Medicine to improve one's appetite

Hi,

One may take medicine on Shabbat if (1) he would otherwise suffer illness affecting his whole body (even without actual danger), or if (2) the medicine is normally consumed by healthy people as part of normal eating.

Therefore, one may not take medicine intended to improve one's appetite on Shabbat, unless it meets one of those two criteria.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:54)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Medicine for a secondary illness

Hi,

One who is permitted to take medication on Shabbat for a certain severe condition is not automatically permitted to take a separate medication on Shabbat for an unrelated, non-severe condition.

[Note: Rav Moshe elsewhere permits treatment of pain, where that pain might make healing from a dangerous condition more difficult. That must not be the case under discussion here.]

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:53)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Electric blankets on Shabbat

Hi,

One may use an electric blanket on Shabbat, assuming it was turned on before Shabbat. One may not adjust the temperature, though. One must also cover the controls as a reminder to keep him from adjusting them, and one must do something similar at the outlet as a reminder not to unplug it.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Orach Chaim 3:50)

חג אורים שמח,
Mordechai

Moving a fan or clock on Shabbat

Hi,

One may move a plugged-in electric clock or fan on Shabbat in order to use it in another location or in order to use the space in which it is currently located, so long as there is no risk of accidentally un-plugging it in the process.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:49)

חג אורים שמח,
Mordechai

Pinning a handkerchief to transport it

Hi,

One may not transport a cloth or handkerchief to one's clothing in order to be able to transport it on Shabbos in an area where there is no eruv. Granted that it is considered halachically attached to the garment, it is neither a garment nor an ornament in itself. Even if the cloth is intended for a mitzvah, this is prohibited.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:48)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Moch dachuk where there is no eruv

Hi,

A woman should not travel with a moch dachuk in an area where there is no eruv.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:47)

חג אורים שמח,
Mordechai

Sending a letter through the mail on Friday

Hi,

One should not put a letter in a mailbox on Friday in an area where it is likely that Jews work in the post office on Shabbat. This is not a problem if the likelihood is low, though, even if it is still a possibility.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:46)

[Note: This is only tangential to a more complex issue, regarding express letters and requesting work from non-Jews for Shabbat. There is much more to say on that topic.]

חג אורים שמח,
Mordechai

Bringing a gartel to shul without an eruv

Hi,

One who wishes to bring a gartel [special belt worn by some when praying] to the synagogue on Shabbat, without an eruv, is required to wear it as one would wear a normal belt, so that it is a standard garment. Therefore, one may neither wrap it around his chest and say it is to keep his tie in place, nor invent any other pseudo-use; only normal use as a garment or ornament is acceptable.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:46)

חג אורים שמח,
Mordechai

"Shel Chanukah"?

Hi,

Should the ending of the first blessing on the Chanukah candles be "l'hadlik ner shel Chanukah", "l'hadlik ner Chanukah", or "l'hadlik ner shelChanukah"?

There is considerable debate regarding the correct text for this berachah. Our edition of the gemara says "l'hadlik ner shel Chanukah", but some suggest that the original edition was just "ner Chanukah". Our edition of the Rambam says "shelChanukah" as one word, but other editions have it as "shel Chanukah", in two words.

For reasons both mystical and legal, many authorities say to recite "ner Chanukah", and this is the practice in much of the Sephardic world. However, some Ashkenazic communities customarily say "ner shel Chanukah". It is recommended that people retain their family customs, and contact the Rav if there is a need to institute a family custom.

(Shabbat 23a; Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Megilah v'Chanukah 3:4; Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 676:1; Sdei Chemed 8:Chanukah כ; Shoel v'Nishal 5:Orach Chaim 112; Ateret Paz I 2:Yoreh Deah 7; Yabia Omer 8:Orach Chaim 11)

Chanukah sameach,
Mordechai

Mixed-up blessings at Kiddush

Hi,

Regarding one who accidentally says the blessing of ShehaKol at Kiddush even though he is using wine or grape juice: He has fulfilled Kiddush, and no new blessing is required.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:45)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Turning around at "Bo'i b'Shalom"

Hi,

The explanations for why we turn around at the "Bo'i b'Shalom" paragraph of Lecha Dodi include the idea that we face west because the Shechinah is manifest there.

Therefore, if the shul's entrance is not in the west, we still turn to face west at "Bo'i b'Shalom".

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:45)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Self-adjusting lenses

Hi,

On Shabbat, one may wear photosensitive glasses which change their tint based on the level of sunlight to which they are exposed. This is neither a problem of 'fixing' them nor of 'coloring' them.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:45)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A light which a Jew will extinguish on Shabbat

Hi,

One may not turn on a light before Shabbat, even for a mitzvah like prayer, if he knows that a Jew will turn it off on Shabbat. However, one may turn it on if he is uncertain whether a Jew will turn it off.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:43)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Turning down the air conditioner on Shabbat

Hi,

If one's air conditioner is making one's home unbearably cold on Shabbat, one may have a non-Jew turn it off. This is because one is not expected to leave his home [as opposed to a synagogue], and because all are considered 'ill' when it comes to cold temperatures.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:42)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Words which are written one way and pronounced differently

Hi,

Regarding words which are spelled one way in the Torah and pronounced in a different way: One who is reading on behalf of the community's Torah reading obligation is required to look at the word as he reads it, as he does for all other words in the Torah, even though the spelling does not match the pronunciation.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:41)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Shnayim Mikra

Hi,

The obligation to review each week's Torah portion twice in the original text and once in translation applies to Shabbat readings, but not to Yom Tov readings.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:40)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Lighting the menorah if one will be out at a Chanukah party

Hi,

May I light the chanukiah at my family's Chanukah party?

One may not light at a Chanukah party located in another person's house. One who will return home after traffic outside his house has ceased should light before going to the party, after plag haminchah (3:47 PM in Thornhill at the start of Chanukah this year), assuming the chanukiah will remain lit until more than 30 minutes after the stars emerge.

If the above solution is not possible, one should have someone light in his home at the proper time, or one should light after returning from the party, making sure that someone else is awake to see his chanukiah.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 677:1; Mishneh Berurah 677:12, 679:2; Rivivot Ephraim 4:163:12, 16, 32)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Kiddush with a paper cup

Hi,

The cup used for kiddush must be whole and something people would admire. Therefore, a paper cup is not acceptable; it is disposable and not something people admire.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:39)

[I don't know how Rav Moshe would have addressed an ornate paper cup, protected by some form of laminate such that it could be used multiple times.]

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A husband's acceptance of Shabbat

Hi,

An individual within a community must accept Shabbat early when the community does, assuming there is no local congregation which will accept it closer to sunset.

A wife is not bound by her husband's acceptance of Shabbat; she may still perform melachah. However, she may not be permitted to perform melachah on his behalf.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:38)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Late for shul Friday night

Hi,

One who comes to shul Friday evening before sunset and sees that the shul has accepted Shabbat already and is up to maariv, may respond to Barchu at the start of maariv and then daven minchah only if he explicitly intended not to accept Shabbat with his response to Barchu.

Note that he would need to step out to daven minchah, so as not to veer from the communal acceptance of Shabbos.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:37)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

"New fruits" which are available all year long

Hi,

Fruit which is not naturally available all year long, and which is eaten more for pleasure than for nutrition, warrants a Shehechiyanu blessing if one has it for the first time that season - even if it is accessible via import all year.

However, it might be wise to minimize use of this blessing, since authorities have recommended that and since the blessing is optional.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:34)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Order of hand-washing for bread

Hi,

One should wash his right hand first when washing netilat yadayim for a meal. It is true that Kav haYashar (Rav Tzvi Hirsch Kaidanover, 1705) recommended that one wash the left first, for mystical reasons, but this is a minority view and it is not echoed by the normal halachic authorities.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:32)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

How much pat haba'ah b'kisnin triggers HaMotzi?

Hi,

We have learned that one who eats פת הבאה בכיסנין pat haba'ah b'kisnin, a type of grain-based bread which is not considered 'normal' bread in the eyes of Jewish law, need not wash beforehand and recite HaMotzi and Birkat haMazon. This may apply to pizza, for example.

However: One who eats a volume of pat haba'ah b'kisnin which is equal to the volume of bread consumed in a normal meal - as determined by the general practice in that society - is required to wash and recite HaMotzi and Birkat haMazon.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:32)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A housekeeper washing dishes on Shabbos

Hi,

May my non-Jewish housekeeper wash my dishes on Shabbos, beyond those needed for that day?

One may ask a non-Jew to wash the dishes without violating a melachah of Shabbos [for example, without a sponge and without heating water]. The only prohibition against a Jew doing the washing himself would be that of undue strain on Shabbos, and one may ask a non-Jew to engage in strenuous activity which does not involve prohibited melachah.

