Severity of vows, swears, and promises: One is not to be accustomed in making vows. One who makes a vow, even if he fulfills it, is called a Rasha and a sinner.[1] One who makes a vow is considered like one who built a Bama at a time that building […]
From the Rav’s Desk: Reciting Yehi Ratzon by Tehillim on Shabbos Mevarchim
Question: [Sunday, 26th Sivan, 5781] Is one to recite the Yehi Ratzon after each book of Tehillim on Shabbos Mevarchim if he is saying it without a Minyan? Answer: In such a case, there is no need to say it after each book of Tehillim, although if one desires to, […]
The Mitzvah of Techeiles-Back then & in today’s times
The Mitzvah of Techeiles-Back then & in today’s times:[1] As stated in the verse, the Biblical Mitzvah of Tzitzis requires that the Tzitzis strings contain both a set of white strings and a set of Techeiles strings. These two colors of string are all included within the same single Mitzvah […]
Mentioning Eliyahu Hanavi on Motzei Shabbos
Mentioning Eliyahu Hanavi on Motzei Shabbos:[1] It is accustomed to mention [the name of] Eliyahu Hanavi on Motzei Shabbos after Havdala[2] as a prayer that he should come and proclaim the redemption.[3] Eliyahu Hanavi writes the merits of the Jewish people:[4] During the time of Motzei Shabbos, Eliyahu Hanavi […]
From the Rav’s desk: 1) May one answer Amen in middle of Shanyim Mikra? 2) Getting a Covid vaccine on Shabbos.
Question: [Thursday, 23rd Sivan 5781] I was reciting Shnayim Mikra in Shul and heard Kaddish from the early Mincha Gedola minyan. May/Must I answer Amen and if I do then do I have to restart the Shnayim Mikra? Answer: Yes, you may choose to answer Amen to Kaddish or to […]
From the Rav’s Desk: Geniza to printed papers of Torah that were never studied from or no longer have a use
Question: [Tuesday, 22nd Sivan, 5781] I printed about 100 pages of a certain Torah file for the sake of distributing during a lecture and I have about 20 extra pages which were not distributed and not used or read from. Must I put it into Geniza, or can I simply […]
Writing the family name of the Chasan/Kallah/Witnesses in the Kesuba
Writing the family name of the Chasan/Kallah/Witnesses in the Kesuba: One is not to write the family name in a Get and so is the custom.[1] Nevertheless, some Poskim[2] rule that by a Kesuba, in addition to writing the names and the father’s names of the Chasan and Kallah, one […]
From the Rav’s desk: 1) May one touch his socks in middle of Davening? 2) Speaking before taking three steps back in Shemoneh Esrei
Question: [Tuesday, 21st Sivan, 5781] If I have an itch on my foot during Davening, am I allowed to itch myself through my sock [i.e. On top of my sock] or would this make me be required to wash my hands afterwards? Answer: Yes, it is permitted for you […]
Answering Amen to Kaddish if not ending at same time
How is one to answer Amen to Kaddish if more than one person is saying Kaddish and they are not saying it simultaneously?[1] If they do not conclude the stanzas in Kaddish simultaneously, and there is an interval of Kdei Dibbur between the two conclusions of the blessing, then one […]
Using and practicing Non-conventional medicine-Part 3-Hashkafah
Hashkafa: Should one follow after the permitted non-conventional treatments that work based on Segula? Despite the Halachic permission granted under fulfillment of the above conditions to perform treatments that do not work in accordance to medical science but rather Segula, the Poskim have denigrated its use in certain instances. The […]
