkia and then says tehillim for a few minutes and then davens maariv. During this time there is a lot of talking going on and the rabbi has to keep stopping and telling people to be quiet. There are also people that are learning very loud. Can I tell the people who are learning to be quiet or can I not say anything because they are learning? Thank you Rabbi Leff. Zev, |
| 248. | I've learned recently about the concept of M'Tamtem HaLev, and how careful we have to be about insects in our salads etc.. My question - if you go into a kosher restaurant, supervised by a reliable vaad hakashrus, can you eat the salads etc... freely without losing sleep over insects? It is my understanding from a recent shiur that if I go into a pizza shop and get a broccoli slice, even if the place is checked by the mashgiach, that a bug in the slice, eaten inadvertently, will cause M'Tamtem HaLev. Also, I've heard from a maggid shiur that we can't eat broccoli and cauliflower today, that's its nearly impossible to remove bugs from it - is this accurate? Zev, |
| 247. | Do you think that when Mount Vesuvius erupted in the year 79ce and destroyed a few towns in Italy was part of punishement for the Romans destroying the Bais Hamikdosh? The town that it destroyed was popular with the Romans. Zevi, |
| 246. | If a couple have two boys and therefore need to have a girl to fulfill the mitzva of “peria u’revia” (to be fruitful and multiply), should the husband not say the usual tefiloas HaRamban which mentions that they should be blessed with male children? Should he rather say his own tefilos asking for a girl? Also, if the children they already have have some developmental problems, are there any special tefilos or Tehillim that are appropriate to request that their future offspring don’t have these problems? Anonymous |
| 245. | Is it ever permissible to attend a reform shul? My fiancé and I are both ba'alei teshuvah and her grandparents insist that we attend a Friday night service at their reform temple (which is out of town from where we live). Assuming that no melachos are violated and there is no active participation in the service by us is it permissible for us to stand in the sanctuary for the sake of shalom bayis? Her grandparents would be highly offended if we did not attend, and I want to not start off new family relationships on the wrong foot. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, and take care. Paul, |
| 244. | We are a group of workers at a health care institution in Yerushalayim (Sephardim, Ashkenazim, Yemenites etc...). When we daven Mincha at work (at 2:30 pm in the summer)we don't have time for a full chazarat ha'shatz, so the shliach tzibur starts shmoneh esray out loud until after kedusha. How should the tzibur behave? At the moment, the Ashkenazim wait until after the kedusha to start their shmoneh esray, while the Sephardim start with the shaliach tzibur and do not answer amen to the brachot(so it turns out that there is not a minyan answering amen). I thank the Rav very much. The staff of a workplace in Jerusalem |
| 243. | After returning from an inspiring year in Eretz Yisrael, what can i do to hold onto all the inspirations I had. Also, how do I hold onto the special Kedusha and connection to Hashem and spirituality that i felt now back in America where everything is so materialistic and imoral? i already feel that that I am beginning to fall back into the quicksand and that i have lost certain sensitivities I had there. What can I do? Anonymous, I just came back from a year in Israel where I learnt a lot. How do I keep this up? Also I davened twice a day in Israel as the seminary provided us time. I now find myself always in a rush, how do I overcome this? I want to daven twice a day. Thank you Anonymous, |
| 242. | There is a lot of talk about the Christians censoring 166 years of the Jewish calendar that means we only have 71 years left till Mosiach is that true? Anonymous, |
| 241. | When cutting an onion with a particular knife (i.e. meat or milk), does the entire onion take on the status of the knife or can you use the other half of the onion for the opposite food by cutting off the part that touched the first knife? I did not learn this in depth, but I did see in Yorah Deah 96:1 that it seems this is a possibility. However, I am not sure if we hold this way. Also are there any other foods besides onion, garlic and hot peppers that fall into this category that may not be obvious? Additionally, please explain if there is a difference between Ashkenazim and Sfardim in this halacha? Thank you. David, |
| 240. | Does Christianity fall under the category of avodah zara (idol worhip)? Is a decent but believing Christian to be considered a nochri or a ben Noach? Anonymous, |
| 239. | During
Shabbos morning can I eat breakfast prior to the Kiddusha Rabba?
Secondly, during Shabbos can I brush my teeth using a tooth brush, if this is not permitted, can you advise me how I could clean my teeth during Shabbos? Michelle, |
| 238. | Hello and G-d bless you,
I’m not Jewish, but I am trying to understand the Jewish faith as best I can. Recently, I was speaking to a Roman Catholic who claims their doctrine of purgatory, as they understand it, is also believed in Judaism as well. I’ve done some research and found very limited passages in the Talmud regarding a purgatorial state, yet I’m not sure if the Roman Catholic view and the Jewish view truly do agree. Roman Catholicism teaches that those that die with mortal sin will go into eternal punishment (Hell, Gehenna); those who die with lesser sins (venial) will go to purgatory where they will suffer indefinitely until they are purified from the stains of sin; finally, those who die in a state of grace will go to heaven. They also claim that the Kaddish is an example of prayer for the dead, but from what I understand, it isn’t a prayer for the dead, but rather, the Kaddish is a prayer acknowledging G-d’s sovereignty and has more to do with the mourner than for the deceased. From what I understand regarding the Jewish view, there is no clear definition of hell, but there is no such thing as eternal punishment. All will spend some time in a purgatory, but the most one can spend there is 12 months and that would be for the most evil of people. With that in mind, what about a Hitler or a Stalin? Would evil people this be guaranteed heaven after going through purgatory? Is purgatory like the Catholic version where one suffers until they are purged from sin? Or is it something else entirely? Also, how do the Rabbis interpret it? It seems that the school of Shammai believed that there will be three groups on Judgment Day; the wicked, the righteous, and those in-between but the school of Hillel seemed not to believe in purgatory, saying that, He who is Master of grace tends towards grace (Babylonian Talmud, Rosh HaShanah 16b-17a). And what of the roots of the purgatorial belief? According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, Kaufman Kohler claims that the idea came from Zend-Avesta (Zoroastrian scripture). Was this belief in purgatory an influence on Judaism or is the belief Torah-based? I know that these are many questions to answer, but like I stated earlier, I really am trying to understand. Shalom.
|
| 237. | When in history were the Jewish Holy Scriptures considered complete and closed? Calvin Wolfe, |
| 236. | In response to question
#229
I agree with the Rav that the Lubavitcher Rebbe can't be Moshiach
but the Anonymous |
| 235. | Thank
you for the answer to my question on Eliyahu HaNavi. Noach Eliezer Strassberg, |
| 234. | Chabad Chassidim claim that each Jew has two souls - the animal soul and the G-dly soul. The non-Jews, on the other hand, only have animal souls which come from impure source and "contain no good whatsoever" (Tanya, end of chapter 1). Accordingly, "all the charity and kindness done by the nations of the world is only for their self-glorification". What is the opinion of mainstream orthodoxy regarding such a statement? Do souls of Jews and non-Jews differ? Anonymous, |
| 233. | Can A Cohen be replaced by an Israel for the second Aliya if there is no Levi. Joey Cohen, |
| 232. | When a the Rabbi of a Shul goes up to make his speech, do we have to stand up for him? Is it a Halacha (law) or a Minhag (traadition)? Joey Cohen, |
| 231. | Since one of the Seven Noachide Laws is the prohibition against worshipping idols, does that mean that hundreds of millions of people who subscribe to Far Eastern and tribal religions that worship idols, who are otherwise decent people, are really reshaim? And even if one has bechira to change his ways, how is it rational to expect millions of people to suddenly abandon idol worship and believe in Hakadosh Baruch Hu? Moshe Peretz Mann, |
| 230. | I live on a frum settlement.
An Anglo-Saxon Baale Teshuvah family recently brought two non-Jewish
boys (age 9 and 14) to live with them. The purpose is as I understand,
is NOT to convert them, but to teach them to become Bnei Noach.
The boys do not have any semblance of Jewish behavior, dress etc..., or show any respect for the frum nature of the settlement(for example, they ride skateboards by the entrance to the shul on Shabbat).Talking to the family who brought them to the settlement falls on deaf ears, and causes anger on their part. The Mara D'Atra has expressed his halachic opinion that the children
must leave, but the settlement is in a legal bind, and cannot force
the family to send these boys away. Thanks very much to the Rav for taking time to help. Akiva, |
| 229. | Why has not the Moshiach
arrived? I am a believing gentile and have studied on the net with
orthodox Jewish sites. I follow the 7 laws of Noah, my husband is
still a staunch Hindu, but my two sons follow me, and we cannot be
open in our faith here. Jews are not accepted where I live.
What can Noahides do to help bring the Moshiach soon? Why does the Chabad believe the Rebbe is the Moshiach, can the Moshiach come from one who already came and died? G-d bless you. Anonymous, |
| 228. | Is it permissible to use a non-digital thermometer on Shabbos, i.e. for meat to make sure it is properly cooked? This is a point of argument in my study group. Michael Tucker, |
| 227. | We are supposed to eagerly await the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdash and bringing sacrifices. But to me, it all seems so bloody and gory. How can I get into the right frame of mind to look forward to the day when we can finally bring animals to the Temple to sacrifice? Anonymous |
| 226. | I was thinking of joining a class that teaches Kabbala (mysticism) and was all excited about it. But a friend of mine who I told about it said to me that one shouldn't learn Kabbala until they learn other things as well. Could you please tell me why this is so, and what other things I need to learn before I learn Kabbala? Thank you. Anonymous |
| 225. | How is it that so many frum Jews, amongst them many Rabbanim as well as Gedolim, seem to make no serious effort at any point in their lives to settle in Eretz Yisrael despite its being a mitzva and its being a means to perform mitzvos hatluyos ba'aretz and especially in light of the Ramban's famous view on the matter of yishuv Eretz Yisrael? Would one not expect yere shamayim who are medakdek in so many mitvos, to be medakdek in the mitzva of yishuv Eretz Yisrael as well? Yisrael Kaniel, |
| 224. | Does Eliyahu HaNavi still visit people in this world? Noach Eliezer Strassberg, |
| 223. | I would like to ask the Rav if it is preferable to daven in an Ashkenazi shul(I am Ashkenazi) where there is talking, or to daven in a Sephardi shul where there is no talking, but the minhag is VERY different for me(and my children, who when with me in the Sephardi shul fail to learn the Ashkenazi minhag and nussach I want them to know). I need to stress, that seeing others talking in shul causes me GREAT discomfort.Also, I live in a community where my choice of shuls is limited. Either Ashkenazi with talking, or Sephardi (edot mizrach) with no talking. Thats it.During the week, I travel to another city to shtiebelach where they are makpid on kedushat bet knesset, but Shabbat I am stuck in my community. Kol Tuv. Akiva, |
| 222. | I am in 12th grade and am doing a paper on Mechiras Yosef. I've been reading the Meforshim inside the Chumash, but two of my bigger questions haven't been answered so clearly. 1) If the brothers were such tzadikim how could they want to kill one of their own brothers? I know they hated and were jealous of Yosef, but killing, even sellig him, seems a bit drastic and they knew what pain it would cause their father. 2) Did the brothers have Bechira in selling Yosef, or did Hashem cause it to happen because he needed Yaackov and his family to end up in Mitzrayim? I know this question is a little complicated and of course everyone has Bechira, but I'm not so clear about it. Maybe you can bring me some sources I can look up to prove this point. Thank you. Alexandra, Also, see: http://www.shemayisrael.co.il/parsha/leff/archives/vayeish.htm |
| 221. | What is the specific issur for a man to pluck out hairs from his beard? Anonymous |
| 220. | Are there opinions permitting the use of can openers and vegetable peelers on Shabbat? In Israel, I know of many shomer-Shabbat people who would use scissors to open bags of milk. Outside of Israel, no one has seemed to have heard of this. Is there a difference between the scissors and the peeler/opener? Thank you. David, |
| 219. | How is one allowed to halachically acquire a credit card from a jewishly owned company or borrow money from an Israeli bank or buy Israel bonds when all of these may involve a payment of interest. Thank you. David, |
| 218. | Are you permitted to cook
from fresh produce, ie vegetables on yom tov?
