Mechitzah - Height? Part II

Hi,

As with the previous two posts, this may be subject to debate, but Rav Moshe Feinstein ruled that a mechitzah's height is measured from the floor of the adjoining sections. Therefore, a shul with a 60-inch mechitzah, but with a women's section raised 10 inches, would only have a 50-inch mechitzah.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:31)

מועדים לשמחה,
Mordechai

Mechitzah - Height?

Hi,

This is subject to debate, but the opinion of Rav Moshe Feinstein was that a mechitzah should be higher than shoulder height, and so he recommended 60 inches.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:29-31)

מועדים לשמחה,
Mordechai

Mechitzah - Opaque?

Hi,

This is a controversial topic, but the position of Rav Moshe Feinstein was that a mechitzah for prayer should be entirely opaque, although there could be small holes which would not encourage frivolity.

Rav Moshe did acknowledge that some accept a mechitzah which has gaps of less than three inches.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:29, 32)

מועדים לשמחה,
Mordechai

Counting the Omer

Hello,

The Torah instructs the Jewish people to bring a barley offering out of the new crop of barley, on the 2nd day of Passover. They are then to count seven weeks, 49 days, and then celebrate Shavuot - on which they bring a wheat offering from the new crop of wheat.

To continue this practice even without a Temple and its offerings, we count 49 days from the 2nd night of Passover through the night preceding Shavuot. The recitation may be found on page 282 in the standard Artscroll Siddur.

If a person forgets to count the Omer at night, he can make it up the next day without reciting the associated blessing, and then continue to count normally that night.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 489:7)

חג כשר ושמח,
Mordechai

Ashkenaz and Sephard leining

Hi,

All accents are acceptable as "lashon hakodesh", and so one can fulfill Kriat haTorah by hearing it in any synagoguge, regardless of its Ashkenaz, Sephard or other accent. However, the person who leins (reads from the Torah) should use the accent of that synagogue.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:23)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Hallel in shul on Pesach night

Hi,

What should I do if I daven on Pesach night in a shul which says Hallel, and my minhag is not to say Hallel?

Various reasons are cited for saying Hallel in shul on Pesach night; some suggest this fulfills the mitzvah for those who are not expert enough to recite it properly at the seder, while others suggest it is because we split Hallel into two parts in our Haggadah. The practice is cited by major Sephardic authorities and some Ashkenazic authorities, although it is not universal.

One who personally does not recite Hallel, but who is in a shul which does, should recite Hallel to avoid varying visibly from their practice. Some authorities even say that he should recite Hallel with a berachah, if the community would notice its omission.

One who personally recites Hallel, but is in a shul which does not, should recite Hallel quietly in private.

(Ran to Pesachim 118a; Tur Orach Chaim 473; Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 487:4; Birkei Yosef 487:9; Kaf haChaim 487:38-39; Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:94; Moadim uZmanim 7:179; Piskei Teshuvos 487:5)

חג כשר ושמח,
Mordechai

Missing part of the Torah reading

Hi,

One who misses part of the Torah reading on Shabbat, so that he doesn't hear the entire parshah, should endeavor to hear it read again if that would be possible without great strain. This will enable him to fulfill the custom of hearing the entire Torah annually.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:23)

Have a great day,
Mordechai