Coloring water on Shabbat

Hi,

May I keep a cleaning tablet in the tank of a toilet, if it will dye water which is introduced on Shabbos?

The act of colouring is prohibited on Shabbos, but many authorities rule that this does not apply to colouring food. Therefore, halachic authorities tend to permit adding juice to water or red wine to white wine, where the intent is not to change the colour. However, halachic authorities differ on the application to toilet water.

Those who permit this do so because: 1) The water is potable, and so is food; 2) One intends to clean, not to dye; 3) The water is not meant to remain long-term; 4) One colours the water only indirectly, when flushing. Those who prohibit argue that the water is not meant for drinking, and that people do want the colour. Rabbi Korobkin states that our practice is to prohibit.

(Beis Yosef Orach Chaim 320 katav; Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 320:19-20; Chasam Sofer Shabbos 74b; Mishneh Berurah 318:39, 320:56, 59; Tzitz Eliezer 14:47; Shemiras Shabbos k'Hilchasah 3:21, 23:14 and footnotes)

Have a great Yom Tov,
Mordechai

Wearing a belt outside the Eruv

Hi,

One may wear a belt outside the Eruv, even if his pants have their own elastic band; people normally wear a belt to tighten the pants further. However, one could not wear an entirely superfluous belt, such as by wearing a gartel in addition to a regular belt, outside of an eruv.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:101:5)

Pitka tava,
Mordechai

Sitting during Hakafos

Hi,

May I sit down while the sifrei torah are being carried around the shul on Simchas Torah?

Normally, one is obligated to stand while a sefer torah is carried within his sight, to show honour. However, some do suggest leniencies during hakafos, particularly in light of their length.

Some authorities permit sitting between hakafos, while the sifrei torah are stationary; others permit sitting after the first circuit of each hakafah; still others permit sitting altogether, contending that a sefer torah carried in a circle is equal to a sefer torah placed on a table. The Chazon Ish was careful to sit only when holding a sefer torah.

It is worth noting that Rav Chaim Brisker would not ask others to take the Torah he had held; out of respect for the Torah, he only gave it away when someone else asked for it.

(Kiddushin 33b; Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 282:1-2; Aruch haShulchan Yoreh Deah 282:5; B'Tzel haChachmah 5:139:2-7; Teshuvos v'Hanhagos 2:319; Yechaveh Daas 6:42; Halichos Shlomo Moadei haShanah Tishrei-Adar 12:9)

Pitka tava,
Mordechai

Leaving tefillin on for a brit milah

Hi,

The practice of leaving tefillin on during a brit milah is meant to demonstrate the need for a visible sign of our relationship with G-d. Just as tefillin function as such a sign, so the brit milah will function as such a sign.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:101:4)

[Note: Rav Moshe does not address the question of having a sign for women.]

Gmar tov,
Mordechai

Intravenous feeding for Yom Kippur?

Hi,

It would be better for someone who is ill to eat on Yom Kippur rather than be hooked up to an intravenous line to feed him in advance of Yom Kippur.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:101:3)

Gmar tov,
Mordechai

Kiddush before davening, for women

Hi,

If a single woman eats before praying Shacharit (the permissibility of doing so is a different question) on Shabbat or Yom Tov, she should recite kiddush.

The status of a married woman is different, because she and her husband are legally bound to eat together, and so before davening might not be termed "the time for eating" to require kiddush.

The status of men is entirely different, because it is clear that men may not eat before davening, other than in unique situations of illness.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:101:2)

Gmar tov,
Mordechai

Amen after Shehechiyanu recited at Kiddush

Hi,

One who recited Shehechiyanu when lighting Yom Tov candles still responds Amen after the Shehechiyanu of the person who recites kiddush. Saying 'Amen' is not considered an inappropriate interruption between kiddush and drinking, because the berachah of Shehechiyanu is necessary for the person reciting kiddush.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:101:1)

Gmar tov,
Mordechai

Mikvah on Erev Yom Kippur

Hi,

Why do people go to mikvah on Erev Yom Kippur?