If it is not permitted, how do I go about preparing food for Yom Tov during or before, in terms of keeping the food warm? Michelle, |
| 217. | In the news this Friday, there were 2 fires in the North of Israel. I know that barring a danger to life, one is not to directly extinguish a fire on Shabbat. However, what is the responsibility of the state in this regard? If the fire cannot be extinguished before Shabbat and there is enough time to tell people to evacuate before Shabbat, are they allowed to continue fighting the fire on Shabbat? Does it matter if the fire is near a Jewish neighborhood, a non-Jewish neighborhood, or in the middle of an uninhabited area? In general, what are the halachic guidelines of a Jewish state with regards to keeping Shabbat as compared to a Jewish individual? Thank you. David, |
| 216. | Q. What are the opinions of Orthodox rabbis on the study of Abraham Joshua Heschel's works? I've read many opinions, and they imply he really grappled with Judaism and came out ahead- indeed, Orthodox. I understand there was a machlokes over one of his works, but this must leave room for other works to be read and gained from. Thank you Rabbi Leff. Kate, |
| 215. | Q. Regarding the mitzvah of veohavto lereecho komocho which lit. means you should love TO your friend as yourself wouldn’t the word es be more appropriate?
|
| 214. | Q. Why don’t Jewish men wear jewelry? Yehuda, |
| 213. | Q. In
his drasha for parshas Kedoshim/Rosh Chodesh, the Rav quoted the
Michtav MiEliahuRav saying that Hashem takes away the chachamim
because we keep the mitzvos by rote, relying on the chachamim; "They
know. They'll tell me what to do and I'll just do it", and
when the chachamim aren't here, we have to think about what we're
doing. We can't just say, "they said to do it, so I'll do it.".
We have to learn it ourselves, as well. Anonymous,
|
| 212. | Q. I they have just started to sell chicken & turkey - meat in our local Kosher store under the hashkoche of Rav A. D. Auerbach of Tiberias, Eretz Yisrael.... We normally only have meats with the hashkoche of Rav Segbach Strassbourg now I just wanted to know if you know anything about Rav A. D. Auerbach & if it is a Reliable Hashkocho Thank you for your time. David Sasson, |
| 211. | Q. How tall should a Mechitsa be? And are you allowed to decorate the synagogue with plants? Can a Mechalel Shabbat read the Haftara himself if he asks to. Thank you very much Joey Cohen, |
| 210. | Q. Obviously we don't do this today but I was wondering if you could explain me how the great Rabbi's underwent fasts for 40days straight. Would they stop for a simcha (as you should eat at a simcha) to eat or would they never make any breaks? Did they could Shabbos as a day even though they couldn't fast on it or would their fast not count Shabbos and therefore take several months? Anonymous |
| 209. | Q. There are some Jews (including Rabbis)going around and saying that every (Jewish only?) soul ('neshomo') is a 'cheilek Elokah mimaal' - which they claim means literally 'a piece of G-d from above'. May one believe such a thing ? It seems like Christianity or some other non-Jewish way to believe that. From what I know, according to Judaism, a man cannot be G-d and G-d is one (echad yochid umeyuchad), with no 'pieces'. Rather, the neshomo is something created by Hashem (as we say in 'Elokai Neshomo...' - ata viroso - You Hashem created it)- chatzuva mitachas kisei hakovod perhaps - from a lofty place - but not a 'piece of Hashem' (chas vesholom). They also claim that the Zohar says that 'man dinafach, midilei nafach'- but I think that doesn't support them, because someone who blows (think of a glass or balloon blower) blows just air from within his lungs - and not his actual body / essence. How is such a dangerous idea allowed to pass without any opposition - especially from Rabbanim? Anonymous, |
| 208. | During conversations, I often hear other people speaking negatively about well known Jewish figures. To exempt themselves from the issur of lashon hara, they say that the person's deeds are well known, or even that the person is an official rasha, so it's a "mitzva" to speak negatively about him. But I would like to know, just because one rav or godol declared a person as a rasha, is that a heter to speak unlimited bad things about that person - especially if other rabbonim don't think of him as a rasha and if I anyway have nothing to do with that person? Moshe Peretz Mann, |
| 207. | I have friends to went to
a well known Mekubal, who told them, without knowing anything about
us, that he should not make Aliyah right now as, his family would collapse without him. My questions are as follow: I was under the impression that a navi who was less then the at the level of the avot could not communicate with H'K'B outside of E.Y.? if this is true then how does someone in Brooklyn get a divine vibe that is strong enough to direct someone's life? Also, what happens when a mekubal who does not know a person gives advice that contradicts that person's Rav that does know him and therefore can give him a proper p'sak? Michael, |
| 206. | When my7 year old son goes to shul with me, his davening is at a slow pace. When the Shliach Tzibur is at Ga'al Yisrael or V'al Yerushalayim, he is just finishing Kriat Shema. To make him feel better about davening, I think that it is important for him to daven Shemona Esrey with me....So the question is, should I daven with the Tsibur right away and Lasmich Geula to Tefilla, or wait a minute for him to finish Kriat Shema and start Shemona Esrey with him? Akiva, |
| 205. | I think there are two posukim in shas that speak about not walking more then 4 amos without learning Torah (or wearing tefillin) I think the Rabbi was Rav Yochonon. Does the Rav possibly recall the location of these (or one) posukim in shas? Moshe, |
| 204. | Q. In Question 72,
the Rav answered that girls should be dressed according to the Halachos
of Tznius from age three, according to opinion that the Bi'ur Halachah
brings down, even though we are normally lenient like the Chazon Ish.
However, I was under the impression that the Chazon Ish said his Psak
with regards to this very Bi'ur Halachah, as is found in Sefer Chazon
Ish, Hilchos Brachos, Siman Tes-Vav.
Also, Tosfos in Sotah says that while one is using his own voice, he cannot hear another person's voice according to Halachah, for example to answer Amen to a Brachah while he is davening at the same time. Does this apply even while one is reading quiet enough that he cannot even hear himself? I have also heard that an Eitzah when one finds himself in a situation involving Kol Isha is to sing along or make another noise to himself, and to make his voice louder. Could it be that according to this Tosfos, one does not have to be louder than the Kol Isha, but just audible to himself? Baruch Tzvi, |
| 203. | Q. In Samuel 1 Chapter 10 Verse 6, Samuel gives Saul the last of the three signs which prove to Saul that he is the next king. The last sign is that Saul will prophesy and become a new man. The Malbim says that Saul will change physically and spiritually. How exactly did Saul change physically? Ellie Shimanovich, |
| 202. | Q.
As a woman who became da'atiah as a child, I have always had uncomfortable
family relations. To this day, many of my relatives do not acknowledge
my existence. Matters have not been helped by my fractious mother,
who alienated her siblings, neighbors, employees and other acquaintances
over the years over various unkind emotional outbursts and betrayals
of confidences. The only happy family relationships I have are with
my son, an aunt and uncle I'm fond of, and my "sister."
I have two related shailot: |
| 201. | Q. Why is it that with regards to keeping 1 or 2 days Yom Tov, it depends on where the person lives and not on where he is celebrating Yom Tov. I.e. everyone in Israel would keep one day no matter where he usually lives, and vice versa? Y. Gershon, |
| 200. | Q. Is one obligated to keep his tzizis out or is he allowed to keep them in because that's the accepted minhag in his family? Anonymous, |
| 199. | Q.
Are house pets considered 'muktzeh' on Shabbat? And if so, what does
that mean? Can we still pick them up or pet them? Thank you.
Anonymous Rabbi Leff's response
|
| 198. | Q. Is a Jewish man allowed to color his hair to take out the grey? |
| 197. | Q.
I have a couple of questions regarding a person's *second* marriage:
a)I've heard that it is not proper to have a large wedding for a
second marriage. Is this true? b) That the bride cannot wear a white
gown, but should wear a suit or something similar? c) That the couple's
children from their first marriages are not allowed to attend their
wedding? Anonymous, |
| 196. | Q. Does the mitzva of tzedaka, or indeed any mitzva, have monetary value? Should we be ashamed to give a few paltry cents to someone collcting tzedaka for fear of them refusing and/or throwing back the money? Or should one keep the money and not bother? Adrian Kelaty, |
| 195. | Q. How many gods did the Jews believe in before during and after Jesus. Does the Torah contain evidence of a trinity of gods. Anonymous, |
| 194. | Q. Dear Rabbi Leff. If I’m sitting in shul, or in a beis midrash learning, and I need to blow my nose, and there are no tissues or toilet paper in the lavatory, and I see a package of tissues lying around, would it be considered stealing to take a tissue, or do we assume that people don’t mind? Anonymous, |
| 193. | Q. Approximately 2000 years ago was Passover eaten at the home on the evening of the 14th, and then the temple service was conducted on the evening of the 15th? Please advise. William Sanford, |
| 192. | Q. I attend a Bais Yaakov High School, and have been taught there that Yom Haatzmaut should not be celebrated. I've always wondered why this is so. What is the reason that the Gedolim give for this? At home my family certainly acknowledge the day and do go to celebrations. so I've always been interested in the reason behind my school's opinion. Thank You. Tamar, |
| 191. | Q. This is a follow-up to question 171. Why is it that we prefer employing Jews over non-Jews (in the case that they do equal work for equal wages)? How can this be justified, for example, to a non-Jew accusing Jews of favoritism? Anonymous, |
| 190. | Q. Regarding the previous question that I asked (175), would it make a difference if I was conspicuously absent from the ceremony and arrived noticeably late just to the party afterwards, and I make it clear to anyone who asks that I wish my cousin a long and happy life, but I chose to be late because I cannot condone it" Thank you again. Anonymous |
| 189. | Q.