Permitting a non-Jew to wash in a way which violates a melachah of Shabbos – heating water on Shabbat, for example - is problematic. We are concerned for marit ayin – onlookers may not realize that the non-Jew is doing this on his own. This is subject to debate among recent halachic authorities.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 307:21; Tzemach Tzedek Orach Chaim 32-33; Mishneh Berurah 244:30; Shemirat Shabbat k'Hilchatah 30:31-32; Teshuvos v'Hanhagos 1:Orach Chaim 223)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Chanukah!

Hi,

With Chanukah coming up in a few weeks, here are links to past posts on different laws of Chanukah:

Menorah Lighting

Menorah Lighting on Friday and on Motzaei Shabbat

Recitation of "Al haNisim"

Recitation of Hallel

The Torah Reading for Chanukah

Please note that any lighting-times mentioned in those emails were for Allentown and for a different year.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Erasing a recording that includes Gd's Name

Hi,

By the letter of the law, one may erase a magnetic tape recording that includes Gd's Name, since no visible letters are present. However, one should avoid doing so directly, because of appearances; one may cause it indirectly.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:31)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The berachah for chocolate-covered raisins

Hi,

When eating chocolate-covered raisins, one really ought to recite separate blessings for the chocolate and the raisins. Ideally, the blessing on the raisins should be recited first, so one should recite a blessing on a separate raisin first.

One who does not have a separate raisin should recite the Shehakol berachah for the chocolate, keeping in mind that this does not exempt the raisin from its berachah, and bite in. Then one should recite a separate ha'Eitz berachah for the raisin, and bite in.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:31)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Synagogue artwork

Hi,

One should not pray opposite clothes with designs, or artwork, which might distract him.

(Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 90:23)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

During the repetition of the Amidah

Hi,

"The acharonim [late authorities of Jewish law] wrote that it is also appropriate to hold an open siddur during repetition of the amidah, so that one's ears will be open to that which the chazan says."

(Mishneh Berurah 96:9)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Synagogue dedications

Hi,

Two rules:

1. A synagogue may not sell the same dedication twice.

2. A synagogue may change its method of commemorating dedications without soliciting permission from donors, so that they may stop listing donors on the dedicated items, and instead list them on a wall plaque.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:26)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Calling a Yisrael instead of a Kohen

Hi,

[I've never seen this done, but:]

On Mondays and Thursdays in a shul with sparse minyan attendance, one may call a Yisrael for the first aliyah even with a Kohen present, assuming the Kohen permits it. This will not apply for Shabbat and Yom Tov, though.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:20)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Jaywalking

Hi,

May I "jaywalk", crossing a street against the light or outside of a crosswalk?

There is great debate as to the power of civil government within the principle of dina d'malchuta dina. Some authorities contend this is limited to financial matters, while others include all civil issues in their legislative powers. [Of course, no one assigns the government authority to require violation of Torah.] Therefore, the inclusion of jaywalking prohibitions in dina d'malchuta is debatable.

However, all authorities acknowledge the mitzvah of v'nishmartem m'od l'nafshoteichem, requiring that a Jew guard his life; we are stricter regarding possible loss of life than regarding possible violation of Jewish law. Therefore, one is obligated to refrain from crossing a street in a situation which might possibly involve danger. Further, one must be particularly careful around children, lest one teach them a behaviour which they might emulate in an unsafe situation.

(Dina d'Malchuta: Bava Kama 60b, 113a; Bava Batra 8b; Rashi to Gittin 9a chutz; Ran Nedarim 28a; Hilchot Zechiyah uMatanah 1:15; Ramban to Bereishit 34:13; Danger: Chullin 10a; Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 116; She'eilat Shlomo 2:413; http://www.yeshiva.org.il/ask/?id=45)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

In the absence of a baal keriah

Hi,

If a minyan lacks someone who can read from the Torah with the notes, they should have someone read without the notes, making sure that he pauses at the end of each pasuk, and ideally at each etnachta as well.

The minyan should not use someone who looks back and forth between a chumash and the Torah text, lest he end up reciting the text from memory instead of from the Torah.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:19)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Duchening on Yom Kippur which is also Shabbat

Hi,

Kohanim should perform Birchat Kohanim on Yom Tov and Yom Kippur even if those occur on Shabbat.

The Magen Avraham (128:70) does offer two explanations to justify the practice of refraining from Birchat Kohanim on Yom Tov which is also Shabbat - 1) Concern that people might say the supplicative paragraphs inserted in Birchat Kohanim, which should not be recited on Shabbat, and 2) Concern that the kohanim may have been with their wives the night before, and will not have gone to mikvah in the interim. However, neither point is irrelevant for Yom Kippur, when one may recite those paragraphs and when procreation is prohibited.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:18)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Birkat Kohanim

Hi,

It is clear that kohanim are obligated to offer a blessing in Birkat Kohanim (aka duchening); according to some, the non-kohanim present are obligated to remain present and accept that blessing.

Even according to the view that non-kohanim are obligated to accept the blessing, the opening berachah (אשר קדשנו בקדושתו של אהרן) is only upon the mitzvah of the kohanim, and not of the rest of the minyan. Therefore, the listeners could, theoretically, say "Baruch Hu uVaruch Shmo" in their response to the berachah, without that response constituting an interruption. However, we avoid this lest their be any disturbance at all in the course of Birkat Kohanim.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:17)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Making sure there is a minyan

Hi,

Men associated with a particular synagogue are obligated to make sure there is a minyan in that synagogue for each prayer, rather than pray elsewhere.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:16)

[Note: Rav Moshe does not make clear what 'associated' means in this responsum.]

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Entering a hotel room with an electronic key

Hi,

May I have a non-Jew open my hotel room with an electronic key on Shabbat?

Most authorities rule that use of such a key violates at least rabbinic law, and so one may not tell a non-Jew to use it on Shabbat. Further, one may not benefit directly from melachah performed by a non-Jew on Shabbat. However, leniencies are offered for a case of need:

• I may tell the concierge, upon checking in, that this service is required in order to make my stay possible. When he makes the arrangement, it is with his own good in mind.

• If a non-Jewish hotel employee opens my door on his own, without any instruction, I may enter the room if necessary. This is because my benefit is considered 'indirect', and because the employee does it with his own good in mind. Some suggest actually keeping a gift for the hotel employee in the room and telling him you have something for him [without actually requesting he open the door], so that he opens the door for his own benefit.

Note that the hotel key itself may be considered "muktzeh", and should not be handled by the Jew.

(Beer Moshe 6:Kuntrus Electric 19; Melachim Omnayich pg. 575)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Magen David - The Star of David

Hi,

Although the 'Star of David' has no known source in Torah, it need not be removed from an Aron Kodesh curtain on which it is emblazoned.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:15)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Disqualification of a synagogue president

Hi,

One who is known (and not only rumored) to violate Shabbat knowingly is disqualified to serve as a synagogue president. However, if he thinks what he is doing is permitted then he is not disqualified.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:11)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Where does the Chazan stand?

Hi,

The chazan should stand in front of the Aron Kodesh when leading davening. However, if there are so many people present that he will not be audible from in front, he may lead from the bimah in the center of the synagogue.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:10)

[See, too, this post and this post.]

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Praying with the community

Hi,

One who recites the amidah along with the chazan is not considered to be fulfilling the mitzvah of praying b'tzibbur (with the community); we are supposed to recite the amidah along with the rest of the minyan.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:9)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Translating prayer

Hi,

One may not interrupt his amidah to recite translations of the Hebrew in the middle; that would constitute an inappropriate interruption and invalidate the amidah.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:8)

[Note: One who cannot read the Hebrew should use a good translation in a different language. The law presented here is for one who can read the Hebrew, but who wishes to recite translations as well in order, perhaps for the purpose of improving his concentration.]

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Concentration vs. Minyan

Hi,

One whose concentration is disturbed when he prays with others, but who is able to maintain the basic concentration level required to fulfill the requirements of prayer [see Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 70:3], is obligated to pray with a minyan despite the lack of greater concentration.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:7)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A true 'Beginners' Minyan"

Hi,

If a minyan includes many who cannot recite the amidah, the chazan should recite the words of the entire amidah aloud with them, word for word, so that they will recite the amidah and so that they will learn it for themselves.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:6)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Changing accents in prayer

Hi,

One who has a family tradition of using Ashkenazi or Sephardi pronunciation of Hebrew should not veer from that tradition when praying.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

When in doubt

Hi,

The context for the following statement is the obligation to immerse glass utensils in a mikvah, when one does not know whether they were manufactured by Jews, but he could easily find out.

It is true that one who is in doubt regarding his obligation to fulfill a rabbinic mitzvah may opt for leniency (ספק דרבנן לקולא). However, if it would be easy to resolve the doubt, and it is only laziness which keeps him from investigating, then he is obligated to fulfill it.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The berachah on besamim, when one has a cold

Hi,

Does one recite the berachah on besamim at Havdalah, if he cannot smell them due to a cold?