The practice of immersing in a mikvah before Yom Kippur, ideally in the afternoon, dates back to the period of the Gaonim at least twelve hundred years ago. Today it is generally done by men, specifically. Historically, some even immersed with a formal blessing, although modern practice is not to recite a blessing.

Some suggest that we immerse for ritual purification, while others suggest we intend to perform spiritual purification, like the angels. Other sources indicate that this is part of the process of repentance, and recommend this immersion even for women who are currently niddot.

Some recommend not to recite the viduy admission of sin, lest one recite G-d's Name in a place where people are not clothed.

(Rosh Yoma 8:24; Maharil Hilchot Erev Yom Kippur 3-4; Tur Orach Chaim 606; Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 606:4; Shaar haTziyun 606:22)

גמר טוב,
Mordechai

The Fast of Gedalyah

Hi,

We fast on the day after Rosh haShanah; this is called "Tzom Gedalyah," "The Fast of Gedalyah."

The Meaning of the Fast: After the Babylonians destroyed the Temple, they appointed Gedalyah as governor of Israel's Jews. A group of Jews, supported by another nation, wanted the Jews to rebel against the Babylonians, and they accused Gedalyah of sympathizing with the Babylonians. They ambushed him and killed him, and in the aftermath the remaining Jews in Israel went into exile.

This day is commemorated as a public fast from first light to the emergence of the stars.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 549:1; Mishneh Berurah 549:2)

Have an easy and meaningful fast,
Mordechai

New fruit or clothes for second night of Rosh HaShanah

Hi,

Do I need a new fruit in order to recite Shehechiyanu on the second night of Rosh haShanah?

The second day of Rosh haShanah is considered an extension of the first day for certain laws, and therefore it may not warrant an independent Shehechiyanu. Therefore, one who will recite Shehechiyanu in lighting candles or in making kiddush should provide some other reason for reciting Shehechiyanu, such as by having a new fruit present, or wearing new clothing.

Shechiyanu should be recited for fruit only if it becomes available seasonally. Some suggest that one should not normally recite Shehechiyanu on a seasonal fruit which is available via import all through the year, but for the sake of the berachah on Rosh haShanah one may use this fruit.

One who has neither new clothing nor a new fruit should still recite Shechiyanu.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 225:6; 600:2; Mishneh Berurah 600:4; Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:34)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

When do we recite the berachah for the arba minim?

Hi,

Those who are careful to hold their arba minim (lulav, etrog, hadasim and aravot) all day on Succot (as recorded in Succah 41b) should recite the berachah in the morning before davening.

Those who are not careful to hold these species all day should wait until after Shemoneh Esreih to recite the berachah, because the more frequent mitzvah of davening has precedence. If they wish to observe the Sh"lah's practice of reciting the berachah in the succah, they should depart to the succah at that point to do so.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:99:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Counting the omer after accepting Shabbos

Hi,

One who forgets to count the Omer on Thursday night, and davens maariv before sunset on Friday evening, may still perform the Thursday night count until sunset on Friday evening.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:99:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Reading megilah on Yom Tov

Hi,

If a shul normally reads the megillah on Succot (Kohelet) or Pesach (Shir haShirim) from a parchment and with a berachah, and they are not able to get a megillah until the last days of Yom Tov, so that they will have missed Shabbat Chol haMoed, they may wait for Yom Tov and read then, with a berachah. The goal of reading on Shabbat was to locate the reading on the day when most people come to shul, but the reading may be done on Yom Tov.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:99:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Selling chametz and time zone issues

Hi,

One who will travel for Pesach to a part of the world which is in a later time zone than his home is in, and who leaves behind chametz in his home time zone, should arrange for an agent in his home time zone to sell his chametz.

He should also stipulate that the agent buying back the chametz after Pesach is not buying it back for him, but only for that agent himself. Then, when he returns home, he can buy it back from the agent.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:94)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Apology, 2012

Hi,

This year, like every year, I'm sending an apology note to this email list before Rosh HaShanah, in case I wrote anything hurtful or offensive in the previous year; I know that people's sensitivities are varied, but I am not always as careful as I could be. I also apologize in case I mis-stated a law and thereby mis-led people.

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

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

Realizing I forgot Mashiv haRuach/Yaaleh v'Yavo

Good morning,

In the second berachah of the amidah, one who starts "Baruch atah HaShem" and then, before "mechayeh hameitim" realizes he forgot Mashiv haRuach uMorid haGeshem, should finish the berachah and then go back.

Similarly, in the berachah of Retzeh in the amidah, one who starts "Baruch atah HaShem" and then, before "hamachazir shechinato" realizes he forgot Yaaleh v'Yavo, should finish the berachah and then go back.

Concluding the berachah with "lamdeini chukecha" would be inappropriate during the amidah, and leaving it as just "Baruch atah HaShem" would also be inappropriate.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:93)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Leining one's own aliyah

Hi,

In a minyan in which some who ascend to the Torah read their own aliyah and some don't, and sometimes one who knows how to lein (read from the Torah) still doesn't read his own aliyah, it is permissible to lein one's own aliyah.

This will not embarrass someone who needs another baal keriah (reader) to lein his aliyah, since no one will be able to tell.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:91:7)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Havdalah by telephone

Hi,

One who cannot recite or hear havdalah in her current location may hear it via telephone. This is not ideal (because the sound she hears is a reproduction of the original), but it suffices.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:91:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Assuming that vegetables are insect-free

Hi,

If a majority of members of a given set have a certain positive halachic characteristic, but that is only due to an action performed upon the set, then one may not assume that this characterstic will persist in the majority infinitely, and one must continue to check the members of the set for it.

Therefore: If growers of a particular type of vegetable employ tactics which eliminate non-kosher infestation, one may not assume that any particular vegetable in the sample is bug-free. One still must check the vegetables, although the check need not be as rigorous as in cases where that particular tactic is not employed.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:91:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Skipping Pesukei d'Zimra for work

Hi,

One who will be late for work if he recites Pesukei d'Zimra may skip it, assuming that his employer expects him at a specific time. One may not cheat his employer in order to recite Pesukei d'Zimra.

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

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Using a wheelchair outside an eruv on Shabbat

Hi,

One who needs a wheelchair may use it to wheel himself outside of the eruv; the wheelchair is viewed as the equivalent of his shoe. However, if the wheelchair must be lifted in order to cross a threshold, one should ask non-Jews to do it in a manner which will only violate rabbinic law; this may be done only in a case of need.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:90)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Hearing aids on Shabbat

Hi,

We are lenient regarding use of a hearing aid on Shabbat. This is different from use of a microphone:

With a microphone we are concerned that people normally connect it only when they need it, so that people will assume it was turned on during Shabbat, but that concern only applies regarding items which make noise, calling themselves to the attention of the public.

The concern of "don't use it lest you adjust it" which we express regarding microphones also applies regarding hearing aids, but a) that is a rabbinic decree and so it may not apply to the uncommon case of a hearing aid (for rabbinic decrees were created only for common cases), and b) the hearing aid involves great need, such as to hear an oncoming car. However, one should do something to prevent actual adjusting.

As far as the concern that one activates a microphone to create a new voice when he speaks, and so one is finishing its construction (makeh b'patish) or actually building it (boneh), neither of these is clear-cut, and this is a case of great need, as we have explained. [There is more here in Rav Moshe's discussion.]

As far as the concern that one's voice causes the electrical current to rise or fall, the prohibition involved is not clear, and this is a case of great need.

Further, sometimes the hearing aid does not pick up the sound, and so its activation is not a guaranteed result of one's action.

Further, if one speaks to people in general, and not only to the person with the hearing aid, then one does not intend to activate it. Indeed, ideally one should avoid speaking to him personally, if at all possible.

(Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:85)

Have a great day,
Mordechai