We will be having company for Pesach. They will be staying in an uninhabited
apartment, owned by neighbors, that is used throughout the year for
guests.
They will be eating all their meals by us and will not need to cook there, but I assume they will want to use the refrigerator there. What is our responsibility in regards to cleaning and doing a bedika in this apartment. Thank you. David, |
| 188. | Q.
Could the Rav please discuss the issue of one-day yom Tov in chul. Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook (as quoted in Am KeLavi) states conditions which would allow someone to keep one day yom tov in chul. However, he says, even for a mitzvah and in private, one is not allowed to do melacha on the 2nd day. In other words, on the 2nd day, derabbanan mitzvot (tefilla) are kept as in israel and d'orita mitzvot are kept as in chul. I have spoken with several rabbanim on this issue and they all told me, in agreement with Rav Tzvi Yehuda, that there is no halachic permission to do melacha on the second day. However, recently, I found certain Rabbanim who feel that in chul, it is okay to do melacha on the second day. I believe this is based on a RaMA. When I asked the other Rabbanim about this, they said that this is an opinion which we do not hold by. Rav Leff, I realize you may not agree with the idea of keeping "one-day" in any way at all in chul, and I would be interested in your opinion about an Israeli keeping one-day in chul in general. But I would also like you to relate to this issue of keeping "one-day" as opposed to the so-called "1 1/2 day". Is there really any halachic basis to keep a literal one-dayand do melacha on the second day of yom tov in chul? Thank you. David, |
| 187. | Q. I recently read one of your Torot (on Chanuka) that quoted the Shlah. You explained that the Chasmonayim made the mistake of thinking they were in messianic times where the spiritual would rule over the physical and therefore as Kohanim as well as descendents of David they had the right to the Monarchy. Does this mean that Mashiach can be a Kohen? Anonymous, |
| 186. | Q. I had just finished my sandwich at work when we had a fire drill. After how much time outside, would I no longer be allowed to bentsch? Would I be allowed to bentsch outside (if I had taken a benstcher with me) in this case even if I had no intention of bentsching somewhere else? If I was allowed to bentsch outside, would I be obligated to? We have to stand together and none of my coworkers are even Jewish so I would feel a little bit awkward. Thank you. David, |
| 185. | Q.
I begin to read SHIR HASHIRIM but I can not understand a few statements.
Please help me. Please send to me the description of 2:7 to 2:10
of this. Thank you |
| 184. | Q. What is the source for the minhag to round the luchos at the top? Where is the letter from the Steipler to be found that says one should square them instead. Thank you Yehonason Goldman, |
| 183. | Q. Are the Arabs in Israel today the actual descendants of Yishmael? If so, how does Mohamed connect to Yishmael? Another question, did the Jewish women in the biblical times cover their faces like some of the Arab women do today? Thank you anonymous |
| 182. | Q. Is it an "ayin hara" to use restrooms made for the handicapped and elderly?
Moshe Peretz Mann, |
| 181. | Q. Shalom! My family is Katz. I'm 36 years old. My girlfriend is jewish but she is divorced. How can I married with her? Thank you anonymous |
| 180. | Q. Recently, Hareidi rabbinic leaders publicized harsh words concerning a editor of a particular newspaper / periodical in Bnei Brak. Similarly, at times, an announcement is published to not patronize a given store for a given reason. How does this jibe with the concept of Al Yalbin pnei haveiro be'rabim? I have heard even frum Jews say that publicizing someone's name or business in such a fashion is wrong and uncalled for. Please clarify. Thank you Zelig Kane, |
| 179. | Q. I am 55 and been observant for 15 years. Throughout that time I have tried and failed numerous times to put on tefellin and daven shachris on a continuous basis. I am observant about most other matters but I am a very undisciplined person and never able to sustain shachris and tefellin and it bothers me tremendously. My problem is that I am a night person and NOT a morning person. At night I feel the urge all the time to put on my tallis and tefellin but by morning there is no will power to do so. So my question is whether there are any circumstances where it is permissible to don tallis and tefellin at night other than if I were getting up at that point to start my day. I no this sounds ridiculous but no matter how well intentioned I am I just won't do it in the morning. Thank you Alan, |
| 178. | Q. We hosted an Israeli Merchants' Fair in our shul, where tens of Israelis come to a community to sell their wares. Ours was held on Saturday night and Sunday and the merchants needed to be hosted by the community for Shabbat. Several of them specifically requested to be with non-shomer Shabbat families. Are we allowed to fulfill their request knowing that by doing so, we are, in a sense, encouraging, or at least turning a blind eye, to chilul Shabbat and also preventing whatever shmirat shabbat they would have done, had they been placed in a shomer-shabbat household? Thank you, Brian |
| 177. | Q. Is there a halacha or "inyan" not to kiss or hug one's child of the opposite gender after a certain age? If yes, what is the source? Thank you Yisrael Kaniel, |
| 176. | Q. Many of
the preteens in my shul need some chizuk. For whatever reasons,
they are not getting this from their homes or schools. Their families
are not anti-, but it just isnt happening. Thank you, |
| 175. | Q. My cousin is intending on marrying a gentile. Normally, I would not even consider attending, but I am very close to my aunt and uncle and they will be very hurt if I do not attend. In addition, my uncle has a very negative attitude towards orthodox jews and not to attend would make him more bitter. What does the Rav feel I should do. Thank you |
| 174. | Q. There is some controversy here in the states as to how the Torah Community should view Illan Ramon Z'L. Some say that since he was mekadesh shem shamayim berabim, and also saved countless lives, he should be viewed as a hero and we can learn from his actions. Others argue that to call him a hero sends a bad message since he was not a Shomer Torah Umitsvos. How should a Torah Jew approach this issue? Thank you |
| 173. | Q. Where do you find kelev kosheh lashikcha (causes one to forget one's learning)? Thank you, anonymous |
| 172. | Q. Why does
it seem that on simchas torah halochos and mihagim we follow seem
to be slackened? For example clapping to the tunes, boys under bar
mitzvah. being called to the torah, etc.? Thank you Chaim Jacobs, |
| 171. | Q. Please
could you clarify for me the Halacha regarding employing Arabs in
public areas. Thank you Eliyahu Levine, |
| 170. | Q. In Parshas
Terumah, is it possible that the "yud" that was taken
from the Thank you. |
| 169. | Q. I am writing
an essay and would like help on this question: Thank you Sarah Donowitz, |
| 168. | Q. There are many different minhagim and kabbalistic rituals practiced in different communities and groups. If one is in need of something important (parnassah, children, shidduch, etc.), is it recommended to adopt one of these customs on oneself as an extra z'chus, and is there any guidelines as to which minhagim are authentic and which ones are completely bogus and inappropriate? Thank you. Moshe Peretz Mann, |
| 167. | Q. Shalom
Rabbi, I write in order to make some questions to you. I excuse
for the trouble. Thank you Mordechay Sciunnach, |
| 166. | Q. What is the Halacha about a Torah scoll dropping on the floor. The Eits Hayim touched the floor, and the Torah mantle was partially disturbed. What is the responsibility of the cong, the Rabbi and the Cantor? The Torah fell off a shelf where it is always placed during the Haftarah. The Torah fell about two minutes after the Sefer had been placed on the shelf. Thank you Hazzan David Tilman, |
| 165. | Q. One of
my Professors who is prone to making bold generalized statements,
said that the Talmud tells a father to punish his son for sinning
even if the punishment causes death. I immeadiately challenged him
to show where the talmud says this. Of course he was not able to
do that so he appologized, and said he would try to find out the
source. Thank you Menachem Hojda, |
| 164. | Q. Shalom Rabbi After the tradical event of the explosion of the colombia space ship last saturday. I spoke with my friend and he said that there is strict Hallachic rulings in the doing of space travel, something about praying all the time becurse of the moving of the planets and the sun and so on. Is that correct or could you tell me about thoose rulings? Thank you Johan, |
| 163. | Q.I came across
a letter of yours in which you outline the Halachic reasons for
living in Eretz Yisrael. Thank you Yechidah Sarai, |
| 162. | Q. My son's Bar Mitzvah is aproaching. His Haftorah section is Zachor, Deut. XXV. 17-19. I would be very grateful if you can lead me to an interpretation of this section. Lastly I would like to locate some background information on the Prophet Samuel. Thank you |
| 161. | Q. I belong to an email list that sends updates about those injured by terrorism. I am sending you a copy. Anyone else can obtain it by emailing tefilla@netvision.net.il. Based on your answer to question #90, would it be correct to say that these names should not be included in "rafainu", but rather in a separate bakasha in "shma kolainu"? If so, is there a proper nusach for mentioning these names? I also had several other questions, regardless of where we include the request of a speedy recovery. 1. Is it okay to include the names of gentiles (e.g. druze who have been injured) together with the others. I am wondering since the end of the tefilla in rafainu is "betoch she'ar cholei Yisrael"? 2.If not, where should I add their names and is there a prescribed nusach? 3.And would we follow the same name format (i.e. name son/daughter of mother's name)? If so, what would one say if they did not know the mother's name? 4. In general, what should be the responsibility of the community to these people? Based on your answer, they should not be included individually in the mi she bayrach in shul, although we do say in our shul "vekol nifgei haterror". Thank you anonymous, |
| 160. | Q. Can I put grapes in a blender and use that for kiddush. If so, would I need to remove all the pulp and skins? Could I add another fruit for taste? How much water would I be allowed to add to it? Thank you David, |
| 159. | Q. Some communities
have established a communal system of mishloach manot. It works
like this: Each family receives a list of all of the families in
the community, and checks off which families they would like to
give to. They then give a donation to tzedaka (according to the
number of families they have chosen). On Purim each family receives
one big basket, with a list of all the families that chose to send
to them. Thank you Daniel, |
| 158. | Q. Hello Rabbi Leff I have a friend who's mother is Catholic and father is Jewish. He chooses to follow the Jewish religion, but does not believe that it is the mother that determines the child's religion. He claims that he read that this law has just came into existence not more then 200 years ago. I am not a chacham, but I do believe this halacha has been around a lot longer then that. I am trying to locate in any jewish text where it is stated that the child's religion is determined via the mother. Any information you have on this would be of great help for if I have i leg to stand on, their is a chance he will go through with a Giur. Thank you David Pinchas, |
| 157. | Q. In the first perek of this weeks sedra passuk 7 it says that you can pierce the slave's ear so if the ear is being pierced as a punishment for violating the commandment not to steal, it should be done at the begining of the six years, right after the act of stealing. Why wait until the theif refuses his freedom? Thank you Jake, |
| 156. | Q. In your answer about the elections (134, 110) you wrote that a person needs to vote for a party that is supported by the Gedolim. However, isn't it possible that the Gedolim are making a mistake? After all the torah has a parsha of Par Helem Davar shel Tzibur and in fact the gemara relates that the later Chachamim thought the R' Yochanan Ben Zacai had made a mistake when he just asked for Yavne, and they quoted a Pasuk "meishiv chachamim achor". In fact, just about all the gedolim in pre-WWII Europe were against people leaving and moving to America. Yet, in hindsight, it is clear that their opinion was wrong, those people who left (like my grandparents) survived and most of those who stayed perished. In short, could we not say that maybe today as well, the Gedolim are making a mistake in their view and a party like Herut, etc. is correct? Thank you Martin Bluke, |
| 155. | Q. In Israel today, the Hareidi education system teaches no secular studies after elementary school and in general does not prepare students to work, rather EVERY student is assumed to be someone who will sit and learn and toraso umnaso. Isn't this attitude against the halacha? The mishna in Kiddushin
clearly states that "chayav adam llamed es bno umnus".