One who cannot smell should not recite a berachah on besamim, even if he is reciting Havdalah on behalf of a group; the others in the group should recite the berachah for themselves, before they smell the besamim.

If some in the group are unable to recite a berachah, then the leader should recite the berachah on their behalf despite his cold. He should only do so after drinking the wine from Havdalah, though.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 297:5; Har Tzvi Orach Chaim 1:37; Mishneh Halachos 15:89; Shemirat Shabbat k'Hilchatah 61:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The Chazan's recitation of Kedushah

Hi,

The chazan should state the responses of kedushah [Kadosh Kadosh, Baruch Kvod, Yimloch] aloud, separate from the community's recitation of those responses. In this way, he will fulfill the obligation of individuals who have not yet completed the amidah, who then listen to his responses as their own.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Waiting for a minyan

Hi,

A group of people who are davening Shacharit, and who reach Yishtabach without a minyan, should not wait for the tenth if the delay might cause them to start conversing, which is prohibited at that stage in davening. Even if they will not converse, they should not wait long, since that would rob them of time they could have spent in Torah study.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Fasting when a Torah falls

Hi,

The practice of fasting when a Sefer Torah falls to the ground is subject to significant debate. In practice, all who are present should fast, even if it fell due to circumstances beyond anyone's control.

There is room to be lenient if part of the Torah remains in one's hand, although it would be appropriate to fast.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Tefillin for re-trained lefties

Hi,

One who is naturally left-handed, but who trains himself to write passably with his right hand, still puts on tefillin like a left-handed person, on his right arm.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Is insurance permitted?

Hi,

Purchasing insurance is considered part of normal commerce and investment, and is not considered a sign of deficient faith. Just as we are instructed to engage in business in order to survive economically, so we may purchase insurance - life insurance, disability insurance, and so on.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:111)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Netilat Yadayim with dirty hands

Hi,

Washing one's hands ritually for bread is ineffective if one's hands are dirty. However, "dirty" means that there is a physical substance interfering between one's skin and the water. If one's hands are stained, as with ink, but the skin is smooth and exposed entirely to the water, then one may wash ritually.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:110)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Answering Kaddish between the Arm and Head Tefillin

Hi,

One may not respond to Kaddish between donning his arm and head tefillin; rather, he should be silent and listen, and respond only mentally.

One who normally recites separate blessings on the arm and head tefillin, and who forgets and responds to Kaddish between his arm and head tefillin, should only recite the normal blessing for the head tefillin.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:10)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Al haGefen in Al haMichyah

Hi,

One who eats an amount of cookies or cake requiring a berachah acharonah (blessing afterward) may also include the "al hagefen" ending for wine even if he only consumed a small amount of wine.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:109)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Using someone else's lulav, Part II

Hi,

We have said that one may use someone else's lulav without asking, albeit only gently, since we believe that people are happy to have others use their property for a mitzvah.

One may only do this with a minor's lulav, though, if there would be absolutely no damage to the lulav. This is because children are incapable of forgiving harm done to them, in the eyes of the law.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:107)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Using someone else's lulav

Hi,

[This is too late for this Succos, but it still teaches an important lesson.]

A man may use someone else's lulav without asking, albeit only gently, since we believe that people are happy to have others use their property for a mitzvah.

A woman may similarly use someone else's lulav without asking. Even though she is not obligated in the mitzvah, it is still meritorious for her to fulfill the mitzvah.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:106)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Unnecessary Transport on Yom Tov

Hi,

One may transport needed items on Yom Tov even without an Eruv. Further, one who has a bag or box containing needed and unneeded items may transport the entire bag or box, and need not remove the unneeded items.

However, one may not add unneeded items to the bag or box one is about to transport [ie items one will need after Yom Tov].

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:103)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

v'Ten Tal uMatar for Israelis who are outside of Israel

Hi,

Normally, Israelis begin to include the "v'ten tal umatar" request for rain in the daily Amidah on the 7th of Cheshvan, while non-Israelis wait until the beginning of December. [For more on this, please click here.]

What should an Israeli do if he is temporarily outside of Israel during the period between the 7th of Cheshvan and the start of December?

If he is in a land like the US, which normally benefits from rain during that intervening period, and he has any need for rain in Israel such as for close family who live there, then he should say v'ten tal umatar even though he is outside of Israel.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:102)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Status of students living in Israel, for Yom Tov Sheni

Hi,

Students from abroad who are learning in Israel, but who maintain significant connections outside of Israel, are not considered Israelis as far as observance of Yom Tov Sheni. Such connections include parents who are supporting the student and do not intend to continue to support the student in Israel.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:101)

מועדים לשמחה,
Mordechai

Eruv Tavshilin

Hi,

I should have posted this a few weeks ago, but I only noticed this morning that I had written on the topic: For information on the Eruv Tavshilin, which we will need to use (outside of Israel) this Wednesday, click here.

Good moed,
Mordechai

Moving furniture from the Succah into the house on Shmini Atzeret

Hi,

One may not prepare on one day of Yom Tov for the following day of Yom Tov. However, since waiting until Simchas Torah would greatly delay the Simchas Torah meal, one may move furniture from the succah into the house on Shmini Atzeres. One may even stand up folding tables, if leaving them folded up would make the house uncomfortably messy.

(Rama Orach Chaim 667:1; Mishneh Berurah 667:6; Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 667:2; Piskei Teshuvos 667 footnote 4)

Good moed,
Mordechai

An Israeli outside Israel on Yom Tov Sheni

Hi,

[Yes, there are many views on this topic.]

An Israeli who is outside of Israel temporarily may not perform melachah on Yom Tov Sheni, and on the eighth day of Pesach may not eat chametz, even in private. On the other hand, he must put on tefillin in private. This is because one who travels to another location for a visit is obligated to observe the customs of his home location and his present location.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:101)

Good moed,
Mordechai

An Israeli's melachah on Yom Tov Sheni

Hi,

A Jew living outside of Israel, who owns a business in Israel, may benefit from work done by Israelis in Israel on behalf of the business on Yom Tov Sheni (the second day of holidays, observed only outside of Israel).

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:99)

Have a great Yom Tov,
Mordechai

Baruch Hu uVaruch Shmo

Hi,

Answering 'Amen' is obligatory, but answering 'Baruch Hu uVaruch Shmo' is not obligatory. Therefore, one may not use the 'Baruch Hu uVaruch Shmo' response during Psukei d'Zimra.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:98)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Removing a yarmulka at the movies

Hi,

[Yes, I know this is not everyone's view. But I am citing Rav Moshe Feinstein's view here.]

One may not go to the theater or movies. One who chooses to go should not be advised to remove his yarmulka in the interest of avoiding chillul HaShem [desecration of the Divine Name]; this would only compound the sin, because his true interest would not be in preserving Divine honor.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:95)

Pitka tava,
Mordechai

Attending a wedding during the Omer

Hi,

One who observes one period of mourning during Sefirat haOmer, and who is invited to attending a wedding during that time because the families involved are observing a different period of mourning during the Omer, is permitted to attend the wedding and dance and celebrate.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:95)

Pitka tava,
Mordechai

Kiddush for Shabbat and Yom Kippur

Hi,

It is appropriate to keep in mind, when reciting the middle blessing of the Yom Kippur nighttime amidah (מקדש השבת וישראל ויום הכיפורים), that this recitation fulfills the mitzvah of Kiddush for Shabbat and for Yom Kippur.

However, because the obligation to recite Kiddush is unclear, and because we do not have an established text, one who is ill and needs to eat on Yom Kippur does not recite Kiddush before eating.

(R' Akiva Eiger to Orach Chaim 271:1 and the end of Orach Chaim 618; Chatam Sofer to Orach Chaim 271; Avnei Nezer Orach Chaim 2:38; Mishneh Berurah 618:29; Har Tzvi 1:155; Moadim uZmanim 6:25; Igrot Moshe Choshen Mishpat 1:39)

Gmar tov,
Mordechai

Taking pills to ease fasting for Yom Kippur

Hi,

There is a view that one should not do anything before Yom Kippur to ease the Yom Kippur fast. (Sdei Chemed, Maarechet Yom Kippur 1)

However, the great majority of authorities support taking medication in advance of Yom Kippur to ease the fast. They base themselves in part on Rashi's statement that the reason for the mitzvah of eating on Erev Yom Kippur is to make the fast itself more manageable. Also, some suggest that because Yom Kippur is a Yom Tov, we are not to make it more difficult than the Torah did.

(Rashi Rosh haShanah 9a כל האוכל, Rashi Yoma 81b כל האוכל, Chelkat Yaakov 2:58 (aka Orach Chaim 216), Tzitz Eliezer 7:32:4, Piskei Teshuvos 611 footnote 2)

Gmar tov,
Mordechai

Breaking from shul practice

Hi,

One who davens in a shul where they say Hallel on Pesach night may not leave, lest his departure be taken as a sign of disagreement with the community. He should recite Hallel, but he should avoid reciting a berachah unless that would be obvious to the community.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:94)

Gmar tov,
Mordechai

Kashering rubber

Hi,

One may kasher wood-based rubber with "hagalah", just as one may kasher [smooth] wood with that method. However, this will not necessarily apply to synthetic rubber.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:92)

Gmar tov,
Mordechai

Taking medicine on Shabbat

Hi,

Medicine is prohibited on Shabbat, unless:
a) It is to save a life, or
b) Taking it involves only the rabbinic prohibition against medicine on Shabbat (as opposed to biblical prohibitions), and it is necessary to alleviate great pain.

However: One who needs a medicine which is only taken when mixed into food or drink may mix it into food or drink before Shabbat and take it, assuming that on-lookers will not know it is medicine, and assuming that the patient himself will do the mixing [as opposed to purchasing a pre-mixed product]. This ensures that the patient will remember and not mix and take it on Shabbat itself, and it ensures that no one will be mis-led regarding the general issue of taking medicine on Sahbbat."

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:86)

גמר חתימה טובה,
Mordechai

Tea on Shabbat

Hi,

The laws of Shabbat permit boiling solids which were already boiled before Shabbat.

Tea leaves are dried over a fire, but this process is qualitatively different from a boiling process in the eyes of Jewish law. Therefore, one may not consider tea leaves "pre-boiled", and one may not boil them over a flame on Shabbat.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:85)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Money-lending and currencies with fluctuating value

Hi,

One who borrows a certain sum of money must pay back that same sum of money; paying more is prohibited, under the laws of ribbit [interest].

If a sum is borrowed in one country and re-paid in a different country where its purchasing power is reduced, one still re-pays the original sum; one does not increase the sum to offset its devaluation.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:84)

כתיבה וחתימה טובה,
Mordechai

Safety pins on Shabbos

Hi,

One may use a safety pin to hold a diaper closed, or to attach a brooch to clothing. This is not included in the prohibition against stitching.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:84)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Forgiveness

Hi,

I would like to take a moment to ask everyone receiving this email feed for mechilah (forgiveness) for anything hurtful or offensive I wrote, or should have written and did not, or any ways in which I might have erred and mis-led people regarding a halachah, in the past year.

If there was anything at all, please do let me know. I will grow by learning from my mistakes.

May we all be inscribed and sealed for a great new year,
Mordechai

False teeth on Shabbat

Hi,

One may reinsert false teeth which fall out on Shabbat; we are not concerned lest he get them professionally re-set in a permanent way.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:81)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Reciting Slichot alone

Hi,

We recite Selichot in the days leading up to Rosh haShanah and Yom Kippur, as well as on fast days. One may recite these prayers in private, although prayer in a group is always preferable.

One who prays alone should omit the Aramaic portions. According to most authorities one should also skip the portions of Selichots which list the 13 attributes of Divine mercy, but some suggest one may recite them as they appear in the Torah, with the notes of the trop.

(Mishneh Berurah 581:4, Kaf haChaim 581:26, Yabia Omer 1:Orach Chaim 35)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Havdalah on tea or milk

Hi,

One may only use tea or milk for Havdalah if no more qualified beverage is available; this is considered a last resort.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:75)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Soda for Kiddush and Havdalah

Hi,

Soda (flavored or otherwise, as I understand) is not considered "chamar medinah", and therefore it is not eligible for the daytime kiddush of Shabbat and Yom Tov, or for Havdalah.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:75)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Benefiting from Shabbat violation

Hi,

One who finds an item in a room only because someone else turned on the light illegally is permitted to use that item, but it would be better to avoid even this indirect benefit.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:71)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Keeping chulent warm on Shabbat

Hi,

One who removes chulent from an oven on Shabbat may place it on a hotplate, assuming he does not transfer it to another receptacle first.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:69)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The light bulb in the refrigerator

Hi,

If opening the door of a refrigerator is guaranteed to turn on a light, one may not open the door on Shabbat.

One whose Shabbat food is inside the refrigerator may ask a non-Jew to open the refrigerator door. Although one may not ask a non-Jew to violate Shabbat for one's self, here the non-Jew does not intend directly to turn on the light, and it is for the sake of the mitzvah.

One who will have a great need to re-enter the fridge later for another Shabbat meal may ask the non-Jew to remove the bulb. Although he is now asking the non-Jew to directly violate Shabbat, it is for the sake of a mitzvah and no other options are available.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:68)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Enabling others to sin

Hi,

One may sell or rent an entity to a Jew who will use it to violate Shabbat, so long as (a) the Jew could also acquire such an item elsewhere, and (b) the item could also be used in permitted ways.

This applies, for example, to selling kitchen equipment or renting an apartment with a kitchen to a Jew who likely will cook on Shabbat.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:66)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Sending merchandise to one who will use it on Shabbat

Hi,

One may not send merchandise to a Jew on Friday, if it is likely that he will use it in his business on Shabbat. However, if the recipient normally orders in advance for use well in the future, one may send it.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:62)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Membership

Hi,

Rav Moshe Feinstein ruled that a Jew may not be a member of an organization whose activities include Shabbat desecration [by Jews, presumably]. Although he does not violate Shabbat, he supports the Shabbat desecration by others via his membership.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:61)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Davening maariv before the stars emerge

Hi,

It is better to daven Maariv with a minyan right after sunset, rather than wait until after the stars emerge and daven privately.

However, if the minyan davens maariv at the same time as minchah, then it would be better to daven maariv after the stars emerge, in private. [I believe Rav Moshe means to include cases in which the community davens both minchah and maariv before plag, and where they daven both minchah and maariv after plag and before sunset.]

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:60)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Birkat haGomeil on an airplane flight

Hi,

This topic is debated among halachic authorities, but Rav Moshe Feinstein ruled that one recites Birkat haGomeil after any airplane flight. He compared it with travelling in a boat; a boat saves one from drowning and so a boat trip warrants Birkat haGomeil, and a plane saves one from falling through the air and so a plane trip warrants the same.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:59)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Rosh HaShanah and Eruv Tavshilin

Hi,

For posts on laws related to Rosh haShanah, click here.

Also, this year we will need an Eruv Tavshilin on Rosh HaShanah, and those who are not in Israel will need one on Succot and for Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah. For information on Eruv Tavshilin, click here.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Shehechiyanu on Grafted Fruit

Hi,

If trees of different species are grafted in a manner which violates Jewish law, the fruit they produce is still permitted. However, one should eat the fruit in a way which will not require a Shehechiyanu blessing (ie eating them with another new fruit), to avoid making a berachah expressing joy at this sin.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:58)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Berachah on candy while travelling, Part II

Hi,

One who is eating candy inside a building, and who then decides to leave the room while continuing to eat, should first stop eating for several minutes, then re-start with a new berachah while travelling. The berachah he recited in the building, without intent to travel, does not cover his eating in other locations.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:57)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Berachah on candy while travelling, Part I

Hi,

One who begins eating candy just before travelling recites a berachah before the first candy, and that includes all of the candy he will add while travelling so long as he does not pause for several minutes. This assumes that the availability of the additional candy was anticipated from the start, and did not need acquisition.

New candy purchased en route would require a new berachah, even if he had anticipated the purchase from the start.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:57)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Substituting for Gd's Name in a pasuk

Hi,

One who reads a sentence of chumash out loud should read the entire sentence, and should read the Name of HaShem as part of it. Using a substitute for the Name of HaShem would constitute a corruption of the sentence.

However: One who is teaching children should use a substitute for the Name of HaShem, because there is often a need to interrupt the sentence for pedagogic purposes.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:56)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The berachah on pat haba'ah b'kisnin if one changes his mind

Hi,

One who begins a meal of pat haba'ah b'kisnin planning to eat a full meal recites the berachah of hamotzi before eating.

If one intended to eat a full meal, recited hamotzi, began eating, and then decided to eat less, turning the meal into a snack, his original hamotzi suffices; he does not now recite a borei minei mezonot.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:54)

[Rav Moshe does not discuss whether a berachah would be necessary for other items, such as beverages, consumed with that pat haba'ah b'kisnin. I am uncertain.]

