From the Rav’s Desk: 1) Zoom Selichos? 2) Washing on Mezonos bread

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  1. Question: [Sunday 24th Elul, 5780]

May I recite Selichos over a Zoom Minyan?

 

Answer:

Yes, assuming what you mean by a Zoom Minyan. If there is a Kosher Minyan of ten Jews together in one physical area, then in such a case you may recite the Yud Gimel Midos Harachamim with the Minyan at the same time as they are reciting it. If, however, there is a number of seconds of delay between the “live” hookup and the actual events taking place, then you may not answer Amen to Kaddish. If there are not ten Jews in one area, then there is no Kosher Minyan even if ten Jews are on the zoom call and doing a virtual Minyan together, and the Yud Gimel Midos may not be said

 

Sources: See Admur 55:22; Yalkut Yosef Hilchos Rosh Hashanah footnote 7 for a great length on this subject; Birchas Aaron p. 242

  1. Question: [Monday 18th Elul, 5780]

Am I supposed to wash Netilas Yadayim prior to eating mezonos bread?

 

Answer:

This depends on how much you eat, and if you are satiated from the eating. If you eat less than the amount of Kevius Seudah to make it Hamotzi, then just like the blessing is Mezonos and Al Hamichya, so too there is no need to wash. One is dependent on the other, whenever one eats a small amount that its blessing is Mezonos, no washing is required, and whenever one eats enough to say Hamotzi, washing is required.

 

Sources: Seder Netilas Yadayim 19; Seder Birchas Hanehnin 2:2; Admur 158:1; Michaber 158:1; Rashba Toras Habayis; Taz and M”A 158:2

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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