Also, the gemara in Brachos (35b) states that "harbei asu k'R'
Shimon Ben Yochai v'lo alsa byadam". The gemara clearly states
that "toraso umnaso" is NOT for the masses and that the
masses SHOULD go out and make a living (of course they need to learn
whenever they are not working). In fact, the Brisker Rav (parshas
Chayei Sara) uses this idea to explain the contradiction between
R' N'horai in the last mishna in Kiddushin where he writes that
he would teach his son only torah. The Brisker Rav comments that
R' N'Horai's son was one of the elite who could do it but for the
masses there certainly is a chiyuv to teach them a trade, R' Elchanan
also makes these points in his teshuva about going to college, where
he clearly states that most people should work. Thank you Martin Bluke, |
| 154. | Q. In the Mishpatim Dvar Torah you described a person that is spiritually stagnated and has developed a spiritual inferiority complex.i have a good friend with this problem. Is there any way to make him aware of the problem without alienating him. Thank you
|
| 153. | Q. I teach
some secular teenage girls who have some questions about the role
of women in judiasm. I would be very grateful for some direction
1. Why can't women be rabbis,participate in shul etc. 2. Why do women need extra tznius? 3. Women seem second class in frum society? 4. Why are women exempt from time related mitzvos. Thank you
|
| 152. | Q. The posuk
in parshas Trumah says, "Don't cook a kid in its mothers milk",
but the targum says, "don't eat meat in milk". Why does
the Targum seemigly change the posuk? Eating and cooking are two different
things, and why is it more general by referring to meat, and not just
a kid?
|
| 151. | Q. At the company
where I work one of the employees placed an order for a tool for use
by another employee, who really wants it for personal use. The guy
placing the order knows this, and gave me a knowing little 'sshhh'.
It's not a very expensive tool. Should I do something about it? Thank
you. |
| 150. | Q. What is the
Halacha regarding opening sealed bags and containers on Shabbos. Thank you. Yitzi Padawer, Staten Island, NY
|
| 149. | Q. I started a new job where I have to be at work by 7 so I have to leave by 630. The problem concerns davening because netz is at 638. It is not correct to daven shmoneh esrei before, right? Also, I was suggested to say everything except s"e and when I get to work, to say it. But then I wont be able to talk the whole time and people may think I am ignoring them. How do I do this, and what order should I daven so I can complete as much davening as possible before I go to work? Thank you.
|
| 148. | Q. In Sanhedrin 111a, Rava states that there will only be two survivors who will live to see the times of Moshiach. I have asked several people to explain the meaning of this not-very-well known-statement, and they either denied it or brushed it aside. I am concerned about it, since although we're not supposed to speculate about messianic times, there has been talk about the impending war on Iraq being the war of Gog uMagog, and the aformentioned gemara may have a very literal meaning. Does the Rav have an explanation of the gemara, and do any gedolim predict the war of Gog uMagog any time soon? Thank you. |
| 147. | Q. A) It is said
that in the days of Moshiach their will be no desire. The Ramban in
Devarim (30,6) explains that in the days of Moshiach (apparently even
before Olam Haboah) the inclination for good will be part of the human
nature. A person will not desire what is wrong. If so, 1)How does
one understand the explanation of the Koheles Rabbah (brought by the
Ramban himself in Sha'ar Hagemul)of the gemara in Sanhedrin Daf 95a
that the dead will be resurrected with their deformities so that people
will not say these are the not the dead that died. 2)The Oruch L'ner
on Yevamos 47a explains that converts will not be accepted in the
times of Moshiach due to the fear that they will convert for ulterior
motives (as in the days of King David's reign). However if the only
human desire is for good then what other motives are possible?
B) The gemara in Sanhedrin 97b brings a dispute as to whether the Jews will have to repent in order to be redeemed. The Maharal in Netsach Yisroel (chapter 31) explains that according to R'Yehoshua a repentance by force (fear) will suffice. However according to R'Eliezer the Jews must repent from their own free will. If so how can their be a predetermined end to the galus if the end can only brought by the free choice of good? Furthermore how can the Geulah be guaranteed at all, as it is by the prophets? In a similar vein Tosfaos on Yevamos (Daf 50a) states that the earlier prophecies regarding Chizkiyahu could have been nullified because of his sin. If so why does this logic not apply to the prophecies regarding Moshiach? C) The gemara on Yevamos 49a states that Yeshaya did not actually see G-d when he says "I saw G-d siiting on his throne high and exalted". Rashi seems to indicate that Yeshaya made a mistake and did not actually see G-d. The Sefer HaIkrim (3,17) explicitly states that this was a mistake on Yeshaya's behalf. Therefore, 1)If Yeshaya could misinterpet a prophecy how are we assured of the validity of other prophecies. 2) In a similar vein if all prophecies (except for that of Moshe) were seen as a "moshel and meleitzah"(Rambam,Ramchal) how do we know that they were interperted correctly? And 3)if the above staement of Yeshaya was a maistake how can it be included in Torah which is an absolute truth? Thank you.
|
| 146. | Q. I have had
a yearning to fullfill the mitzvah of Yishuv Eretz Yisrael since becoming
frum 12 years ago. My wife had never been to Eretz Yisrael until this
year, and therefore could not make a commitment. Now that she has
visited, she still will not seriously consider moving. I am so uncomfortable
living in chutz l'Aretz and suffering such strong pangs to live in
HaAretz, that I even considered compelling my wife to move under the
threat of divorce. This is something I do not want to do as I love
my wife, but my love of HaAretz is equally as strong. What should
I do?
|
| 145. | Q. I have had
throughout my life recurring dreams about my teeth falling out of
my mouth. Each dream is different, sometimes it is one tooth, sometimes
many, and sometimes even the red tissues of my gums come out with
the teeth that I catch in my hand. I am terribly disturbed by these
dreams, crying terribly with my chest heaving from crying in my dream.
I get them about once or twice a year maybe, although sometimes a
few years go by without these dreams thank G-d! These dreams really
disturb me. I know there was some type of mystical reason for the
falling out of teeth in dreams. Some say it is a symbol about losing
one's finances/wealth, etc. Then others say no, this is a good dream.
I can't believe it is a good dream the way I am terrified and crying.
What is the explanation of teeth falling out of one's mouth in dreams?
Thank you.
|
| 144. | Q.
Where does one draw the line between bitachon (trust in H')and not
relying on a miracle?
Thank
you. |
| 143. | Q. There are a variety of glow in the dark stickers made for childrens' rooms. Is there a halachic problem of putting up such stickers in the shapes of the moon and the stars? What about lights or other decorations in these shapes Thank you. |
| 142. | Q. My grandmother is 100% sure that she was named after a male relative, Yedidya. He had died young so she was named Yedidya Alta. Since her parents were not religous, I assume they just told the Rabbi that they were naming after a Yedidya and he assigned the name to my grandmother. I've also assumed that the Rabbi would have changed the name to a feminine form like Yedida. Since she is not yet religous and her parents were not, the name was never really used and she never would have noticed if it was Yedidya or Yedida. I recently found her ketuba and her name there is listed as Chana. The ketuba was written in a Rabbi's office some time after my grandparents had eloped. I figured the Rabbi may not have even been a shomer mitzvot, just took them in, wrote a ketuba without paying attention to details and sent them on their way as quick as he could. This was reinforced by the fact my grandfather's name in the ketuba does not say Halevi, which he was. Her English name is Anne and I guess this Rabbi saw a young unreligous couple, asked my grandfather what his name was, and assumed what my grandmother's name was based on her English name, Anne. My grandmother says the Rabbi never even asked her for her her name. My grandmother is still a very sharp woman and I believe she would remember this event correctly. In addition, I recently, I discovered this Rabbi is the great-granduncle
of a close friend of mine so I know now that he was a shomer mitzvot,
although my other assumptions may still be correct. When I doven
for my grandmother (amush) or need her Hebrew name for other things,
should I be using Yedidya Alta, Yedida Alta, Chana, or some combination?
I know many mekubalim are very meticulous about calling a person
by their true name which reveals their essence - I want to be sure
that I give her the proper respect she deserves and ensure that
my tefillot for her are said in a proper manner. Thank you. |
| 141. | Q. The Mesilas
Yesharim, in the Chapter, "Factors which detract from watchfullness"
(Mafsidei Hazehirus) talks in very harsh terms of people who are immersed
in laughter and levity. Does this mean that we shouldn't be happy
and laugh and make others laugh? Does it mean we shouldn't go overboard
and make a joke of everything? What can we use as a measuring stick
to know if and when we are being too lightheaded. I'm generally a
happy, congenial person who likes to make people smile and laugh,
but I'm also a relgious Jew who takes life and the Torah seriously.
How do I reconcile these two seemingly contradictory things?
Thank you. Anonymous
|
| 140. | Q. Is there a
relationship or connection between parshat beshalach and tu beshvat Thank you. David, Pennsylvania
|
| 139. | We use a dud
shemesh that contains an electric element for heating the water on cloudy days. We don't actually use the element as we have a junkers for an alternate source of hot water. Q. If we disconnect the switch for the electric element, would
it be Thank you. |
| 138. | Q. We have a
major problem in my Synagogue, which causes a lot of argument: I thought perhaps you could help us to resolve it. Some of those who daven at the daily minyan have been doing so for many years. They have their regular parking places in the car park. One man has decided that he will park wherever he chooses, claiming that noone has any greater right to any given parking place than anyone else. This causes much irritation and fighting. Who is correct in Jewish law? Thank you. Arnie Ross, South Africa
|
| 137. | Q. The Magen
Avraham (156:2) states that if one says a statement but does not attribute it to the person who said it, he transgresses a negative commandment. In relation to this Magen Avraham, please would you kindly answer
the following 1) If one heard that there was a statement made in the Gemorah
by an Amora but
|
| 136. | Q. If I don't
wash for bread but the meal is a main one of the day, like dinner, Can I bless Birkat Hamazon or do I have to or don't have to bless? Thank you. |
| 135. | |
| 134. | Q. I am becoming "deaf" from the pervasively resounding silence that has encompassed the religious world here in Eretz Yisrael. It is becoming increasingly "deafening" day by day. What is this "silence"? It is the silence of our religious leaders-our gedolai b'Yisrael who have yet to give off their unified "scream" to the world. "Gevolt geshriggen"--we've had enough of this horrendous bloodshed. Since I can't hear too well anymore, I'll simply ask the question "does anyone recall hearing a loud scream coming from our religious leaders?" Has anyone seen anything in the press lately as to what the position of K'lal Yisrael is [should be] with regard to the current crisis that is having a devastating impact on our precious lives? How much longer can we bear the brunt of the mindless cruelties and atrocities being committed against our people by Arab and Islamic terrorism? How much longer can we sit at home worrying until our loved ones return safely from learning, work, or other normal daily activities? Regarding question 110 submitted to your website a short time ago-(about voting in the upcoming Israeli elections) : What parties does the rav consider to be ones that follow Da'as Torah? Are the only choices I have Yahadut HaTorah and Shas? I don't see either of these parties doing much about anything. Am I to understand that if we consider ourselves to be "fruma yidden" [Jews guided by halacha] living our lives in accordance with da'as Torah (Rabbinical guidance), then are we not able to vote our conscience and select the party that we feel has its act together with a platform that is in the best interests of our people? How about a party such as Herut/Yamin whose leaders have done their homework and have developed a constitution, guided by Torah principles, with an emphasis on Jewish nationalism? Such a party as Herut/Yamin is totally against the formation of a Palestinian state within our borders. Moreover,it is totally against the foolish, and heretofore suicidal concept of "land for peace" [albeit the pekuach nefesh principle of Jewish law]. Has it not yet become clear to any informed person that no matter what we do, or do not do, we are in a constant life threatening stage. How can we give away our land? That is against Torah law, is it not? Is it not proper for a Torah observant Jew to vote his conscience, thereby "turning up the sound to this deafening silence" that has become pervasive and stultifying within K'lal Yisrael? Maybe, just maybe, our unified "scream" to the world via the media [our Torah hasbara] will make the world sit up and take notice. Our silence does not seem to be doing the job! Respectfully, Thank you. |
| 133. | Q. One of my friends mentioned to me that if you go to the bathroom in middle of the night you don't have to say Asher Yatzar. Is this true? If so why wouldn't one need to say it? Thank you. |
| 132. | Q. Does a shofar
have to be taken from an animal which was slaughtered according to the laws of shechitah? Thank you.
|
| 131. | Q.
I understand that the "optional' line was removed from Aleynu
due to Thank you. David,
|
| 130. | Q. I realize that one is not supposed to make a neder (vow). Is it halachically forbidden from doing so? If so, why? Is it similarly forbidden to promise something?
Is a promise necessarily a vow? Thank you. Anonymous
|
| 129. | Someone recommended a person to me as a potential rommmate (let's call him Y.), and I accepted him into my apartment. It turned out that Y. is irresponsible, does not pay his bills, has no work (and is not doing anything practical about it), and appears to be generally dysfunctional and in need of help. Is it appropriate to tell the person who recommended Y. the truth, so that he will not recommend Y. to anyone else? Or is this leshon hara? Thank you. Anonymous
|
| 128. | Q. Is it permitted in any way to reuse what's left
in a Kiddush cup, or If a Torah observant Jew drank from a bottle of
kosher wine or grape juice, does Thank you. Baruch Slater |
| 127. | Q. There are people in Har Nof going to playgrounds
on Shabbos and giving My questions are any of the following: 1. What's the Rav's opinion of the "yechi" Thanks very much! Dov Krulwich, |
| 126. | Q. What was the name of Lot's wife? Fran Stoll, |
| 125. | Q. I have
heard different opinions regarding the kashrut of asparagus and David, |
| 124. | Q. What is
the situation with the Rav Auerbach Mehadrin hechsher that is Yisrael Kaniel, |
| 123. | Q. The Rav
mentioned in the minhagei chanukah shiur that one can't make a Brian, |
| 122. | Q. Everytime I get into my car, I say tefillat haderech without chatimat HaShem. I would like to know if this is okay. Secondly, I was wondering if tefillat haDerech is ever required for a short journey, for example driving on a section of I95 known to have many accidents or driving in snow or on a very slippery or icy road or mountain? David, |
| 121. | Q. Please, sir,
I'm learning about your religion. I have read that 2 different Torahs exist. One was written in Jerusalem the other in Baghdad. Is there a conflict of which is the correct one. If not are they both now one Torah. Is this a non issue? Have separations of the Jewish faith or controversies arisen due to this? All info will be appreciated. Thank you, sir. George, |
| 120. | Q. The Gemara
in Eiruvin which relates the famous debate between the sages Hillel
and Shamai about whether or not it would have been better if man was
not created at all, is resolved that after 2 ½ years. They
concluded that indeed, it would have been better that man was not
created - that our neshamas (souls) would have been better off staying
up in the spiritual world of neshamas rather than being dragged down
into a physical world. My question is: how can we understand chazal's
debating whether or not something Hashem does is good or not? And
even more, concluding that He did the wrong thing? Isn't there an
element of chutzpa in our (or even Chazal's) judging Hashem's actions?
Thank you. R' Aryeh Varon & R.C.S, |
| 119. | Q. After listening to the Rav's answer about question 112 I was a little disturbed. Being someone on the "journey" myself I can saythat it isn't easy to focus on other things. month after month I wait and wait. After each treatment I hold my breathe for 2 weeks hoping and davening. Treatments rule my schedule. Not focusing on on it isn't realistic-Wanting children is a strong feeling that can't be subdued. Feeling "davened out" is part of our meltdowns. My question is how do we get up when we feel we have reached the end of the rope all the money is gone all the will power is gone? Anonymous |
| 118. | I am in a discussion
with a Roman Catholic about the events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus. She informed me that Jesus went on trial with the Jewish high priest presiding, and who ultimately sent Jesus to the Romans for execution. I had never heard this before. And I also understood that our Cohen
HaGadol was We looked into the King James version of John and found these verses
about the We further searched for more on the subject and found the following
at the web ========================= As high priest and chief religious authority in the land, Caiaphas
had many The high priest had another, more controversial function in first-century Caiaphas was the son-in-law of Annas, high priest from 6 to 15
C.E. and head of Although little is known of Caiaphas, historians infer from his
long tenure as Caiaphas's motives in turning Jesus over to Pilate are a subject
of speculation. High priests, including Caiaphas, were both respected and despised
by the Jewish In the year 36 C.E., both Caiaphas and Pilate were dismissed from
office by Is this accurate? We would appreciate your insight and comment. Thank you. Dubi |
| 117. | Q. The Rav shlita
said "e-mail Spamming for Tzedakah was wrong" (question
43). My question- since we assume a Yid is happy for Mitzvah and
Chesed opportunity (like i can use Tefilin and/or a sefer w/o permission)
why should this be different?
Sholom ubrocha vkol hakovod. Dovid Sandel, |
| 116. | Q. Why does the torah prohibit cutting peyot (hair on the corners of males' heads)? Menachem Hojda, |
| 115. | Q. What is the torah view of Psychology? Menachem Hojda, |
| 114. | Q. When I
want to wash for 'hamotzi' and I want to wash my hands with Jacob Zoberman, |
| 113. | Could you please tell me if there is a book that explains the Jewish customs such as the men having a curl & such things as why you can't plant certain plants in the same field & other such customs or if there is anything on the internet that covers these topics? Thank you may GOD Bless. Pat O'Connell, |
| 112. | I am just at a loss. I have been on this journey of infertility so long. I just don't' think I have the strength left to continue running after this elusive bubble in the wind. Obviously, for some reason, the Ribono Shel Olam is keeping the gift of children from us. It is not for us to question why. I accept it. But then what is my purpose in life? What am I supposed to fill my long empty days with? I just cannot continue living on "HOLD", living for the future, waiting for that elusive pregnancy to materialize. I have to live life in the present. But what do I actually do with myself? Anonymous I have a friend who is trying to have children for so long. She has failed 5 IVF tries, money is tight her husband lost his job . She is "davened out". She has no strength to go on. How do I encourage her? Anonymous |
| 111. | After what happened in Chevron this week, I thought back to my shock after hearing about Baruch Goldstein. How should we, as halachic Jews, view him? We hear about how he would even treat Arabs with no discrimination in his medical treatment of the sick. Do we separate the man from his actions? Some "understand" his actions when they look at the situation of the Jews in Chevron. There were also media reports outside of Israel that a pogrom was being planned by the Arabs and weapons stored in the cave were only found because of his actions. Do we distinguish between condoning and understanding? Anonymous |
| 110. | Q. How should halacha guide one's voting in the Israeli elections? Specifically, could one vote for a party like Likud which doesnt always represent halachic values? If so, should one vote for Feiglin who is trying to bring Jewish values into the Likud, even though it seems like a wasted vote. Even more, a vote for Feiglin would probably take away from Netanyahu who is against a Palestinian state and would help Sharon who is for a Palestinian state? Zev Stark, Years ago, I heard Rav Kahane speak in Y.U. (before Oslo naturally). At the time, he made an interesting statement. He said that he would sooner vote for a leftwing religious government before a nonr eligous rightwing government. I realize that there are rightwing religious parties, but I was still wondering how the Rav feels about this statement. Reuvein Binyamin Chaim, |
| 109. | Q. Recently,
my 7 year old son, who was forgetting to share with his younger siblings
(who almost always share with him voluntarily), despite numerous requests
from my wife and myself, was warned that if he didn't share, the items
in question would be taken away. He protested, saying that since we
gave them to him, they're his, and we aren't allowed to take them
away, that it would be geneiva. My wife and I usually try hard not
to do this, to force our kids to share against their will, hoping
that sometime, the good example (I hope) that my wife and I provide
to our children in this matter, will eventually rub off. But it got
too much for me, seeing how cruel he was being. So I told him I'd
ask a shyla for future reference.