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Feeding pets and small children

Hi,

Although one is responsible to feed his animals before eating himself, the first responsibility is to feed children who cannot take food on their own.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:52)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Berachot without belief

Hi,

A berachah is invalid if it is recited by someone who rejects the existence of Gd or the validity of Torah. Therefore, his berachah on food, for example, could not fulfill the obligation of a listener.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:50)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Reciting a blessing on behalf of others

Hi,

One who is not eating may not recite a berachah to fulfill the obligation for those who are eating, even if those others are incapable of reciting the berachah themselves.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:49)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Translating a berachah

Hi,

One may not recite a berachah's translation in between the berachah and the moment one begins eating; the translation would constitute an unacceptable interruption.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:49)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A prayer before eating bread

Hi,

One may not add prayers after washing for bread and before the "HaMotzi", even if those prayers relate to the meal itself. At best this is an interruption between washing and HaMotzi, and at worst, if the prayer is intended to be a regular service, it is also a violation of "Bal Tosif", the prohibition against adding regular prayer.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:48)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Merging synagogues

Hi,

One may not close an active synagogue in order to merge it with another synagogue, for several reasons. Among these is the concern that people who live near the now-closed synagogue will no longer walk to davening on Shabbat.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:46)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Snow in the mikvah

Hi,

If a community lacks rain and needs to melt snow to create a mikvah, they should use natural snow and not artificial snow.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:42)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Bimah in the middle, revisited

Hi,

As we have already seen, the Shulchan Aruch says that the bimah should be in the middle of the shul. According to the Rambam, this is to ensure that people in all parts of the shul will be able to hear the Torah read.

Others have suggested a second reason for centering the bimah – to mirror the mizbeiach in the Beit haMikdash. This would apply even in a smaller room, but the argument is less clear as a legal basis.

This practice should be followed wherever possible, and certain in a large room and wherever there is any concern for people's ability to hear the Torah read.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:41-42)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Donation plaques

Hi,

When a Sefer Torah is donated to a shul, and a plaque is attached with particular names, those plaques may not be removed. Even if the Torah is given entirely as a gift, it is understood that the gift is conditioned upon the presence of those plaques.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:39)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Selling a sefer torah

Hi,

There is a view that one who writes (or funds the writing of) a Torah and then gives it away has not fulfilled his obligation to write a Torah. Therefore, it is assumed, by default, that people who 'donate' a Torah to a shul for its use only mean to lend it to the shul, and are not actually giving it to the shul.

Therefore, a shul may not sell a Torah which was donated to the shul; the Torah is not truly theirs.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:39)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Announcements in shul

Hi,

If it is known that some people in shul might learn from and adhere to a halachic announcement, such as to be silent during shofar blowing, then the announcement should be made even if some who are present will ignore it and so violate the law knowingly.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:36)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Aliyah without a berachah

Hi,

There may be no public Torah reading without a berachah; each aliyah is required to have a berachah. Shuls which read the "tochachah" [portions of Parshat Bechukotai and Ki Tavo which predict horrible punishments for the Jewish people when they sin] without a berachah are mistaken, and should change their practice.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:35)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A kohen who married a divorcee

Hi,

If a kohen marries a divorcee, he no longer receives the first aliyah to the Torah, but he may receive other aliyot despite his sin.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:33)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Duchening with a prosthetic foot

Hi,

A Kohen who has a prosthetic foot may perform nesiat kappayim (duchening, blessing the community). Ideally he should remove his shoes, but if this is not possible, or if his lack of biological feet is obvious when he wears socks, then he should wear shoes which do not have laces.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:32)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The Chazan's nusach

Hi,

A chazan is supposed to use his private amidah to prepare for the public repetition. Therefore, a chazan must use the same nusach in his private amidah as in the public recitation, even if that is different from the nusach he normally uses when davening privately.

For more on chazzanim and public-private nusach, please click here.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:29)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Where does the Chazan stand for the amidah?

Hi,

The "amud" where the Chazan stands for the amidah should be centered along the wall toward which the shul davens and where the Aron is located, close to the Aron. However, this is not a hard and fast requirement, such that one could not daven in a shul that was arranged differently.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:28)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

How important is Minyan?

Hi,

Davening with a minyan is not merely a better form of prayer than individual prayer; davening with a minyan is an obligation. The Shulchan Aruch (90:16) rules that one who is on the road need travel only up to 18 minutes (the length of a mil) to arrive at the site for a minyan, but that is if one is on the road, and travelling to minyan would be difficult. One who was at home would be required to travel further, although it is not clear how much further.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:27)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Where we stand while reciting the Amidah

Hi,

Ideally, one should recite the amidah in a low area, but this is not a requirement. It must not be elevated more than 3 tefach (about 11 inches), though.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:26)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Kiddush before Shacharit

Hi,

One who is ill, such that he needs to eat bread before davening on Shabbat morning, must recite kiddush before eating bread. The same rule applies if he eats "pat haba'ah b'kisnin", grain-based products which are treated like bread when eaten as the foundation of a meal.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:26)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Noachide prayer

Hi,

Non-Jews, like Jews, are obligated to pray to Gd in times of physical or financial distress.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:25)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Tefillin script

Hi,

One who davens with nusach Ashkenaz may wear tefillin written according to the rules of the Ari (even though the Ari's followers daven with nusach Sfard). This is not considered inconsistent conduct.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:24)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Changing from Nusach Sfard to Nusach Ashkenaz

Hi,

One whose ancestral family davened with the "nusach sfard" edition of chassidim for generations, but whose parents raised him to daven with the "nusach ashkenaz" edition because of the local community, may continue to daven with nusach ashkenaz. The original edition of these chassidim was nusach ashkenaz.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:24)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

The Tenth of Av

Hi,

Although the prohibitions of Tisha b’Av end with Tisha b’Av, the practices of the Nine Days – refraining from meat and wine, not bathing for pleasure, not laundering or wearing fresh clean clothing and not attending celebrations – continue until midday the next day.

This is because we are taught that the Beit haMikdash (Temple) burned until midday on the Tenth of Av.

[Note that there is an exception to this rule: As we have discussed, when Tisha b'Av occurs on a Saturday night and Sunday, Havdalah after Tisha b'Av is done with wine/grape juice.]

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 558:1; Mishneh Berurah 558:3)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Pre-Fast reminders

Hi,

A few reminders before the fast:

At sunset on Monday afternoon, the fast and the prohibitions against bathing or annointing one's skin for pleasure and the prohibition against marital relations begin. We do not wear leather shoes.

We sit on the floor or a low stool until midday on Tuesday; midday is the midpoint between sunrise and sunset, and calculating it depends upon your location.

We do not wash ourselves on Tisha b'Av; if our hands are dirty, we use a little bit of water on the dirty spot to clean that dirt off. Upon rising from sleep, and after using the bathroom, we wash up to the knuckle where the fingers meet the hand.

May this be the last year when we need to observe Tisha b'Av,
Mordechai

Laws of Tisha b'Av

Hi,

For laws of Tisha b'Av from previous years' posts, click here. Note that particular fasting times have not been updated to reflect this year's schedule.

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

A different nusach, Part II

Hi,

Following up on yesterday's email:

When one davens in a shul which has a nusach that differs from his own, one may continue to use his personal nusach for parts that are recited quietly and do not require a minyan.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:23)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

A different nusach

Hi,

If one davens with a minyan in which the standard nusach is different from his own, then for all parts of the davening which require a minyan, whether recited aloud or recited quietly, one should use the nusach of the minyan.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:23)

Note: In Orach Chaim 2:104 Rav Moshe stated that one should use the nusach of the minyan for everything other than the silent amidah.

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Chazzanim who repeat words

Hi,

If chazzanim repeat words in the course of a berachah, but they do not actually jumble the order of the words, this does not constitute an interruption.

If chazzanim jumble the words (as in וקוראי עונג שבת וקדשתו שבת), then if the new order changes the meaning of the sentence so that it indicates something different, the chazzan must return to the start of the berachah. If the new order is consistent with the original meaning of the sentence, the chazzan did interrupt, but he need not return to the beginning of the berachah. If the new order renders the words meaningless, then if the change was intentional, then he must return to the beginning of the berachah.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:22)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Changing communal minhag

Hi,

If a community has the customs of a certain ethnic group (Ashkenazi, Sephardi, Yemenite, etc) which constitute the majority of its population, and then the population shifts such that other ethnic groups join, they should not change the original communal customs. Only if no members remain from that original ethnic group may they alter the communal custom.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:21)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Counting a child as the tenth for a minyan

Hi,

[Note: This topic is somewhat controversial.]

In a case of great need, such as where there will absolutely be no minyan otherwise, one may rely on the minority view which accepts a minor male as the tenth for a minyan, ideally if the male is already twelve, and he should sit beside a Torah which is placed on a table.

There are two caveats:

1. This may be used for things which require a minyan rabbinically, but not for things which require a minyan biblically. Therefore, the chazan should wait while the rest of the minyan davens shemoneh esreih, and then start his once they have finished. This prevents the biblical issue of berachah l'vatalah (reciting a berachah in vain); only kedushah and kaddish and the berachot for kriat haTorah remain, which are rabbinic.

