Question: [Thursday 14th Kisleiv 5782] I was in middle of saying a blessing of Hamotzi by the Shabbos table when one of my small children started talking in middle, and I shushed him up to be quiet. I didn’t actually say any words but simply said to him “Shah.” Is […]
Seeing the moon-If the moon is covered by clouds may one recite Kiddush Levana
Seeing the moon-If the moon is covered by clouds may one recite Kiddush Levana? A. Obligation to benefit from the moon light: The blessing over the new moon may only be said at night when the moon shines and one thus benefits from its light.[1] It must shine to the […]
From the Rav’s Desk: Reheating in Pareve oven a Pareve food that was originally cooked in meat oven
Question: [Wednesday, 13th Kisleiv, 5782] I originally baked a potato Kugel in a fleishig oven, and would like to know if I am allowed to reheat it in a Pareve oven, and what is the law if I ready did so, does my oven remain Pareve. Answer: If your meat […]
Traveling Restrictions-Returning home after already leaving the house, if one forgot something
Traveling restrictions-Returning home after already leaving the house, if one forgot something: Example: I left my house to go to work and realized I left something at home. May I return home to get it? What if I left my house in order to catch a flight, and realized I […]
From the Rav’s Desk: Having a drink in a non-religious home using their cups
Question: [Tuesday, 12th Kisleiv 5782] I often visit nonreligious families in their homes as part of my Shlichus work and it quite often occurs that I am offered a drink [of tea or coffee or water or soda] in one of their cups, either Glass or porcelain [i.e. China]. Is […]
Making sure that the Yud of your Tefillin Shel Yad remains Kosher
Making sure that the Kesher of the Yud of your Tefillin Shel Yad remains Kosher:[1] It is a Halacha from Moshe on Sinai that a knot in the shape of the letter Yud be formed by the Tefillin Shel Yad after the straps have been entered into its Mabarta. This […]
From the Rav’s Desk: Plucking grass in Eretz Yisrael during shemita
Question: [Monday 11th Kisleiv 5782] We were sitting on the lawn in a city in Israel playing with the grass and plucking it out when someone told us that you can’t do that during shemita. Is this correct? Answer: It is definitely proper to avoid plucking grass during Shemita. […]
The Segula of reciting the Mizmor of “Lamnatzeiach Ye’ancha” during pregnancy
The Segula of reciting the Mizmor of “Lamnatzeiach Ye’ancha” during pregnancy prior to retiring to sleep:[1] Throughout all the days of a woman’s pregnancy, the husband[2] is to say the Psalm of Lamnatzei’ach Ya’ancha [Kappitle 20, printed between Ashreiy and Uva Letziyon] prior to sleep. Repeating the last verse: At […]
From the Rav’s Desk: Learning Torah in one’s mind during Chazaras Hashatz
Question: [Sunday, 10th Kisleiv, 5782] During Chazaras Hashatz, is it permitted for one to learn Torah in his mind without verbalizing the words, for example to review something by heart, or to look into a sefer without actually reading from it? Answer: Although there exists a Limud Zechus for those […]
Holding onto the handles of the Sefer Torah during the Aliyah-Why and how
Holding onto the handles of the Sefer Torah during the Aliyah-Why and how:[1] One holds on to the [handles[2], known as the Eitz Chaim, of the] Sefer Torah while saying the blessing [and during the reading[3]].[4] While saying the blessing he is to hold onto both handles, holding onto the […]