Do I have the right to take away something I gave him (whether he earned it through a "mivtza" or it was stam a matana) even just temporarily to let one of my other children play with it (something my son hasn't played with in months, for example, and, seeing his brother playing with it, he suddenly has the urge to play just with that toy.) I taught him the first Rashi in the Torah - was that not appropriate, as I'm not Hashem, and his toy isn't Eretz Yisrael, and he's not Canaan? Does everything that a wife or child own automatically belong to the husband/father? Or is he right - am I stealing what is rightfully his? How can I train my son to be more giving and sharing like all three of his siblings are without comparing him, and without making him resentful? Why, if they (and we) are so sharing with him, is he so stingy and nasty back? |
| 108. | Q. Is it a problem to buy non-kosher food for my gentile coworkers because of maris ayin (doing something which is halachically permissable, but could be construed as being forbidden)? |
| 107. | Q. Which sources say that Rachel is buried in Kever Rachel and why? And where are other possibilities for her burial place? Who says she is buried somewhere else and what are their reasons? David, |
| 106. | Q. If Yakov had to keep Mitzvot in Eretz Yisrael, and therefore could not be married to two sisters once he entered the land, then does the fact that Rachel died in Beit Lechem imply that Beitlechem is not part of Eretz Yisrael? David, |
| 105. | Q. I am a
Kohen. Am I allowed to position my hands as in Birkat Kohenim DB |
| 104. | Q. What is the din in reading english divrei Torah in the toilet? What are the m'koros? Jacob, |
| 103. | Q. I want
to know what brief, special, deep meaning the month of Kislev Shawn Driscoll, |
| 102. | Q. The latest method of raising money for people in need (the "lucky" Ones) is having a glossy brochure made with a heart rendering description of The family(ies) with 5 or 10 pictures of rabbanim signing their approval of The appeal. How should we approach these appeals? A little to all of them or some are more worthy than others (if so, which), what percentage of available funds should go to this as opposed to people in your city? Chaim Jacobs, |
| 101. | Q. Shalom, Rabbi
Leff,
Many companies, the most popular being Hotmail and Yahoo, offer free e-mail services. There are at least three ways that they earn money on this. They forward e-mail solicitations to you from various advertisers, count on you to visit their web site regularly to view advertisements they display there, and expect that some of their millions of customers will decide to pay to upgrade their e-mail account to one with more features and privileges. There are other companies (like Juno) that work in a similar though not identical fashion. When you sign up with these companies, they typically require you to fill out a lengthy questionnaire indicating your age, gender, income, hobbies, and so on. The purpose of this is presumably so that they can target their advertisements to users with specific characteristics. I registered for free e-mail with one of these companies, one that doesn't post ads on its web site but presumably is responsible for some of the "spam" (junk mail) that I get every day. A lot of these advertisements are offensive to me. Some are immodest if not outright obscene. I suspect I would get less of these offensive advertisements if, instead of their customer profile indicating that I am a man in his thirties, it said I was a woman in her eighties. I'd probably get more ads for skin creams, but less ads for smut. May I change my profile, i.e., lie on the questionnaire, in order to avoid unwanted advertisements? Does it make a difference that the company has other ways they can make money from me, such as the chance that I might upgrade to paid service? Actually, I did in fact eventually upgrade, so I pay them a yearly fee now.) A similar question arises when a web site requires an e-mail address to "log on". May I enter a phoney address to avoid the inevitable junk mail that will result? If the ads I were getting weren't immodest but were just a nuisance,
then Shlomo Zalman Jessel, |
| 100. | Q. Often when learning gemara, one comes across names of many different plants and animals and utensils, many of them unheard of today. Is it worthwhile to go and look them up in an encyclopedia to help visualize what the gemara is referring to, or is this a waste of time since the "shakla vetarya" can be understood without it, besides for the fact that we don't really know exactly what many of them are? Moshe Peretz Mann, |
| 99. | Q. I have had a series of vary scary nightmares and I was wondering if it might mean anything. Anonymous, |
| 98. | I read that
Yakov was punished mida keneged mida for his deception of his father.
He was deceived by Lavan and later by his own sons. As he deceived
his father with a goat and coat, so was he later deceived by his
sons with a goat and a coat. Anonymous, |
| 97. | Q. Is there a connection between the fact that the Torah presents Yitzchak as a very passive individual always being forced into different situations and his living in a place called "Gerar", meaning pulled or dragged? Anonymous, |
| 96. | Q. What exactly is the birthright and what is the meaning of Esav's selling the birthright? If it is the spiritual inheritance from Avraham, then Yitzchak was planning to give that to Yakov anyway as we see at the end of Toldot. Was there actually a chance of the Jewish people descending from Esav? What would have happened had it not been "sold"? Yakov was the only one who was spiritually capable of this inheritance. Regarding the materialistic brachot, it seems there was enough to go around for both of them. Does the birthright refer to the materialistic bracha? Anonymous, |
| 95. | Q. Is it against halachah to violate a law in the land in which you reside, even if that law is not a Torah law? Jonathan Gradman, |
| 94. | Q. If two people get divorced, is there a halacha about how far away they must live separately from each other? Anonymous |
| 93. | Q. Does the isur of sfichin in Shmita totally preclude the possibility of picking vegetables that grow in Eretz Yisrael? If it does, then how can vegetables be picked at all within an otzar beis din framework? Does this mean that all vegetables during Shmita must come from the sixth year or from outside Eretz Yisrael or non-Jewish owned land in Eretz Yisrael? I've found this issue confusing. Please clarify. Yisreael Kaniel, |
| 92. | Q. I was in Mattatiyahu many years ago for Shabbat and I think the Rav had said that "maybe it was permissible to learn Torah silently during chazarat hashatz and that is how I hold." First of all, forgive me and correct me if I am not remembering correctly. Secondly what should be the proper behavior during chazarat hashatz? Sitting or standing? Feet together? If the shatz is quick and by saying barchu uvaruch shmo, you would overlap chatimat habracha or by saying amen, you overlap the beginning of the next bracha, should you answer? Many people put tzedaka in a pushka during chazara. Is that okay? Is it permissible to collect tzedaka during chazara? If not, how does one respond? Should the response be different between one collecting for himself and, lets say, someone collecting for the shul? Can a gabai do his "gabaut" during the chazara? If not, what do you do when he asks if you are a kohen or levi? Anonymous, |
| 91. | Q. What does the well known expression "Beis Medrash shel Maalah" refer to - is this just a figurative term for Olam Haba, or is there some sort of real beis medrash in Heaven with neshamas sitting and learning? Moshe Peretz Mann, |
| 90. | Q. What type of sickness warrants including someone as a choleh? And how long should one stay on such a list? My grandmother lives in a condiminium community and her neighbors often give her names of cholim for me, her "orthodox grandson", to daven for them. For example, on my list, are people with Alzheimers, Parkinsons, recovering stroke patients, autistic children. One stroke victim had the stroke six years ago and can drive (usually) and function, but has lasting effects, physical and otherwise. His recovery has been a see-saw. Sometimes, these effects get worse and require therapy. Another person lives a normal life, but she has constant internal bleeding and needs monthly hospitilzation and transfusions which totally debilitate her for several days. One of the children also has ups and downs, sometimes requiring therapy. Medically speaking, there is no current refuah for most of these people, but it seems a lack of emunah not to doven for them and hope for a re! fuah shlayma. Years ago, I said tehillim for a sick boy every day until the kahal complained. Just before that, however, his illness disapeared overnight with no medical explanantion. Is there a difference in whom I include in my personal shmoneh esrey and who I include in mi shebayrach (tircha detzibura). Is there a difference if the cholim are family or not? And what validates publicly saying tehillim on their behalf? Anonymous |
| 89. | Q. We are
taught the Torah doesn't waste any words but in parsha Toldos, there
seems to be lot of repetition of family relationships in conversations
e.g Rivka Imenu to Yaakov "Asov your brother.." Surely
there was no need for her to remind him which Asov she was speaking
about? Shimon Frais |
| 88. | Q. Why is
the meat of fish considered parve, and the meat of beef and fowl Anonymous, |
| 87. | Q. Jeshua deviated himself completely from torah and Shema.That´s what Christians will never understand . Am I right sir? I have just started studying Torah. Please tell me what "shulchan aruch" means . Anonymous, |
| 86. | Q. How much Hishtadlus
must one do in Israel in this present time? Meaning: If one lives
in the Shtachim, should he only drive in a bullet proof vehicle, bullet
proof vest, or is there a certain percentage of danger which would
require one to take more extreme steps? Also should one use only taxis
in Jerusalem and not travel on buses because many people say it is
safer? Or is one suppose to continue living the way they always did,
just one should be more careful when needed?
Thank You in Advance |
| 85. | Q. During
my 9 or 10 hours at work, I always have a cup of water in front Anonymous |
| 84. | Q. Is it permissible on Shabbos to adjust an electric timer (when the adjustment itself involves no direct melacha) in order to turn on an appliance later on in the day? We have timers which turn appliances on and off based on little plastic pegs placed on a disc which rotates during 24 hours. (example: if the air conditioner is off at 10am, can I move a peg to 10:30am so that it will switch on at that time?) Yaakov Bock, |
| 83. | Q. Could selling non-tznius clothing in a clothing store be considered mesaye le-dvar aveira? Could there be another halachic problem? |
| 82. | Q. Is a man allowed to shave the hair on his back? How about laser treatments or electrolysis? |
| 81. | My friend ask
me that he knows about a non-Jewish girl which wants to join the Ku Klux Klan . Should we try to convince her not to? And if yes, how? Thank you |
| 80. | Q. It's a known thing that Hashem gives "nisyonos" (trials & tribulations) only to people who have the ability to cope with them , how can we see in the world people having tzoris (troubles) that are way beyond their emotional capability to cope with and then they get nerves break-down etc. does that mean they failed their test? Ashira Rabinowitz, |
| 79. | Q. We know the story of the Netziv, that he hosted a big party when he completed writing a sefer, because if he had become a blacksmith like his parents suggested, in Shamayim they would have asked him why he didn't become the great Torah sage that he was able to become and write the sefer that he did. Does this imply that any Jew who enters into a profession other than that of being a rav will be held accountable, since every single Jew, according to the Rambam (Hilchot Shmitah 13:13), can choose a Torah profession if he tries hard enough? Moshe Peretz Mann, |
| 78. | Q. Literally, what does "SHEMA" mean? Ta Shema Odoms, |
| 77. | Q. I recently
decided to try a therapy session for a phobia with a practitioner
that utilizes Oriental Chakra energy healing and also utilizes meditation.
When I arrived at the office, I noticed that there were 2 statues
of Buddhas. I voiced my discomfort about this, and I was assured that there was no religious orientation to this approach (Pranic Healing) and I was told that the buddhas, were gifts from students. All that I have read about this approach has led me to agree that there is no religious orientation.After the session, I confirmed this to be true, and that the approach had no reference to this. Is there any problem for a Jew to be in a room where there are statues of Buddhas? Additional question.The session utilized a meditation tape that includes repeating a mantra. Is this problematic? When I conveyed that I was not entirely comfortable with this approach, I was told that the next therapy session could be done without it. Any further thoughts or comments? Henry Netzer, |
| 76. | Q. How did the current custom develop that all those who say
kaddish do so Yisrael Kaniel, |
| 75. | Q. My wife
has a habit that really bothers me. She ALWAYS leaves a little Anonymous |
| 74. | Q. If one
boils potatoes before Shabbat so that they are fully cooked and Miriam, |
| 73. | Q. Can one use any kind of contact lens solution on Shabbos? Thank you very much. C.Yerachmiel & Shany |
| 72. | Q. In raising
children, at what ages and how much do we separate the boys from
the girls? Is there a difference in how much they are separated
for religious purposes and secular/social/educational purposes?