2. The sefer torah should not be held by the child, since then the minyan could not sit down.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:18)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Siddurim printed on Shabbat

Hi,

One may not daven from siddurim that were printed on Shabbat, and one may not learn with texts that were printed on Shabbat.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:17)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Interruptions during Psukei d'Zimra

Hi,

One should not respond "Brich Hu" and "Baruch Hu uVaruch Shmo" during Psukei d'Zimra.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:16)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

The Order of Psukei d'Zimra

Hi,

One who skips within Psukei d'Zimra to catch up, and then realizes that he has time to say that which he had skipped before Yishtabach, may insert the sections he skipped, out of context. The same is true if one skipped sections by accident.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:16)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Cotton and Polyester Tzitzit

Hi,

According to the Rambam and Shulchan Aruch, four-cornered wool or linen garments require tzitzit biblically, but garments of other material do not require tzitzit biblically. Therefore, one should not use garments of other materials, like cotton and polyester, for tzitzit, since he is not fulfilling the biblical mitzvah.

On the other hand, the Rama ruled that these other woven materials do require tzitzit.

Therefore, one who is suffering from heat would be permitted to rely on the Rama and use garments of these other materials, but this is not ideal in general.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:1)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Lighting the menorah for someone else

Hi,

One may not light the Chanukah menorah on behalf of another person unless that person is actually present, because doing otherwise would mean that some of the blessings could not be recited.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:190)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

A frozen etrog

Hi,

An etrog which has been frozen may still be valid, if one knew that the insides had not been damaged, and would not display damage before the end of Yom Tov. Of course, one would need to experiment in order to determine this.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:185)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Slats for Schach

Hi,

Wood slats which serve as shutters for windows may not be used as schach for a Succah; they are considered a כלי which is susceptible to impurity.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:177)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Informing someone of a sin he committed accidentally

Hi,

A man asked about a transgression he and his wife had committed unknowingly, and which he had now discovered. He wanted to know whether he should tell his wife, so that she could repent.

The rule is that accidental sin does require atonement, and therefore he should inform his wife, so that she will have the opportunity to atone.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:175)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Sanity or Shofar?

Hi,

One who is in a psychiatric hospital and cannot hear shofar there, and whose treatment would be risked if he were to be released for Rosh HaShanah, should remain in the hospital and miss shofar. One should not risk his sanity for the sake of fulfilling a commandment.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:172)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

Forgetting to say HaMelech haKadosh

Hi,

One who forgets to say HaMelech haKadosh on the first night of Rosh HaShanah does not repeat the amidah, assuming he said the rest of the amidah as appropriate. The judgment taking place on Rosh HaShanah, which is commemorated in HaMelech haKadosh, begins in the morning.

Note: Other authorities disagree with this ruling; please consult your local authority.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:170)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai

The night of the 17th of Tammuz

Hi,

It is not clear whether the night leading into the 17th of Tammuz is part of the day of national mourning [and it's just that the fast rules wait for morning], or not. Therefore, in a case of need one could hold a wedding that evening.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:168)

צום קל ומועיל,
Mordechai

This Tuesday: 17th of Tammuz

Hi,

Tuesday July 19th is the fast of the 17th day of the month of Tammuz, and it begins a three-week national Jewish mourning period.

On the 17th of Tammuz one neither eats nor drinks, but - unlike the fasts of Tishah b'Av and Yom Kippur - one may wear leather shoes and wash normally.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 550:2)

For more on the fast, click here; for more on the Three Weeks of mourning, click here.

Be well,
Mordechai

Fasting on the day before a wedding

Hi,

If a wedding is held on the day following a fast day, the man and woman getting married are obligated to fast on the day of the wedding itself, despite their fast of the previous day.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:167)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Music without a Beit haMikdash

Hi,

In a time when there is no Beit haMikdash, when the sages of the Talmud prohibit music, singing is permitted outside of a pub, but justification for permitting instrumental music - outside of a mitzvah context like a wedding - is harder to find.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:166)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Eulogies on Chol haMoed

Hi,

Although the general rule is that eulogies are prohibited on Chol haMoed, there might be room to permit a halachic mourner to eulogize, since he is obligated to grieve and to show respect to the person who passed away.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:165)

Have a good day,
Mordechai

Keriah on Chol haMoed

Hi,

If a burial takes place on the second day of Yom Tov, then mourners do not tear keriah until after the entire Yom Tov (including intervening chol hamoed days) concludes.

If a burial takes place on chol hamoed, though, then one tears keriah during the funeral on chol hamoed.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:164)

Have a good day,
Mordechai

Shaving on Chol haMoed

Hi,

In lands where people shave daily or near-daily, one who is required to shave due to discomfort or other needs may do so. One should not protest against a person who shaves just for aesthetic reasons.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:163)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A siyum on a book of Tanach

Hi,

One may perform a siyyum on a book of Tanach, if the study took an extended period of time. The meal is a "seudat mitzvah [mitzvah meal]" as is any meal marking completing of a mitzvah which required a great deal of time.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:157)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Eating egg at the Seder

Hi,

Some have the practice of eating the egg from the Seder plate at the Seder; this is a quasi-mitzvah, part of the commemoration of the korban chagigah which causes us to use the egg on the plate in the first place.

This is not related to any practice of eating non-Seder-plate eggs at the Seder.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:156)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Eating matzah on Erev Pesach which is Shabbat

Hi,

One may not use matzah for Shabbat morning meals, when Erev Pesach is Shabbat, because of the rule prohibiting consumption of matzah on Erev Pesach. There is room for leniency to permit use of matzah for the Friday night meal, but it would be best to avoid it because of the view that one should not eat matzah even on night before Pesach.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:155)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Gauging a Prutah

Hi,

For various laws (such as kiddushin, and payment for meaningful contracts as in the sale of chametz), we require a transfer of funds no less than a perutah. A prutah is the value of a certain volume of "pure" silver.

If the smallest unit of currency in a given land is worth more than a prutah, then that smallest unit counts as one prutah.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:150)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Jewish-owned stores which sell chametz on Pesach

Hi,

If a Jewish store-owner sells his chametz to a non-Jew before Pesach, but then keeps his store open during Pesach and markets his chametz there, the pre-Pesach sale is still valid and Jews may buy that chametz from the store after Pesach. The owner lacks halachic authority to cancel the original sale, and we don't take the later actions as an indication that the original sale was less than serious.

However: One may not purchase chametz which the Jewish store-owner purchased during Pesach.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:149, Orach Chaim 2:91, Orach Chaim 4:95)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Concern for chametz and milk

Hi,

Regarding milk from a non-Jew's cow which was fed chametz on Pesach: One may use such milk on Pesach.

[I believe that this is only about the kashrut of the milk itself; one would not be permitted to consume or own any chametz that made its way into the milk.]

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:147)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The chametz is in the mail

Hi,

If a Jew sends chametz to another Jew before Pesach, and the package is delayed such that it is in transit during Pesach, neither the sender nor the intended recipient can solve the problem of owning chametz during Pesach by selling it to a non-Jew. This is because neither has access to the package; were the sender to notify the post office that he wanted to rescind the shipment, or were the intended recipient to request that the shipment be re-directed, the post office would not listen.

One who needs to send such a shipment should give it as a full gift to a non-Jew before sending it, and then send it. However, one should not do so when shipping to Israel if it might arrive there during Pesach, since the Jews working in the Israeli mail will be required to accept responsibility for it when it arrives there.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:146)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Page number displays on Shabbat

Hi,

One may post individual cards displaying digits in order to show people the proper page number during davening on Shabbat, even though one is thereby "writing" a coherent message in placing the cards side-by-side. This is permitted so long as the cards are not joined to each other.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:135)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Accompanying a woman in labor to the hospital

Hi,

A woman's husband or mother may accompany her to the hospital in a vehicle on Shabbat when she is in labor, if she requests it and she would be panicked without that person present. Although that person is not providing medical treatment, we are concerned that the panic might make her medical situation worse.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:132)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Taking call on Shabbat

Hi,

The issue of taking call on Shabbat is rather complex, with many views; you may wish to listen to my shiur on the topic here.

Rav Moshe Feinstein ruled that a physician who knows before Shabbat that he will be needed to save lives on Shabbat is required to arrange a place to stay in the hospital, or nearby, for Shabbat.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:131)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Use of a thermometer on Shabbos

Hi,

One may use a mercury thermometer to gauge the temperature of an ill person on Shabbos, even where it is known that the patient is not dangerously ill.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:128)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Would you like to have more? Part II

Hi,

We said here that one who is eating fruit must recite a new berachah if someone brings him a fruit of a different species.

However one who is a guest in a place where they normally bring out many types of fruit need not recite a new blessing when new species are brought; it is expected that new species will be brought out.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:125)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Washing fruit on Shabbat

Hi,

One may wash dirty fruit on Shabbat just before eating it, and this is not included in the prohibition against boreir [sorting] even though one separates the fruit from the dust.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:125)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Meat and dairy gas stovetops?

Hi,

The same burner on a gas stove may be used for both meat and dairy, without kashering in between. However, one must clean the surface of any actual food in between uses.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:124)

[I believe the same is true for electric burners, but the question was asked of Rav Moshe regarding gas.]

