Newspapers on Shabbat

Hi,

May I read a newspaper on Shabbos?

One may not read commercial information on Shabbos, whether an advertisement for a sale or a column of financial advice. Further, one may not read depressing items other than in a case of need.

The status of the rest of the newspaper on Shabbos is less clear. Some prohibit the entire newspaper, lest one read inappropriate information. Further, some argue that the prohibited material renders the entire newspaper muktzeh. [However, nolad and techum are not relevant concerns for a newspaper produced and delivered by non-Jews.]

Some further prohibit newspapers delivered on Shabbat, even when delivered by a non-Jew, because the Jew asks the non-Jew to deliver it, violating Shabbat. Others contend that receiving delivery is permissible because one does not instruct the delivery person directly.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 307:13, 325:4; She'eilas Yaavetz 1:162; Mishneh Berurah 306:39, 307:3, 24, 55-56, 73; Shvus Yaakov 3:23; Maharam Schick Orach Chaim 123; Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:22:2-3, 16; Shemirat Shabbat k'Hilchatah 28:14, 29:46-48, 31:24; Be'er Moshe 6:6; Az Nidbiru 1:12, 3:38, 9:7)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Evaluating graf shel re'i

Hi,

We permit moving muktzeh items from their location on Shabbat if they are repellent, they are located in a site one wishes to inhabit, and they are preventing use of that space. Such items are called "graf shel re'i".

The evaluation of "repellent" depends upon the condition of the item, as well as the sensitivities of the person who wishes to inhabit the space.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:21:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Medicine and Muktzeh

Hi,

Medicines are not muktzeh on Shabbat [even though their use is prohibited for those who are not very ill].

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:21:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Forgetting to light Shabbat candles

Hi,

The Sages were very concerned that Jews should take their Shabbat  preparations seriously. As such, they instituted a fine for someone who  forgot to light Shabbat candles (as opposed to someone who simply wasn't in a position to do it):

One who forgets to light on a given week is supposed to add one more  candle each week for the rest of his/her life. In other words, one who  used to light two candles would then light three each subsequent week.

If a family cannot afford the extra candles, then they should instead use longer candles, so that they will add to the mitzvah in that  fashion.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 263:1; Mishneh Berurah 263:7)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Preparing the home for Shabbat

Hi,

One should make sure to execute all of the preparations for Shabbat before Shabbat begins, so that he enters the day with the house looking attractive and dignified. This includes making the beds, cleaning the rooms and having the table set nicely.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 262:1)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Moving a fish tank on Shabbos

Hi,

We have a portable fish tank, which we move around from time to time. May we move it on Shabbos?

Animals which have no function are muktzeh on Shabbos. [Halachic authorities note that service animals are a separate class.] A fish tank is considered a base for the fish, and so a fish tank is as muktzeh as the creatures it contains.

There is also a second halachic concern involved in handling animals, in that one may not ride on animals or otherwise make use of their bodies.

Many halachic authorities agree that the above two concerns are not relevant in the case of a fish tank. Fish are meant to be admired and portable tanks are normally moved, and so there is no concern for muktzeh. There certainly is no concern for "riding" a fish. Therefore, many authorities permit moving a portable tank. Rav Ovadia Yosef permits moving the tank only where the fish are in danger of pain or death, such as from cold or direct sunlight.

(Shabbos 128b; Beitzah 38b; Shut Or Zarua 81-82; Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 308:39-40; Mishneh Berurah 308:146; Ketzos haShulchan 121:fn 4; Yabia Omer 5:Orach Chaim 26; Shemirat Shabbat k'Hilchatah 18:fn 62, 27:fn 96; Az Nidbiru 8:37:2)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Women, men and the haggadah

Hi,

It is obvious that a man who cannot read the haggadah can fulfill his obligation by listening to a woman recite it. They are both obligated to read the haggadah.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:20:33)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The real goal of fasting

Hi,

We are taught that the major reward for fasting comes from giving tzedakah, and so some people give tzedakah on fast days based on the amount they would have spent on food for that day.

(Mishneh Berurah 566:12)

Have an easy and meaningful fast,
Mordechai

The Fast of the Tenth of Tevet

Hi,

The fast of Asarah b’Tevet, the 10th day of Tevet, marks the beginning of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. It led to the destruction of the First Beit haMikdash, and the exile of the Jews to Babylon.

Tomorrow [Sunday 12/23/12] is Asarah b'Tevet. As we are taught regarding every fast other than Yom Kippur, the main merit of the fast is in donating to charity the money we would have spent on food.

(Talmud, Berachot 6b; Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 549:1; Mishneh Berurah 549:2)

Have an easy and meaningful fast,
Mordechai

Zecher and Zeicher - another note

Hi,

As we noted yesterday, popular custom requires that we read the phrase "זכר עמלק" twice in the reading for Shabbat Zachor, reading it once as "zecher" and once as "zeicher" due to doubt as to the more accurate reading.

The same should be done when reading this paragraph as part of Parshat Ki Tetze.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:20:32)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

"Zeicher amalekh" and "zecher amalek"

Hi,

Regarding the practice of saying "zeicher amalek" and "zecher amalek" when reading the last sentence of Parshat Zachor on the Shabbat before Purim: One need not repeat the entire sentence. However, one should go back to "timcheh" for the second reading, so that people will understand that the second reading is a possible correction of the first, and not the text which is written in the Torah.

The same principle applies when words are read twice, due to doubts as to their correct reading, in Megilat Esther.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:20:32)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Looking at one's hands by the flame of Havdalah

Hi,

The Tur and Shulchan Aruch cite midrashic sources as the basis for the custom of looking specifically at one's fingernails, and in a particular way, at havdalah. Therefore, even though one could benefit from the light in some other way, we should specifically continue this ancient practice. We keep our ancient customs.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:20:31)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A multi-wicked flame for havdalah after Shabbat, on Yom Tov

Hi,

When Yom Tov takes place on Motzaei Shabbat, we blend havdalah of Shabbat with kiddush of Yom Tov. For the berachah on a multi-wicked flame, many people take the Yom Tov candles and incline them toward each other, so that the flames merge in a single, multi-wicked flame. One who does so need not be concerned lest the wax of the candles melt due to the blending of the flames.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:20:30)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Writing "kohen" and "levi" in a ketubah

Hi,

One need not identify someone in a ketubah as "kohen" or "levi". Even where that is the custom, omission of this identity would not disqualify the ketubah.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:20:29)

חג אורים שמח,
Mordechai

Eruv chatzeirot in a hospital or on a cruise

Hi,

There is no need to have each hospital patient or cruise participant participate in an eiruv chatzeirot [the joint meal dedicated by residents of adjacent private domains, which licenses them to transport between those domains] in order to be able to transport between their rooms. They all depend upon the administration of the hospital/boat for their meals and needs, and so they constitute a single unit.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:20:28)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A mistake in a Torah scroll

Hi,

If a Torah scroll contains a word which is written incorrectly, that Torah may not be used for the public kriat hatorah. This is true even where the textual change does not alter the meaning.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:20:27)

חג אורים שמח,
Mordechai

Is Eruv Tavshilin a requirement?

Hi,

When Yom Tov occurs on a Friday, one may not prepare on Yom Tov for the ensuing Shabbos unless he creates an eruv tavshilin, setting aside two foods for use on Shabbos and reciting a text which declares this to be the 'down payment' on his preparations for Shabbos. [Click here for more posts related to eruv tavshilin.]

One who will not need to prepare on Yom Tov for Shabbos is not obligated to create an eruv tavshilin.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:20:26)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

In the amidah during Birkat Kohanim

Hi,

One who is reciting the amidah (shemoneh esreih) when the kohanim begin their blessing (birkat kohanim) should pause until the blessing is over. If he is standing along the wall of the aron kodesh, so that he is behind the kohanim, he should move to be in front of them.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:20:23)

חג אורים שמח,
Mordechai

The mitzvah of receiving a blessing via the kohanim

Hi,

One who lives in a community where the kohanim perform birkat kohanim (conveying a Divine blessing to the community) is obligated to go receive it, whether he or she is living in a place where this is done daily, or only where this is done on Yom Tov.

Those who cannot go due to work, illness, responsibility for those who are ill, or responsibility for small children, are in the category of oness and are exempt.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:20:23)

חג אורים שמח,
Mordechai

Comforting mourners on Tishah b'Av

Hi,

One may not comfort mourners on the night of Tisha b'Av or on Tisha b'Av morning, since one may not offer words of comfort, beyond the "HaMakom yinachem" formula. However, one who will not be able to visit from midday on Tisha b'Av until the end of shivah should visit the mourner earlier on Tisha b'Av; the visit will have value even without being able to offer words of comfort.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:20:22)

חג אורים שמח,
Mordechai

The mitzvah of comforting mourners

Hi,

The mitzvah of comforting mourners is not limited to reciting the "HaMakom yinachem" formula; rather, one is required to speak to the mourners and settle their minds.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:20:21)

חג אורים שמח,
Mordechai

Practicing a stringency

Hi,

One who observes a personal stringency should not do so in a way which will vary visibly from the practice of the community, even where he does this in order to satisfy a halachic doubt.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:20:19)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

v'Ten Tal uMatar

Hi,

I should have posted this yesterday, but last night, December 4, Jews outside of Israel began to pray for rain by inserting "v'Ten Tal UMatar" into the daily Amidah. Jews in Israel have been doing this since the 7th of Cheshvan.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Covering the challah during kiddush

Hi,

One who fulfill his obligation for kiddush by hearing it recited by someone at another table should still cover the challah at his table during kiddush.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:20:18)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Selling chametz to a non-Jew who is married to a Jew

Hi,

One may not sell his chametz before Pesach to a non-Jew who is married to a Jew, such that the Jew has rights to that chametz. This is true even though those rights are assigned by a non-Jewish legal system.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:20:11)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

"Holiday" Presents

Hi,

Am I allowed to give a "holiday" gift or bonus to my non-Jewish employee?

We encourage the development of positive relations between Jews and their neighbours, for the sake of creating a healthy society. However, we are restricted from strengthening our neighbours' loyalty to that which we consider idolatrous.

Because of these rules, we are prohibited from sending a non-Jew a gift on the day of his holiday. However, one may send it before the holiday. Further, there are no concerns regarding sending a gift if one knows that the recipient does not personally observe that holiday as a religious event, and there is no concern that the recipient will think that the sender observes the holiday as a religious event.

(Avodah Zarah 6a-b, 64b-65a; Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 148:5, 8, 12; Shach Yoreh Deah 148:13; Rabbi Mordechai Willig at http://bit.ly/sgvoiX)

Have a great day,

Mordechai