Putting salt on matzah at the Seder

Hi,

Am I supposed to put salt on matzah at the Seder?

We are taught to put salt on bread before reciting the berachah, to honour the berachah; refining the bread by adding salt or other foods later in the meal would reflect poorly on the bread used for the berachah.

Various Ashkenazi authorities record a custom of refraining from using salt at the Seder, because (1) matzah is "clean bread" and does not need salt, (2) adding salt would reduce the "poor man's bread" aspect of the seder's matzah and (3) we show love of the mitzvah by refusing to mix in anything else. Some even refrain from salting matzah all through Pesach. On the other hand, others specifically use salt to improve the taste of the matzah, making the mitzvah more attractive. One should follow his family custom.

Regardless of one's custom regarding adding salt, one should keep salt on the table in order to link the food with the salt-laden korbanos brought in the Beis haMikdash.

(Maharil Seder Haggadah 32; Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 167:5, 475:1; Mishneh Berurah 475:4; Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 475:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The Omer

Hi,

Beginning with the second day of Pesach, we start the Omer period. For posts on (1) Counting the Omer, (2) The mourning which coincides with the Omer period and (3) Lag ba'Omer, please see the links down the side of the page.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Standing for the Aseret haDibrot (Ten Commandments)

Hi,

One who is in a synagogue where they stand for the Torah reading of the Aseret haDibrot is obligated to stand, even if his personal custom is not to stand.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:22)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Amen to "Leisheiv baSuccah"

Hi,

A woman whose husband is reciting kiddush should hear his blessing of "Leisheiv baSuccah [upon dwelling in the Succah]" and answer Amen, even if she will not drink from kiddush in the Succah.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:21:9)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Succah Hopping

Hi,

One should have in mind, when starting a meal in a Succah, that his blessing is only for that Succah. Should he then wish to go to another Succah, he would recite his closing blessing, and then recite a new blessing in the next Succah.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:21:8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Dipping Koreich into Charoset

Hi,

The Shulchan Aruch says to immerse the marror which is eaten independently in charoses for a brief moment, and then shake off the charoses. Should I do this for Koreich?

The consensus of authorities is that the reasons we dip maror initially do not apply for Koreich. One reason is to commemorate the mortar of Egypt, but one commemoration suffices. Another reason is to neutralize a toxin in maror, but matzah serves that purpose. Nonetheless, some dip the maror of Koreich in charoses, because the goal of koreich is to commemorate Hillel's Koreich. Hillel would have used charoses for Koreich, because this was his sole consumption of maror.

Some suggest that those who dip the maror of Koreich in charoses should not dip the matzah; matzah symbolizes our journey to freedom, and it does not mix with the mortar of Egypt.

Each family should follow its custom; in the absence of personal custom, people should follow communal practice.

(Hagahos Maymoniyos Hilchos Chametz uMatzah 8:6; Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 475:1; Pri Chadash Orach Chaim 475:1; Magen Avraham 475:7; Shulchan Aruch haRav 475:19; Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 475:8; Mishneh Berurah 475:14, 17-19)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Starting to blow Shofar in Elul

Hi,

The normal custom is for synagogues to begin blowing Shofar on the 1st of Elul, which is the second day of Rosh Chodesh, and this is the practice which should be adopted by communities that do not have a set custom. However, communities which have a tradition of beginning to blow shofar on the first day of Rosh Chodesh should continue to observe that tradition.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:21:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Shofar Make-up

Hi,

In the event that a community does not blow shofar after Shacharit in the month of Elul, they can make it up at minchah, before sunset.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:21:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Meat for children on Friday afternoons during the Nine Days

Hi,

Children should not be fed meat during the "Nine Days" mourning period, even on Friday afternoons. However, if they are starting Shabbat early such that this is their Shabbat meal, and they are not waiting until nightfall, then they may eat meat.

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

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Melaveh Malkah during the Nine Days

Hi,

We refrain from eating meat during the "Nine Days" period of mourning. Those who normally eat meat for their Melaveh Malkah meal in honor of Shabbat should not do so during the Nine Days, and no hatarat nedarim is required.

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

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Music for minors during the nine days

Hi,

Music should not be played for minors during the "Nine Days" period of mourning, once those minors are of age to understand the destruction of the Beit haMikdash.

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

Have a good day,
Mordechai

Use of a tree-swing on Shabbat

Hi,

May I sit on a tree-swing on Shabbos?

There is a biblical prohibition against severing any part of a tree. To prevent accidental violation, the Sages prohibited any use of the body of a tree, although one may touch the trunk of a sturdy tree so long as one does not shift it in the process.

"Use" includes placing items into, attaching items to, or removing items from a tree. The prohibition also includes use of items which are attached to the tree, such as swings or treehouses. Therefore, a frisbee which lands in a treehouse may not be removed, even if one could do so while standing on the ground.