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Use of a fork on Shabbat

Hi,

Background:
One may not sort items on Shabbat, separating desired items from items that are not desired right now. This is called 'boreir'.
However, one may sort a mixture by taking the items he does want right now, assuming he will use them now and assuming he does not use a tool (like a slotted spoon) which is normally used to sort things.

The ruling:
One may use a fork to take solid food from a liquid, such as pickles from a jar, so long as one selects the items he wants, and one uses them now. Although the fork does technically sort as it leaves the liquid behind, one does not intend to sort - the goal is simply to take the pickles - and the fork is not considered a tool normally used for sorting things.

One would not be permitted to use the fork for this if he did, in fact, intend to strain the solid, removing the liquid via the tines of the fork.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:124)

If a Jew turns on the heat on Shabbos

Hi,

If a Jew lives in a building in which another Jew turns on the heat on Shabbos for himself, and it's cold enough outside that leaving the building is not an option, then one may remain inside. One would not be obligated to close the vents in his individual room.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:123)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Lowering a gas burner on Yom Tov

Hi,

One may lower a gas flame on Yom Tov in order to cook on it, where it is so strong that it would burn food placed on it, and no appropriate flame is available.

Even if one does have the theoretical option of lighting another burner (from a gas pilot), one need not do so - it is fine to lower the existing flame.

One may not lower a flame on Yom Tov just to save gas, though.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:115)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Lipstick on Shabbat

Hi,

Rav Moshe Feinstein notes two problems with use of lipstick on Shabbat: Coloring, and smearing. The latter may be solved by use of a liquid, and today there are "Shabbat lipsticks" which seek to solve the former as well; see here for more.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:114)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Liquid soap on Shabbat

Hi,

The Torah prohibits smearing a cream on Shabbat.

Many authorities permit use of liquid soap on Shabbat, arguing that it is liquid like water. Rav Moshe Feinstein was uncomfortable with this; since the soap, when rubbed, will cover far more area than it could have in its initial state, this is also considered an act of smearing.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:113)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Brushing one's teeth on Shabbat

Hi,

One may not brush one's teeth with toothpaste on Shabbat, because of the prohibition against smearing a cream on Shabbat.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:112)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Wearing a watch outside an Eruv

Hi,

One may wear a watch on one's wrist outside an Eruv on Shabbat, as this is like clothing, but one may not carry a pocket watch, or a watch attached to one's garment.

One who is careful should avoid wearing a wristwatch, lest he come to accidentally permit one of the other kinds of watches. [Note: Rav Moshe Feinstein wrote this in 1957; it is possible that he would not have been as concerned for this once the other types of watches became rare. On the other hand, this responsum does not address digital watches, with buttons which might easily be pressed by accident.]

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:111)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Hat Covers on Shabbat

Hi,

One may wear a hat atop another hat for the sake of beauty or extra warmth when travelling outside an eruv on Shabbat, if that type of garb is standard practice. However, one may not wear a hat atop another hat outside an eruv on Shabbat, just to protect the lower hat from the elements and where it does not add to the beauty of the garb.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:108)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Praying for the sick on Shabbat and Yom Tov

Hi,

If a person is dangerously ill, but is not in immediate danger, one should not recite special Tehillim for him on Shabbat or Yom Tov.

However: If the patient requests that people pray today on his behalf, then they should do so, lest he become upset, and have his health damaged, if they would not do so.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:105)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Two 'bar mitzvahs' on the same Shabbos

Hi,

If a minyan includes two boys who have just turned 13, and both wish to read the maftir and neither will back down, then the shul should do the following:

Have a minyan leave the shul after the 7th aliyah. Have one of the boys read the maftir and then the haftorah, without a hagbah/gelilah in between; the Torah is only covered. Then have the minyan who missed maftir return, and have the second boy read the maftir, and have him read the haftorah after hagbah/gelilah.

This would be burdensome for the minyan, but it would be better than causing strife in the community.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:102)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Leaving a shul

Hi,

One should not leave a shul because its members do not act properly; "a little light can dispel much darkness," and his education of others may be effective. However, this does not apply if the shul itself begins to function in a non-halachic manner.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:99)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Outreach on Shabbat

Hi,

One may not create an educational Shabbat morning minyan for Jewish children if he knows they will be driven to the minyan. Although education in prayer is important, it is no greater than education in the laws of Shabbat, especially as the organizer of the minyan will, essentially, instruct these children to violate Shabbat in order to come to the minyan.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:98)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Use of a thermos on Shabbat

Hi,

One may not insulate food on Shabbat, wrapping its receptacle in order to preserve its warmth. Nonetheless, one may place hot food in a thermos on Shabbat.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:95)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Having a non-Jew help with heating up food on Shabbat

Hi,

If a Jew is not permitted to place food on a hotplate or blech due to the laws of Shabbat, he is also not permitted to have a non-Jew do it on his behalf, and food heated up in that manner would be prohibited.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:94)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Putting dry food on a hotplate on Shabbat

Hi,

One may not take food from the refrigerator and place it on a hotplate or blech on Shabbat, if the heat in that spot is high enough that food left there indefinitely could reach a temperature in excess of yad soledet bo [approximately 113 degrees Fahrenheit]. This includes food that does not contain visible liquid.

Note that the laws of heating up food on Shabbat are complex; please do not rely on these simple emails for practical rulings.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:94)

Have a great Yom Tov,
Mordechai

Multiple blessings of Shehechiyanu

Hi,

One who eats of many new types of fruit at the same setting should recite one blessing of Shehechiyanu for all of them, collectively.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:87)

Have a great Yom Tov,
Mordechai

Berachah on medicine

Hi,

One who ingests a pharmaceutical which he enjoys should recite the appropriate blessing beforehand, even if it is only consumed medicinally.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:82)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Berachah before tasting? Part II

Hi,

Yesterday we mentioned that one need not recite a blessing before tasting food, assuming he is not doing it for benefit, but rather to check the quality of the food.

One who tastes an olive-sized amount of food would be required to recite a blessing, even if he did not do so for benefit.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:80)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Berachah before tasting?

Hi,

One who tastes and swallows food only to learn whether it requires adjusting does not recite a berachah before doing so. However, one who also intends to benefit does recite a berachah.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:79)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Berachah after eating a blueberry

Hi,

One only recites a blessing after eating if one consumed an amount equal to an olive in volume. However, there is room to argue that one should recite a blessing after eating an entire fruit, even if it is smaller than an olive, such as a blueberry. Therefore, it is best to avoid eating an entire fruit which is smaller than an olive; one should either eat more such fruits in order to exceed an olive's volume, or one should not eat the entire fruit. In practice, though, one who ate such a fruit and did not exceed an olive's volume does not recite a blessing afterward.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:78)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Bentching by accident

Hi,

One who ate cookies or cake, such that he should recite an "al hamichyah" afterward, but instead recited Birkat haMazon by mistake, has fulfilled his obligation.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:73)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Bread from non-grain flour

Hi,

For bread made from a combination of non-grain flour and grain flour, such that the quantity of grain flour is less than an olive-sized amount in כדי אכילת פרס (the amount one normally eats in 8-10 minutes), one does recite HaMotzi beforehand, but the closing berachah is Borei Nefashot.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:70)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Would you like to have more?

Hi,

If a person is eating produce, and he finishes whatever is before him and then someone brings him more, he need not recite a new berachah unless:
a) He had specifically intended to stop eating, or
b) The newly brought produce is not the same species as the produce he ate earlier.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:67)

For more on this, please see Part II in this Daily Jewish Law.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Berachah on carrots

Hi,

Where people normally eat carrots both raw and cooked, one recites the berachah of "Borei pri ha'adamah" before eating them in either form.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:66)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Berachah on onions and garlic

Hi,

In lands where people do not eat onion or garlic unaccompanied, one who does eat them alone - raw or cooked - recites the berachah of "shehakol". However, one who cooks them with something which improves their taste, such as by frying them in butter, would recite "borei pri ha'adamah".

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:64)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Berachah on radish

Hi,

In lands where radishes are considered inedible alone, such that people do not normally eat them without bread, one who eats radish alone should recite the berachah of Shehakol.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:62)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Berachah on Turnips

Hi,

One who eats turnips recites the berachah "Borei Pri ha'Adamah", even if he also eats the leaves, and even if he specifically planted the turnips for the sake of the leaves.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Orach Chaim 1:60)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Leaving a wedding early

Hi,

The rule, normally, is that one who eats with others at a communal meal is considered a part of their meal. Therefore, one who eats with enough participants to trigger a mezuman [collective birchat hamazon] is required to stay until a mezuman is performed. At a wedding there is an increased obligation to remain for Sheva Berachot.

