Lock the Aron Kodesh

Hi,

One may not leave a Torah scroll in an unlocked, unguarded Aron Kodesh [Ark], if there is any concern that it might be stolen and/or degraded. This would not be appropriate for the honor of the Torah scroll.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:21:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Leaning for tachanun without a Torah in the Aron

Hi,

If there is a Sefer Torah in the room, one leans when reciting tachanun - even if the Torah is not kept in the aron kodesh (ark).

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:21:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Prayer on an airplane

Hi,

One who is on an airplane and will have trouble reciting the Amidah while standing, such as due to distraction, may sit. One should rise only before the points at which one bows.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:20)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Learning during chazarat hashatz (the repetition of the amidah)

Hi,

One should not learn Torah during the repetition of the amidah. There are a few concerns:

1. At least 10 men must pay attention to every word of the amidah;

2. All of those who are present are obligated to pay attention to the end of each berachah and answer Amen;

3. Even if there are ten who pay attention to every word, and even if the one who is learning is careful to pay attention sufficiently to answer Amen, others may misunderstand and assume that all learning is permitted.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:19)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

"Sim shalom" confusion

Hi,

One who begins to say Sim Shalom at minchah or maariv, instead of Shalom Rav, should continue with Sim Shalom even if he has not yet said Gd's Name.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:18)

[The opposite error, in which one substitutes Shalom Rav for Sim Shalom, is somewhat more complicated; see Rav Moshe's responsum for more.]

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Fishbowls on Shabbat

Hi,

One may not move fishbowls on Shabbat. The fish inside are muktzeh, and the bowl is their designated location.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:16)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Thirty days before Pesach

Hi,

One is supposed to begin learning the laws of Pesach thirty days before the holiday, so please look in the sidebar for Pesach links! Bonus points if you read any of them aloud at your Purim Seudah.

And a special note from my friend and successor at Congregation Sons of Israel in Allentown, Rabbi David Wilensky:

Congregation Sons of Israel will begin sending a daily video of the dvar torah shared after minyan each morning! This is an exciting new initiative which will enable everyone to feel as though they are attending shul even if they may be unable to do so. All members of our email list will receive this video for the next five days. If you are interested in continuing to receive the daily video after the five days, please email me and you will be included on the video email list. Additionally, if there are people who are not members of our shul who you feel would be interested in being on this email list, feel free to let me know. The videos are available at http://www.sonsofisrael.net.

חג פורים שמח,
Mordechai