My daughter (currently age 4) loves to come with me to shul. At
what age does that become inappropriate? One specific point I wanted
to ask was regarding Kol Na'arim on Simchat Torah. I happened to
be in a shul where not only my four year old daughter was not allowed
under the chuppah, but neither was my seventh month old daughter.
How does the Rav hold in his community and why? Anonymous |
| 71. | Q. Two questions
regarding infants on Shabbat. Secondly, in my previous community, I was told that it was okay
to wind up a manual baby swing. In my new community, I was told
that this is prohibited. How does the Rav hold on this isssue. In
addition, would it make a difference if the manual swing has a little
diplay on it that tells if the swing is fully wound or half Anonymous |
| 70. | Q. I have
been told different opinions regarding the use of deodorizing/sanitizing
agents on Shabbat that are activated during flushing. Usually, they
change the color of the water to blue. Is this a problem? In additon,
many of them start off as a solid until the water running over them
activates them. Would this be a problem? Anonymous |
| 69. | Q. In kabbala and in certain tyupes of chassidus, there is a lot written about the sitra achara (evil side) that gives power to all bad things committed. How is this different, from lehavdil, the Christian concept of "the Devil made me do it"? Moshe Peretz Mann, |
| 68. | Q. If one sees offensive anti-Arab posters in the street, is he forbidden to remove them since they are public property, or is it recommended to remove them since they incite anger and violence against Jews? |
| 67. | Q. In this
week's parsha, Lech Lecha, some questions came up for me that are
really bothering me. I don't want to sound like an apikorus for
asking them, but I need Avraham Avinu is known as Ish Chessed - the paradigm of caring and charity. We are to learn about the Chessed of Hashem through the Chessed of Avraham Avinu. So it seems strange to me that upon his descent to Mitzrayim, he would put Sarah in such a terrible position, and ultimately causing her to be in the postition to become violated by the gentiles. Even though it didn't happen in the end, Was Avraham allowed to rely on the miracle that Sarah would be safe? And how are we to understand his statement, "that it may go well with me." It seems to be pointing to greed, not chessed. Please, Rabbi, Clarify this for me! Thank you very much. Bill Franklin, |
| 66. | Q. When the chosson and kallah walk down the aisle at their chasuna is it halachicly required for those in attendance to stand for them? If so, what is the required procedure for doing so? Is there a difference between standing for the choson vs. the kallah. Shmuel Schuman, |
| 65. | Q. Is skin considerd halakicly edible (ie, when ones lips are peeling)? Suri Brebam, |
| 64. | Q. What is
the best way to halachically dispose of finger/toe nails? Is there
any Thank you. Anonymous |
| 63. | Q. Obviously, we are not allowed to celebrate Halloween. However, are we required, permitted, or prohibited from handing out candy to children who may knock on the door? David |
| 62. | Q. I have
heard that if a Sefer Torah falls to the ground, everyone present
must fast Levi, |
| 61. | Q. Regarding question #36 (about the stray cats) We also have a problem with cats. Are children have "adopted"
a few of the stray cats in our neighborhood. One of them has even
adopted us, so it seems, and spends all of it's day hanging around
our house, waiting to be fed. Now they just brought a brand new,
tiny kitten home, which looks like it's about to die. David, |
| 60. | Q. Please can you explain to me why we the Jews are described as the chosen nation? Anonymous, |
| 59. | Q. My 5 year old son just asked me yesterday if Adam Harishon was a tzaddik or not? What does the Rav say? Yehoshua, |
| 58. | Q. What if any source is there for the custom that many frum Jews have of sitting or just lifting themselves slightly when a person who gets an aliya for krias haTorah says Borchu? Taz, Magen Avraham and Mishna Brura all say one should stand for the recitation of Borchu of an oleh la-Torah? Yisrael Kaniel, |
| 57. | Q. Can you explain the segulot in connection to Raziel Hamalach? Charna |
| 56. | Q. I want
to go to Israel for a year to learn Torah, but the only redeeming
factor of Anonymous, |
| 55. | Q. Certain
Orthodox groups claim that it is halachicly permissible for women
to Moshe Peretz Mann, |
| 54. |
Q. Anonymous |
| 53. | What is the Torah's (or your interperetation of the Torah's) view on donating organs to save people's lives after one has passed away? I heard that it's not supposed to be done halachically, but it seems that if it could be used to save a life, and that is supposedly a supreme Jewish ideal, that it should be encouraged. Paul S , |
| 52. | Which is the first "holy day" menioned in the torah reading for Sukkot? Whitney or Vered, |
| 51. | After listening ot your answer to question #3, I was wondering where is the prohibition for Jews to emigrate to Israel en masse. David |
| 50. | I heard the following question: The Dor Hamidbar, despite witnessing the Splitting of the Red Sea and Giving of the Torah, did not have emunah in Hashem when it came to the Spies, while many people alive today, having witnessed the horrors of the Holocaust, have actually strengthened their emunah. Doesn't this fact conflict with the concept of yeridas hadoros (generational decline), that our generation is "less spiritual" than previous generations? Moshe Peretz Mann, |
| 49. | We have all heard the stories of people jumping from the WTC. Suicide is prohibited, but in the case where you have a raging fire on one side and a 100 story jump on the other, are we allowed to make a decision what to do, which way we prefer to die? And if it seems that death is imminent, is there a preference of jumping rather than burning so that there would be a body to bury? How would we go about halachically making such a decision (assuming even having the presence of mind to do such in this situation)? Do we consider the fire to be 100% sure-death and jumping only 99.9% (or vice vesa)? Since by jumping, I am shortening my life by minutes, is this suicide? Are there other situations where suicide would be permissible or even required? How does this relate to the stories of Masada and Gamla? By halachic standards, were these heroes of Jewish history or otherwise? We have heard similar stories of Jews taking their lives in the Holocaust rather than risking humiliating acts or horrible suffering. I do not wish to judge any of these people in the situations they were in, but I am interested in the halachic approach and if the halacha takes into account one's emotions at that time. Thank you. David |
| 48. | What Bracha does one make on popcorn? |
| 47. | Q. Ruben, |
| 46. | My sha'aloh
concerns a peron who is hard of hearnig and uses a hearing Is there any requirement for him to remove his hearing aid when
he blows. |
| 45. | Every book I have seen shows the Shofar being blown at the end of N'ila....before Maariv. Is it permissible to blow at the end of Maariv instead of Ne'ila ? Eliezer ben Zvi Ha Levi, |
| 44. | How does one make her parents understand and accept her beliefs and way of life, if her parents are not religious and disagree with some of her actions? Thank you! Elisheva Peyrus, |
| 43. | Is it okay
to 'Spam' email addresses of people you don't know to ask Sholom Rothman,
There was an email list I belonged to where the woman disclosed the email addresses of the subscribers by accident. She was very worried because of the halachic issues involved and had to speak to a Rav b/c of the gezel hadaat that people could do by making use of private email addresses they were not entitled to use. Naturally, there was nothing she could do to fix it besides pleading with all people on the list not to commit gezel hadaat or any of the other possible misdoings that are possible with people's email addresses. In addition, I pay for my minutes on the Internet, and it is not right for someone to cause me whatever extra time that I am needing to pay for, no matter what the cause. |
| 42. | I understand
the concept on Torah Shebaal Peh.. how can there be 2 different opinions on a Halachic matter and both of them be 100% true? Is "Shivim Panim Latorah" the only way to explain? In addition? if someone wanted to chose a Rabbi to guide them with
their Rachel, |
| 41. | Where do
I begin to study the word of God? Living in the U.S. I have
|
| 40. | Q. I heard somewhere that the Chofetz Chaim was left handed, and when he was 93, he taught himself to be right handed, because he was a Cohein, and being left handed is considered a moom, and in order to serve in the Beis Hamikdash, he needed to be without a moom. Is this story true, and if so, why is being a leftie considered a moom? Thank you very much, and tizke limitzvos! Naftali Tzvi Krochmal
|
| 39. | Q. Hello, I am B'nai Noah who is considering conversion to Judaism and I would like to know if it is possible to kosher my dishes, pots & cutlery. Is there a difference depending on a type of material example metal glass corning ware etc? Lila, |
| 38. | Q. Why do the laws of loshon hara specifically apply only to speaking evil about yidden as is stated "lo selech rachil b'amecha". Wouldn't speaking loshon hara about a goy promote hatred and violate the concept of darkei shalom? In addition if one can freely speak loshon hara about a goy, wouldn't it accustom a person to speaking gossip and make it easier for him to speak about a yid? Anonymous |
| 37. | Q. Why is it so important for people to have many children? I feel so pressured by my community to go on having more children (we have 4 already, Baruch Hashem), but I feel as though the more children we have, the less attention we are able to give each child, and it bothers me when I'm not able to give each of my chidren the attention they deserve. That's in addition to the financial strain it seems to cause, which causes stress and friction (in my house at least). Why is quantity stressed, sometimes at the cost of quality in child rearing in the Frum community? Tizke l'Mitzvos! Anonymous, |
| 36. | Q. I've been taught that it's against halacha to neuter or spay animals. Why is this? If it's because it's considered "tzaar baalei chaim", isn't it more cruel to allow the cat population, for example to multiply out of proportions and have hundreds of hungry stray cats prowling the streets, and as they do to my apartment occasionally, sneakning into people's homes and stealing (or touching) expensive food, breaking things, etc. What about the tzoris it causes people? It seems cruel to the cats, as well as to people. If it's because we are not supposed to "play G-d" and decide who multiplies and who doesn't (just an idea I had), doesn't Hashem give us the imperfect world to perfect? Animals don't have the sechel we have, work mainly on instinct, as far as I understand. We are doing for them what they can't do by themselves. By human beings, of course we don't have the right to decide, but it doens't seem like it should be the same with animals. After all...they're only animals. Thank you for your time. Pesach, |
| 35. | Q. Is it forbidden according to Jewish law to self-indulge in sexual pleasure of one's body? Anonymous, Boston, MA |
| 34. | Q. Why do some korbanos need to be brought as male animals, and some as female animals? Naftali Tzvi Krochmal |
| 33. | Q. Why don't we have to say a bracha achrona after smelling fragrances as we do after we eat? Karen Levy |
| 32. | Q. Is a Kohen permitted to visit a museum wherein a mummy is found a glass enclosed receptacle ? Anonymous |
| 31. | Q. The Talmud often refers to a type of person called an Am HaAretz, or ignoramus. Were these people basically good Jews who had much yiras shamayim and just lacked experise in a few halachot, or were they more like what you would call the "peanut gallery", to put it lightly? Moshe Peretz Mann, |
| 30. | Q. I am the mother of boys who are beginning yeshiva. I read with interest the question about homosexuals. I have heard that homosexuality is quite prevelant in yeshivas and have heard horror stories of bad things happening between talmidim, and even between rabbeim and talmidim. I am very concerned that my boys should not be drawn into this unfortunate way of life. Does the rabbi have any suggestions? |
| 29. | Q. I heard in one of your shiurim on Tisha B'av
(by the way, thank you for You spoke about listening to music made up of Jewish words sung to African tribal beats being so far away from anything Jewish, and should be avoided like the plague (or something like it). What about somebody like myself, growing up secular, very much into music (rock, pop, r&b, motown, etc.). When I was getting into Yiddishkeit, I listened alot to music from Shlock Rock, and some similar bands, because I stopped listening to alot of stuff I used to, this filled a gap, I liked the way it sounded, and I liked the messages the songs taught, and I felt it was positive for me. In a way, it was part of what brought me closer to Torah Judaism. How do we know what authentic Jewish music is? If I don't like the "frum" stuff (MBD, Fried, Mendi, M endy, chazzanut,)does that make me less Jewish/Frum, etc.? Should I train myself to like them? If I like music with a(n African) beat, does it mean I'm way off track? Thank you. |
| 28. | Q.
|
| 27. | Q.