One may use items which are attached to other entities which are then attached to a tree. Therefore, one may lie in a hammock or sit on a swing which hangs from a peg which is, in turn, attached to a tree. However, this use is prohibited if it would shake or shift the tree.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 336:13; Magen Avraham 336:2, 15; Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 336:16, 339:2-3; Mishneh Berurah 336:63; Shemirat Shabbat k'Hilchatah 26:11-17)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The Chol haMoed amidah

Hi,

One who recites the Yom Tov amidah instead of the Chol haMoed amidah at a prayer other than Musaf on Chol haMoed is required to repeat the amidah; this does not fulfill his obligation.

One who recites Musaf for Chol haMoed on Shabbat Chol haMoed, and who neglects to mention Shabbat, must repeat the amidah. One who mentioned Shabbat during the berachah, but did not recite the pesukim which list the Shabbat korbanot and only recited the pesukim which list the Yom Tov korbanot, must repeat the amidah.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:21:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Lock the Aron Kodesh

Hi,

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

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

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Leaning for tachanun without a Torah in the Aron

Hi,

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

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

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Prayer on an airplane

Hi,

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

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

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Learning during chazarat hashatz (the repetition of the amidah)

Hi,

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great day,
Mordechai

"Sim shalom" confusion

Hi,

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

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

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

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Fishbowls on Shabbat

Hi,

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

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

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Thirty days before Pesach

Hi,

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

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

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

חג פורים שמח,
Mordechai

Purim Drinking

Hi,

On Purim we celebrate the ultimate joy of a sudden national rescue, and our sages have taught that we should imbibe alcohol at the Purim Seudah as part of this celebration. Just as we abstain from various foods and from drink at certain times of the year to induce sadness, so we indulge in various foods and in drink at other times of the year, to induce joy. The gemara’s standard for imbibing is to drink until we cannot tell the difference between “Cursed is Haman” and “Blessed is Mordechai” (Megilah 7b).

Authorities differ on how much to drink, but the following is clear: An adult who is medically, psychologically and emotionally able to drink, and who has a designated driver, should drink some amount of alcohol - preferably enough that he will feel lightheaded (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 695:2). One should enjoy his Purim meal relatively early in the afternoon, drink a little, and then sleep off the effects of the alcohol.

Many people, and I include myself in this number, have embraced the practice of drinking minimally at the Purim Seudah and then fulfilling the state of intoxication by taking a nap after the meal. This approach is sanctioned by the Rama (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 695:2). One might consider doing the eating/drinking/nap before participating in a communal seudah.

I know the following is obvious, and I apologize for taking your time with it, but if my blog has any reach at all then I feel an obligation to state this obvious point. Please:

1) There is no reason to give alcohol to minors who are pre-bar mitzvah to drink on Purim. It is not necessary for their fulfillment of any mitzvah. The practice might be secularly legal as sacramental wine - consult an attorney - but it is a foolish and dangerous ritual and therefore prohibited as endangering our children as well as violating our obligation of chinuch for our children.

I do believe there is a difference between giving children under the age of obligation in mitzvot a taste of wine from the formal Shabbat Kiddush (not the one in shul; I mean the one at dinner/lunch!) and engaging them in Purim drinking. The former is a formal setting, and no one (I hope) is drinking to get a buzz. On Purim, though, because the general drinking is more loose and more geared toward celebration, I believe that the rule should be that children drink no alcohol at all.

2) If your own child is a minor, but older than bar mitzvah, and able to handle a small amount of wine, then it makes sense to help your child fulfill the mitzvah with a small amount, in a supervised setting, assuming this is legal in your jurisdiction.

3) I beleve adults should not drink on Purim in the presence of young children, beyond what would normally be consumed at a meal on Shabbat. Immature children cannot tell when we are in control and when we are not, cannot comprehend the dangers associated with alcohol, cannot accept the idea that adults can do what children are not permitted to do, and cannot understand the difference between Purim and the rest of the year.

The finest joy is a celebration which centers around a Mitzvah, and this is the essence of Purim – the four mitzvot (Megilah, Sending Gifts of Food, Giving to the Poor and having a Feast) which are about experiencing joy and spreading joy and thanking HaShem for saving us from destruction.

I apologize for wasting anyone’s time by stating the obvious, but as I said above, I feel the responsibility of stating this in any forum I have available.

