Praying with a urinary catheter

Hi,

One who has a urinary catheter, which is connected to a receptacle that holds urine, should cover them when praying.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:27)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Announcing page numbers during davening

Hi,

Announcing page numbers is considered an interruption which is "for the purpose of davening [prayer]", and therefore one may announce a page number between paragraphs of Psukei d'Zimra [the introductory psalms recited as part of Shacharit each morning]. For the same reason, one may announce a page number before the Maariv amidah.

It would be better, though, to post signs with the page numbers.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:22)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Earliest time for Tefillin

Hello,

We normally assume that the earliest time for tefillin is the same as the earliest time for tallit - when there is enough daylight that one could identify an acquaintance at a distance of several feet.

However, one who must rise and complete all of davening before then, and who will not have any opportunity to put on tefillin at the proper time, may rely upon the view that tefillin is a "nighttime mitzvah" as well as a daytime mitzvah, and put them on with a berachah for his early davening.

If his davening will extend past that "earliest time", then he should not rely upon this leniency.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:10 and Orach Chaim 4:6)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Tefillin on a paralyzed arm

Hi,

One whose arm does not have blood flow should not put tefillin on that arm; he is viewed halachically as an amputee. One whose arm is only paralyzed, though, puts tefillin on that arm.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Tzitzit materials

Hi,

Ideally, one should wear tzitzit garments made of wool, with tzitzit strings made of wool.

One who cannot wear a wool garment, such as due to heat, may wear non-wool, but then he should also use tzitzit strings made of the same material as the garment. If that is not possible, he should use wool strings.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Minimum size of a yarmulka

Hi,

I've been contemplating a switch from the "topic" approach, to instead draw on responsa on a variety of topics. This will sacrifice continuity, but gain practical relevance. If you have thoughts or preferences on using this approach, please let me know.

Rav Shlomo Kluger ruled that a yarmulka must cover the majority of one’s head, both when reciting a blessing and when walking about. As a matter of strict law, though, Rav Moshe Feinstein ruled that this is not obligatory; a yarmulka must only cover enough of the head that an on-looker would deem the head “covered”.

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

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Privacy walls, Part III

Hi,

Because we obligate both neighbors to build a privacy wall, the default assumption regarding any such wall is that it belongs to both of them. Therefore, should such a wall collapse the materials would be property of the neighbors equally, unless one can prove that they are his.

(Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat 157:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai