Loans in a currency that is dropping in value

Hi,

It is assumed that lenders who lend money for periods longer than a day intend to be repaid in a stable currency, even if the actual currency which changes hands is dropping in value rapidly. However, the lender really should stipulate this.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:43:3)

Good moed,
Mordechai

Shehechiyanu for Chanukah and Purim

Hi,

The days of Chanukah and Purim do not have inherent sanctity. Therefore, one would not recite Shehechiyanu for them, other than upon performing their unique mitzvot.

This is different from Yom Kippur, for example, when one recites Shechiyanu separate from the performance of any Yom Kippur-related mitzvah.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:43:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Shemitah etrogim

Hello,

One who lives outside of Israel may use an Israeli etrog which grew during shemitah and was sold, using the heter mechirah, to a non-Jew. Indeed, use of such etrogim should be encouraged, as we always encourage use of Israeli etrogim, and there is no problem with their export from Israel.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:42)

מועדים לשמחה,
Mordechai

The limit on spending for a mitzvah

Hi,

Normally, we say that there is a limit on what one must spend in order to fulfill a mitzvah; one need not spend more than 1/4 of one's assets [חומש מלגיו]. However, this is only where spending mitzvah is only a means of enabling the mitzvah, such as in purchasing an etrog. Where the spending actually is the mitzvah, such as in pidyon haben, one is required to spend whatever percentage is necessary.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:41)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Koreich: Why do we eat a sandwich?

Hi,


Once we eat matzah and marror separately, why do we combine them for a sandwich in Koreich?

The Torah instructs us regarding the combination of the korban pesach, matzah and marror, in Shemot 12:8 and Bamidbar 9:11.

The Talmud (Pesachim 115a) records a debate regarding the proper interpretation of the Torah's instruction in Bamidbar 9:11, "They shall eat [the korban] upon matzah and marror." Hillel debates the rest of the sages, and there are two views as to what their respective positions were:

1. Rabbi Yochanan: Hillel says a sandwich is acceptable; the Sages say it is unacceptable;

2. Rav Ashi: Hillel says a sandwich is necessary; the Sages say it is unnecessary.

Therefore, we eat the two items separately to satisfy Rabbi Yochanan's understanding of the position of the Sages, and we eat them together to satisfy Rav Ashi's understanding of the position of Hillel.

This is why we preface Koreich by saying that we are eating the sandwich to commemorate the Beit haMikdash, as Hillel did it.

For more on the technical issues surrounding the sandwich, feel free to download my audio shiur here.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Wood slats for schach

Hi,

Finished wood slats that are wide enough to be used for flooring should not be used for schach. If they are unfinished, though, or they are more narrow than that, one may use them.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:40:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

What is marror?

Hi,

Historically, Jews have used various vegetables and herbs as marror, from Romaine lettuce and cardoon artichoke to chicory and horseradish. The Talmud (Mishnah Pesachim 2:6, discussed on Pesachim 39a) lists five potential species, the first of which is chazeret (lettuce) and the rest of which are subject to some debate.

It seems fairly clear that horseradish is not one of the five species listed in the mishnah, especially given the talmudic description of marror as an above-ground plant. How, then, did people begin to use horseradish?

We first find horseradish in use for marror in late-13th century Germany [although a century earlier it was an ingredient in German charoset!]. Some speculate that people first used the leaves as marror, and only began to eat the root because of a scarcity of leaves. Others note that 19th century authorities recommended the use of the root for those who had trouble checking lettuce leaves for bugs.

For more on this issue, see this excellent article by Dr. Arthur Schaffer, and the sources I cite on this page.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

How many matzot?

Hi,


We face a basic challenge in setting up our matzah for the seder. On one hand, we need lechem mishneh, two matzot, just as we use two loaves of bread at our Shabbat meals. On the other hand, we want to fulfill the biblical description of matzah as lechem oni, which one view on Pesachim 115b explains as "bread of a pauper". Normally, our two loaves are whole, but a pauper's bread is broken; he doesn't eat from whole loaves at each meal.

The Rambam (Hilchot Chametz uMatzah 8:6) and Vilna Gaon (Orach Chaim 473:4:שלשה) say to use two loaves, and to break the second one; although we have whole loaves on Shabbat, we won't at the Seder.

Most families, though, follow Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 473:4 and use three loaves, breaking the middle one at Yachatz. We hold all three together when we recite the usual berachah of HaMotzi, so that we have two whole loaves as well as the broken one.

We then put down the bottom [whole] one, and retain only the top [whole] matzah and the broken one, and recite the berachah of Al Achilat Matzah, "on eating matzah". In this way, the second berachah, which is the more specialized berachah for Pesach, is recited with clear-cut "paupers' bread".

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A succah with canvas walls

Hi,

A succah which has canvas walls is kosher if the walls are tied at the base in a way that will not be undone easily, and they do not sway more than 3 tefach (10.8 inches).

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:40:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Decorating the Succah

Hi,

When we say that one should live in the succah "as he lives in his house", that refers to one's behaviour - sitting, eating, learning and sleeping, for example. It does not refer to the structure of the succah itself.

Therefore, one may use wall materials which are not the sort used for one's house. Also, one should decorate the walls of the succah even if he does not decorate the walls of his home.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:39:6, and see 5:40:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Leading Maggid

Hi,

Who leads Maggid?

The students of the Vilna Gaon wrote regarding his practice, "He recites the Haggadah, and all listen."  (Maaseh Rav 191) This sounds like one person leads.

On the other hand, the Chafetz Chaim (Biur Halachah 472 shelo) wrote, "According to the halachah that women are obligated in the four cups as men are, they must be careful to recite the haggadah for each cup, or at least hear it from their husbands." This indicates that the Haggadah may be read by each participant.

Rav Shimon Eider (Halachos of Pesach 24:F:6) contends that both customs are valid.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Ani va-what?

Hi,

In the Hoshanot recited on Succot, the proper pronounciation of the closing sentence is "Ani vaHo Hoshia Na". The words "Ani" and "Ho" are Names of Gd in this context, and this is the tradition for the proper pronounciation.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:39:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Putting a plastic cover over a succah on Shabbos

Hi,

One may put a plastic cover atop a succah on Shabbos. This is not called "construction", because the cover is clearly temporary. Even putting such a cover atop a non-ritual hut would be permitted, because it's not something one leaves atop the hut.

The above assumes the plastic cover is directly atop the roof; one may not support it above the roof, for that would constitute the separate problem of constructing an independent roof (ohel).

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:39:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A chazan who cannot put his legs close together

Hi,

We have noted that one is supposed to recite the amidah with his legs as close as possible to each other, to mirror the prophet Yechezkel's description of single-legged malachim (Yechezkel 1:7).

One who cannot do this should keep his legs as close to each other as possible, and is qualified to serve as shaliach tzibbur (chazan).

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:38:6)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Parting one's feet during the amidah

Hi,

The Talmud mentions that we stand with our legs aligned when reciting the amidah, to mimic the malachim, who are described in Yechezkel 1:7 as having "a single, straight leg."

The Talmudic commentary "Talmidei d'Rabbeinu Yonah" to Berachot 10b does note that some people had a practice of pointing their toes somewhat outward, to fulfill another part of that biblical verse, which describes the feet of the malach is being "like that of a calf", implying a split hoof. However, this was explicitly rejected by every major halachic authority from that time and onward. Therefore, one who is physically capable should keep his feet entirely together.

One whose ancestors or whose rebbe customarily separates his feet should nonetheless change his practice to follow the mainstream view; the rejected view cited in Talmidei d'Rabbeinu Yonah does not qualify as a legitimate custom, because of its explicit rejection by halachic authorities.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:37:5)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Standing when the Aron Kodesh (Ark) is open

Hi,

The practice of standing when the Aron Kodesh (Ark containing the Torah) is open is not required by the letter of the law. It developed as a popular practice more than 500 years ago in order to demonstrate love and honour for the Torah, but it was not accepted as the type of custom which would have the binding force of law. It is simply a good practice.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:38:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Saying the morning berachot after Shacharit?

Hi,

If I am late to shul in the morning, may I say the morning berachos after davening to save time in catching up?

The themes of many of the morning berachos are echoed in passages of Shacharis. These include:

·         Elokai neshamah and Mechayei hameisim in the amidah

·         Birchos haTorah and Ahavah rabbah preceding shema

·         Asher nasan lasechvi vinah and Yotzeit hame'oros preceding shema

·         Matir assurim and Mechalkel chayim in the amidah

Due to these duplications, halachic authorities contend that one might fulfill his obligation to recite the morning berachos just by davening Shacharis, even if this is not his intent. Therefore, one should recite the berachos before davening Shacharis. One who did not recite the berachos before Shacharis should answer Amen to someone else's berachos afterward.

(Rama Orach Chaim 52:1; Chayyei Adam 19:4; Mishneh Berurah 52:9; Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 52:8; Tehillah l'Dovid 46:2; Halichos Shlomo 6:7)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Morning berachot for one who was awake all night

Hi,

If I do not sleep all night, do I still recite the morning berachos?

[Note: We are not addressing birchos hatorah in this segment.]

One who does not sleep during the night should still recite the morning berachos, except for Elokai Neshamah and HaMaavir Sheinah, which seem to express thanks for one's personal sleep. Those berachos should be heard from someone else who has slept.

There is some debate regarding the case of one who sleeps in very short bursts. Many halachic authorities rule that a nap of thirty minutes is the minimum to constitute "sleep".

Some say that Elokai Neshamah should be recited after a daytime nap, but most halachic authorities disagree.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 46:8; Birkei Yosef 46:12; Pri Megadim Orach Chaim 46:EE 2; Shaarei Teshuvah 46:7; Mishneh Berurah 46:24; Biur Halachah 4 David, 47 hamashkim; Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 4:17, 46:13; Machazeh Eliyahu 1; Piskei Teshuvos 46:15)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Washing dishes on Shabbos

Hi,

May I wash the dishes after a meal on Shabbos?

[Note: The following answer assumes one does not use hot water, hard soap, sponges, steel wool, or drying towels, all of which can pose separate problems.]

We are prohibited from preparing on Shabbos for needs which will surface after Shabbos. However, one may wash dishes which one might need on Shabbos, even without a definite need. Many authorities even permit washing dishes when clean dishes are already available.

One certainly may wash dirty dishes if they are attracting bugs or if their presence poses a hygiene risk.

(Shabbos 113a, 118a; Tosefta Shabbos 12:17; Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Shabbos 23:7; Raavad and Maggid Mishneh ibid; Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 323:6; Magen Avraham 323:9; b'Tzel haChachmah 4:130; Yesodei Yeshurun 4:307; Teshuvos v'Hanhagos 1:223; Beer Moshe 6:82; Shemirat Shabbat k'Hilchatah 12:footnote 4; Mishneh Halachos 6:80)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

A woman covering her hair indoors

Hi,

It is true that the Talmud praises the practice of a woman named Kimchit, who covered her hair even in her home. However, a woman is by no means obligated to do so when only her husband and children are present, and even in talmudic times this was most uncommon.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:37:12)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Maariv in the car

Hi,

A passenger in a car, who expects to arrive at his destination before the middle of the night, should not daven maariv in the car. He should wait to arrive at his destination.

Even though we normally say that one should not sleep before davening maariv [lest he not wake up to daven], one who is in this position may nap in the car.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:37:11)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A coatroom swap

Hi,

I took the wrong coat from the shul coatroom, and when I came back mine was gone. May I wear the coat I took incorrectly, temporarily?

One who accidentally takes the wrong coat in shul, and then returns to find that his own coat is gone, may not continue to use the coat he took; perhaps a third party took his coat. Rather, one must seek the rightful owner of the coat he took. Further: Party A who used Party B's coat must offer to pay for that benefit, unless it turns out that Party B was using Party A's coat simultaneously.

It would be good for communities to implement a formal policy allowing people to use coats or boots taken by accident until the owner could be identified.

(Bava Basra 46a; Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat 136:2; Aruch haShulchan Choshen Mishpat 136:2; Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:9:7; Mishneh Halachos 5:276)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The berachah upon seeing graves

Hi,

There is a berachah which is recited upon seeing graves of Jews [after not seeing graves of Jews for thirty days]. This berachah is recited when seeing graves even if one is outside the cemetery, but not simply upon perceiving that there is a cemetery in that space.

A blind person would not recite this blessing, even when standing in the cemetery.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:37:10)

Have a great day,
Mordechai