And not to be a party-pooper at all, but those who want to know more about this theme should see Shaarei Teshuvah of Rav Chaim Margaliyot (printed with a standard Mishneh Berurah), in his final comment on Orach Chaim:

ויותר יש לזרז עצמו בד"ת במקום שיש שם איזה שמחה אף אם היא שמחה של מצוה ועיין בסוף סוכה בענין שמחת בית השואבה וכן מבואר לעיל סימן תקכ"ט אדם אוכל ושותה ושמח ברגל ולא ימשוך בבשר ויין ובשחוק וקלות ראש לפי שאין השחוק וקלות ראש שמחה אלא הוללות וסכלות ולא נצטוינו על הוללות וסכלות אלא על שמחה שיש בה עבודת היוצר עכ"ל והוא לשון רבינו הרמב"ם ז"ל והמפרשים ז"ל פירשו לשחוק אמרתי מהולל ר"ל שיהיה באיזה ענין שיהיה השחוק הוא הוללות עבט"ז לעיל
אך לשמחה מה זו עושה ר"ל שלענין שמחה אין להחליט שאינה יפה שבאמ' יש שמחה של מצוה ולכן יש ליתן לב לדעת מה זו עושה ר"ל מה טובה אם הוא שמחה של מצוה או לא אך הואיל ואפשר כי מתוך אכילה ושתיה והוללת יתמשך לשחוק וקלות ראש לכן יקח תבלין לבסם השמחה בד"ת וחדוות ה' יהיה מעוזו ויטב לבו בד"ת וז"ש וטוב לב משתה תמיד

It is even more necessary to energize one’s self with words of Torah in a place where there is joy, even if it is joy associated with a mitzvah. See the end of Succah regarding simchas beis hashoevah. And so is explained in the Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 529, “One should eat, drink and be happy on the holiday, but not draw himself after meat and wine and laughter and lightheadedness, for laughter and lightheadedness are not joy, but empty celebration and foolishness. We are not instructed in empty celebration and foolishness, but in joy which includes service of the Creator.” This is a citation from the Rambam.
The sages explained the verse (Kohelet 2:2), “I have called laughter ‘empty celebration’” to mean that in any form, laughter is empty celebration. See the Taz earlier. [I don’t know which comment from the Taz he means.]
But “What does joy accomplish (Kohelet 2:2)” means that regarding joy, one should not conclude that it is not good. In truth, there is joy associated with mitzvot! Therefore, one should set his heart to know what joy can accomplish, meaning, what is its nature – is it joy associated with a mitzvah, or not. But since it is possible that one will be drawn to laughter and lightheadedness as a result of eating, drinking and empty celebration, therefor, one should take spices to sweeten the joy with words of Torah, and his strength will be in the joy of Gd, and his heart will be good with words of Torah. This is the meaning of ‘One of good heart is always at a feast.’

May we have wonderful and safe Purim - ליהודים היתה אורה ושמחה וששון ויקר!

Chag Purim Sameiach,
Mordechai

Squeezing Grapefruit on Shabbat

Hi,

One may not squeeze out juice from grapefruit sections on Shabbat by pressing them with a spoon. There is debate about sucking out juice, and one should be strict.

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

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Shul announcements during davening

Hi,

We permit announcements at certain points during davening for the sake of the davening itself (ie announcement of Yaaleh v'Yavo before the amidah of Maariv on Rosh Chodesh, as mentioned in Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 422:1). This permission applies even for the sake of others' davening, despite the fact that the person making the announcement does not need the reminder.

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

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Sending Mishloach Manot before Purim

Hi,

Some authorities understand that the purpose of mishloach manot is to increase our goodwill toward each other on Purim itself. Therefore, mishloach manot should be sent, or at least received, on Purim itself.

(Magen Avraham 694:1; Be'er Heiteiv Orach Chaim 695:7; Pri Megadim Orach Chaim Eishel Avraham 694:1; Biur Halachah Orach Chaim 694 lishnei; Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 690:1, 694:2; Beit Shearim Orach Chaim 381; Divrei Yatziv Orach Chaim 298:2, Hashmatos 65:1; Yehudah Yaaleh Orach Chaim 207; Chelkas Yaakov Orach Chaim 233; Torah Lishmah 188; Yechaveh Daat 440)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Sending Matanot la'Evyonim before Purim

Hi,

Because the tzedakah given for matanot la'evyonim is meant for Purim expenditures, some authorities say to give it on Purim, lest it be spent in advance. Also, some contend that it is meant to recall the events of the original Purim, on Purim. However, most authorities rule that one may deliver matanot la'evyonim in advance, thus ensuring that indigent people will have the means to arrange a Purim feast. One certainly may send it to a distribution agent in advance for distribution on Purim day.

(Magen Avraham 694:1; Be'er Heiteiv Orach Chaim 695:7; Pri Megadim Orach Chaim Eishel Avraham 694:1; Biur Halachah Orach Chaim 694 lishnei; Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 690:1, 694:2; Beit Shearim Orach Chaim 381; Divrei Yatziv Orach Chaim 298:2, Hashmatos 65:1; Yehudah Yaaleh Orach Chaim 207; Chelkas Yaakov Orach Chaim 233; Torah Lishmah 188; Yechaveh Daat 440)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Shema opposite uncovered hair

Hi,

A man may recite Shema in view of a non-Jewish woman whose hair is uncovered, even if she is married, assuming that the sight does not cause him inappropriate thoughts.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:15)

Have a great day,
Mordechai