Does the concept of Da'as Torah mean
that we must accept any obscure political comment that every Gadol
HaDor ever made as being Torah MiSinai? e.g. I heard that the Chazon
Ish said that Abraham Lincoln was killed as a punishment for freeing
the blacks. If I don't accept that comment, am I considered a heretic
for denying Torah She'Baal Peh? Thank you. Moshe Peretz Mann, |
| 26. | Q.
I
would like to piggy-back on question #14
regarding drinking coffee from a vending machine. I asked the following
question to ou online: A coffee machine that gets the coffee from
a little sealed cup that is inserted and then combines it with hot
water which then pours out into your cup from one spout. Some of
the flavors are kosher and some not, is one permitted to drink a
kosher product or not, since the non-kosher flavors comes out from
the same place? They answered me as followed: Rabbi Belsky, has
ruled that any possible non-kosher ingredient has become Botul.
And so if your machine is used for coffee only you may use it to
get kosher coffee. What is the Rov's opinion? Yitzi Padawer, |
| 25. | Q.
This
question is a bit gross, but important for me know the If a person bites and swallows their nails or cuticles, should they first say a brocha? is it considered to be cannibalism? How much time should one wait before eating milchig? |
| 24. | Q.
I had just
cut up, and was just about to serve my husband some mango. I suddenly
realized that he'd have to say "Shechechyanu", since he
hasn't eaten any yet this year, and we're not supposed to say "Shechcheyanu" now since it's the 9 days. Is it better not to eat the fruit, yet be over on "bal tashchis", or is it better to eat it and be over on saying "Shechecheyanu"? Or is it not even considered "bal tashchis" because it's being done l'shem mitzvah? Thank you. |
| 23. | Q.
Regarding
question #11; Binyamin Lemkin, |
| 22. | Q.
Dear
Rabbi; I have the impression that Orthodox Jews believe that their version of Judaism is the only valid version. Is this true, and can you explain why they feel that way? Thank
you. |
| 21. | Q. Regarding question #9 which I asked about what to do if I arrive just as the Shaliach tzibur. The Rav said I should say it word for word together with the tzibbur. I tried doing this, and find it extremely distracting. I can't have nearly as much kavanna than when I daven it alone. Isn't with kavana the ultimate way to daven? Would I be doing an aveira, or getting less schar for the mitzva if I do it the way I feel I have more kavana? Thank you. |
| 20. | Q. I've
been checking my eggs for bloodspots ever since I learned that halacha.
But it just dawned on me that we may eat hardboiled eggs without
checking them for blood before we boil them. Was is this Another question: Thank you very much. |
| 19. | Q. What's your opinion on going to the army. Is it forbidden, frowned upon, tolerated, encouraged or admired? I can see the most promising yeshiva students being exempted. There are today so many people learning Torah, if we let the top 10% learn without going to the army, and everyone else did a certain amount (even short) of time in the army, would that make a Kiddush Hashem, and the yeshiva students could go and have a positive effect on the rest of the population. It seems, in my humble estimation, that we could do alot more good that way. Thank you for your time. Reuvein
Schneider, |
| 18. | Q. The suicide bombing Moslems, who do their dastardly deed "in the name of G-d", truly believe that what they are doing is right. They feel like they are being mekadesh shem shamayim (Sanctifying G-d's name) by murdering as many Jews as they can while making the ultimate self sacrifice by giving up their lives, and thereby sending themselves straight to Heaven. Does G-d when he judges them, take into consideration the fact that they all seem to be doing what they do leshaim shamayim (In the name of G-d)? C.
S., |
| 17. | Q. Is there a problem offering a non Torah observant Jew something to eat, knowing that they won't make a bracha before or after eating it? If it's bread, is it different, since birkat hamazon is d'oraita? Would kavod habrios or v'ahavta lreiacha kmocha, or lifnei iveir, Kiddush/chilul Hashem come into it at all? Yocheved
Kahn , |
| 16. | Q. Is it better to live in Eretz Yisrael if you have to stop learning full time and go to work, or, if there is an opportunity to learn in Chutz La'aretz full time and teach should one go to Chutz La'aretz or stay in Eretz Yisrael and be Mikayeim the Mitzvah of yishuv ha'aretz and all the Mitzvos Taluyim b'aretz? Anonymous |
| 15. | Q. My sister has become Orthodox. I want to be able to understand why she does all the (seemingly strange) stuff she does. One big question I have, which she hasn't been able to explain to me, is why it's so important to keep the Shabbat the way she does. It's supposed to be a day to rest and relax, and instead of having fun, she's cooped up in the house all day with so many children who can't do this, and can't do that. Why do they seem so uptight about everything, and is this normal? Thank
you very much for your time. D.K., |
| 14. | Q. Shalom, Rabbi, and thank you for providing this opportunity. In the office where I work, there's a coffee machine that sells coffee, tea, cappuchino, espress, etc. It tastes great, and is heavily subsidised, so I drink alot of the stuff and it keeps me going. My question is like this: If I have a shwarma for lunch, can I drink an espresso (or any of the coffee for that matter) without milk? Or is there a problem with milk & meat, even though I pressed the "coffee with sugar, no milk" button? The machine belongs to the "Mashkar" company, and sells Elite coffee. The # I saw on the machine was 1800-221-319. I wouldn't know what to ask, but I was hoping that the Rabbi could check this out for me. Thank you. Yoel
Naiman , |
| 13. | Q. While it is forbidden to pray in front of a mirror, what if the mirror is located to one's side ? Also, what about praying in front of a large window or glass door where one's reflection can be seen ? Dr.
Gary Roth |
| 12. | Q. There's something about the Bible that's been bothering me for a long time, and I was wondering if you could answer my question. There
seems to be a curse in the Bible against black people, from the
time of Noah and Ham. What does that mean? Are all black people
cursed? What does the curse mean? How can I explain to my black
friends that we Jews consider them "cursed"? Wasn't Moses
married to a black woman (someone told me the Bible, in its original
Hebrew, says he married an "isha kushite" which means
a black woman? How can we understand that the Bible condones slavery,
and doesn't let us even set a slave free? What are the differences
between a Jewish slave and a Cananaite slave? Craig |
| 11. | Q. Do
you feel that Rabbi Kahane was correct regarding the mitzvah to
transfer our enemies? Binyamin
Lemkin, |
| 10. | Q.
Tzitzit and
the issue of "Taaseh VeLo Min HeAsui": If the
fringis on my tzitzit get ruined, may I put on new strings on the
same garment? Also, if the strings on my Is
one allowed to shorten the length of the "Retzuot"
of ones Tefilin (because their length is uncomfortable)? Shem-Tov
Shapiro, |
| 9. | Q. If I come to mincha late, just as the chazzan is about to start chazaras hashatz, what do I do? Should I start davening when he starts the chazara, and try to get up to Kedusha with the kahal, or should I say kedusha with the Kahal and then start 18? What about ma'ariv? If they're just about to start davening, and I just showed up, should I say 18 with them, then go back and to brachas and krias shema, or daven in the regular order? Thank
you very much for your time. Shloime
Horowitz. |
| 8. | Q. I heard that in the end of days, there's supposed to be a big war between the Jews and the Christians and Moslems. It seems like we're at the beginning of such a war. What's supposed to happen, and what can we do about it? Why does God make it so there have to be so much death, killing, war, etc? Isn't He supposed to be a God of Peace? Bart Green, |
| 7. | Q. I've heard it said (I think I read it in one of your divrei Torah) that when we go to the next world, we will be shown a "video" of everything we did and said in this world. What if we do tshuva? Will we still have to sit through such a horror movie? Mordechai
Berkowitz, |
| 6. | Q. Why does the entire world seem to hate us? Why did the Christians hate us more in the past, and now it's the Moslems? Why are the Europeans so against us? Karen Rosenthal,
|
| 5. | Q. If we as Jews leave the world as we entered it, how do we account for circumcision and leaving a bit behind?!!! Tony Goodson, |
| 4. | Q.
Hi, Rabbi. I
recently went to a bar-mitzva at an Orthodox temple and And
I also noticed that alot of the men wouldn't even shake Can
you explain why there's so much separation between the Thank you for your time. |
| 3. | Q. Dear
Rabbi, Please could you explain to me the reason that since the Jewish
people have returned to their land you:- 1. Allow the mosque to be on your holiest site, the Temple mount and not build your Temple? 2. Don't handle your security problems once and for all not fearing the world response and putting their faith in Gods salvation. Especially since Israel has a very strong army? 3. Why do religious, even ultra-orthodox Jews stay in exile? what, don't they see the hand of God in this past centuries events? One answer I was given was that you are waiting for the Messiah to come, then you will do all of this. I find it hard to believe, that you cannot behave as Gods people until he comes. If this is true, please tell me where it says so in the Bible. I'm sorry if I am being rude, but I can't understand that since so many of your people are being killed daily why is there no outcry, where are your spiritual leaders? why are they not shaking heaven and earth when so much blood is being spilt? Don't you realize that by your silence you are causing a great shame on your God? If you act as you are, how do you expect to convince the world that you are the chosen people? A Jewish friend of mine told me that the ultra-Orthodox world is still behaving the same way it always has, except now they say more Psalms than usual. What about "thou shall not stand idly by thy brothers blood"? Is this really what God wants? Many things are happening now in the world, please give me some clarity/guidance, for you do claim to be God's chosen people. Thank you, |
| 2. |
Q. We have fruit trees that were planted during the year 1999 (after Tu B'Shvat and before Pesach). When are the fruits non-Orla? I thought that the year for trees and their fruit is counted according to Rosh HaShana, but my husband thinks that for fruit it might be counted from Tu B'Shvat. Yocheved Desnick, |
| 1. | Q. If Shavuos is the time we received the Torah, why don't we start reading it then? Why, instead, do we start reading the Torah on Simchas Torah/Shmini Atzeres? Anonymous |