One who knows he will need to leave before Sheva Berachot should state explicitly [not necessarily to anyone, though] that he is not participating in the communal meal.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:56)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Churches, Synagogues and Mortgages

Hi,

A Jewish community may not sell its synagogue for use for idolatry. A Jewish community may not mortgage its synagogue, if the mortgage would empower the lender to convert the synagogue into use for idolatry.

However: If a bank holds a mortgage on a building and the building then becomes a synagogue, and then the community stops praying at that synagogue and instead wishes to start a synagogue elsewhere and the bank is going to sell the synagogue, individuals within the community are not obligated to pay the mortgage personally in order to prevent the bank from selling it for use for idolatry.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:50)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Churches and Synagogues

Hi,

A church should not be turned into a synagogue, unless significant physical changes will be made to the structure. However, bedieved one may use a synagogue which had once been a church, even without such changes.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:49)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Where the Torah should be kept

Hi,

When a Sefer Torah is not in use, including during Kriat haTorah [Torah reading] when there are two Sifrei Torah and one is not in use, it must be kept in a place which is protected, and which accords it honor.

Therefore, a Torah should not be put in a location where everyone can access it easily, or where children who don't understand how to demonstrate respect could touch it.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:38)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A synagogue next to a place of idolatry

Hi,

There is no problem with having a synagogue is located next to a place of idol worship, evening if bowing toward the Aron Kodesh results in bowing toward the place of idol worship. It is clear that one is bowing as is normally done in synagogues, and it is not considered worship of the building next door.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:47)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Flags in a synagogue

Hi,

Rav Moshe Feinstein wrote that flags do not belong in a synagogue sanctuary, as they have no inherent holiness. However, he also wrote that their presence in a sanctuary does not detract from the holiness of the space, and should not be used as grounds for forming a separate minyan.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:46)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Guide dogs in the synagogue

Hi,

One who needs a guide dog ("seeing eye dog") in order to get around is permitted to bring it into shul, even though we generally do not permit animals in shul. Ideally, such a person should sit in a place in which disruption will be minimized.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:45)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Leaving a Yad inside a Sefer Torah

Hi,

One may not leave the Yad (pointer) inside the Torah between aliyot (readings) to mark the correct spot, since nothing may be left atop a Torah scroll. The sole exception is that we leave a cover atop a Torah scroll in between aliyot, but this is for the sake of the honor of the Torah.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:37)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Having a Jew who violates Shabbat publicly perform nesiut kappayim

Hi,

A kohen who violates Shabbat in public because of desire for money rather than out of disbelief in the Torah may perform נשיאות כפים (the blessing of the kohanim), in a community where people who do that are normally permitted to perform the blessing. It is known that such violation is not out of rejection of the Torah.

However, a community is empowered to prohibit this practice, even if it means the blessing will not take place at all, in order to discourage desecration of Shabbat.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:33)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Converting a place of lewdness into a shul

Hi,

A community may not rent a space for prayer if it is normally used for impropriety and lewd behavior, if the space will go back to its original use after the rental period is over.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:31)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Praying with a urinary catheter

Hi,

One who has a urinary catheter, which is connected to a receptacle that holds urine, should cover them when praying.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:27)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Announcing page numbers during davening

Hi,

Announcing page numbers is considered an interruption which is "for the purpose of davening [prayer]", and therefore one may announce a page number between paragraphs of Psukei d'Zimra [the introductory psalms recited as part of Shacharit each morning]. For the same reason, one may announce a page number before the Maariv amidah.

It would be better, though, to post signs with the page numbers.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:22)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Earliest time for Tefillin

Hello,

We normally assume that the earliest time for tefillin is the same as the earliest time for tallit - when there is enough daylight that one could identify an acquaintance at a distance of several feet.

However, one who must rise and complete all of davening before then, and who will not have any opportunity to put on tefillin at the proper time, may rely upon the view that tefillin is a "nighttime mitzvah" as well as a daytime mitzvah, and put them on with a berachah for his early davening.

If his davening will extend past that "earliest time", then he should not rely upon this leniency.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:10 and Orach Chaim 4:6)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Tefillin on a paralyzed arm

Hi,

One whose arm does not have blood flow should not put tefillin on that arm; he is viewed halachically as an amputee. One whose arm is only paralyzed, though, puts tefillin on that arm.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Tzitzit materials

Hi,

Ideally, one should wear tzitzit garments made of wool, with tzitzit strings made of wool.

One who cannot wear a wool garment, such as due to heat, may wear non-wool, but then he should also use tzitzit strings made of the same material as the garment. If that is not possible, he should use wool strings.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Minimum size of a yarmulka

Hi,

I've been contemplating a switch from the "topic" approach, to instead draw on responsa on a variety of topics. This will sacrifice continuity, but gain practical relevance. If you have thoughts or preferences on using this approach, please let me know.

Rav Shlomo Kluger ruled that a yarmulka must cover the majority of one’s head, both when reciting a blessing and when walking about. As a matter of strict law, though, Rav Moshe Feinstein ruled that this is not obligatory; a yarmulka must only cover enough of the head that an on-looker would deem the head “covered”.

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

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Privacy walls, Part III

Hi,

Because we obligate both neighbors to build a privacy wall, the default assumption regarding any such wall is that it belongs to both of them. Therefore, should such a wall collapse the materials would be property of the neighbors equally, unless one can prove that they are his.

(Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat 157:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Privacy walls, Part II

Hi,

We have said that if partners split a property, each side is obligated to contribute toward a privacy wall.

The wall should be built to the standard specifications for such walls, based on local custom, so long as it will prevent each side from seeing into the other's property in the course of normal use of the property. Each side contributes equally of his space, as well as of funds, for construction of the wall.

(Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat 157:3-4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Privacy walls

Hi,

If partners split a property and neither partner requests a privacy wall, and then one of them requests it some time later, the other partner must cooperate. This is true even if local custom does not require such a wall.

(Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat 157:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Good fences make good neighbors

Hi,

If partners own a piece of land, and decide to divide it up, and there is sufficient land for each partner to receive a usable space, then each partner is obligated to accede to the other's request to build a privacy wall between their properties. This is true even if the request is not made at the time of the division, but only subsequently.

More on this in coming posts...

(Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat 157:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The Isru Chag celebration

Hi,

The day immediately following Pesach, Shavuot and Succot is called ‘Isru Chag’, and we do not fast on that day. It is also customary to have an augmented meal on that day, continuing the celebration of the holiday and demonstrating our love for it.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 429:2; Mishneh Berurah 429:14)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Lag ba'Omer

Hi,

For past posts relating to Lag ba'Omer, and particular to the question of when one takes a haircut if Lag ba'Omer occurs on a Sunday - as it does this year - please click here.

Good moed,
Mordechai

The Omer as Mourning Period

Hi,

To find earlier "Daily Jewish Law" posts on the mourning practices associated with parts of the Omer period, please click here.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Counting the Omer

Hi,

We are now into the 49-day Omer period which runs from Pesach to Shavuot. For posts on the mitzvah of Counting the Omer, please click here.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Discussing our departure from Egypt

Hi,

The Torah expresses the mitzvah of sippur yetziat mitzrayim (re-telling the account of leaving Egypt) as a two-part mitzvah: (1) To talk about the events of our departure from Egypt, and (2) To thank Gd for engineering that miracle. The Torah says we should do this while eating the korban pesach, and so we, in the absence of a korban, do this at our seder; the Sefer haChinuch lists this as the 21st mitzvah in the Torah.

The Tzlach (Berachot 12b) noted that there is a separate mitzvah of mentioning our departure from Egypt on a daily basis, and the gemara even discusses the possibility that such a mitzvah might apply nightly as well. Nonetheless, that on-going mitzvah is not included in the standard count of the 613 mitzvot. The Tzlach suggested that this omission may be because the pasuk from which the lesson is derived says, “So that you will remember,” and does not command, “You shall remember.”

Chag kasher v'sameach,
Mordechai

Set the table in advance

Hi,

The seder table should be set for the first night of Pesach before Yom Tov begins, so that the seder will begin as early as possible. [This is certainly true in a year when the seder is after the clocks have been changed, so that nightfall is very late.]

However, this is not an option for the second seder [celebrated by Jews who live outside of Israel], because one may not prepare for the second day of Yom Tov during the first.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 472:1, 503:1; Mishneh Berurah 503:1)

Chag kasher v'sameach,
Mordechai

Matzah meal products on Erev Pesach

Hi,

We have said that one may not eat matzah on Erev Pesach.

Products made of baked matzah meal are included in this practice. However, boiled products, like matzah balls, may be eaten; those are not considered matzah anymore, at all.

Of course, one would still be limited to eating these before the tenth hour of the day, to avoid ruining his appetite for the Seder.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 471:2; Mishneh Berurah 471:20)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Matzah on Erev Pesach, for children

Hi,

Children who are not old enough to understand the re-telling of the Exodus at the Seder are permitted to eat matzah on Erev Pesach.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 471:2; Mishneh Berurah 471:13-14)

Have a great day,
Mordechai