Changing accents in prayer

Hi,

One who has a family tradition of using Ashkenazi or Sephardi pronunciation of Hebrew should not veer from that tradition when praying.

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

Have a great day,
Mordechai

When in doubt

Hi,

The context for the following statement is the obligation to immerse glass utensils in a mikvah, when one does not know whether they were manufactured by Jews, but he could easily find out.

It is true that one who is in doubt regarding his obligation to fulfill a rabbinic mitzvah may opt for leniency (ספק דרבנן לקולא). However, if it would be easy to resolve the doubt, and it is only laziness which keeps him from investigating, then he is obligated to fulfill it.

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

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The berachah on besamim, when one has a cold

Hi,

Does one recite the berachah on besamim at Havdalah, if he cannot smell them due to a cold?

One who cannot smell should not recite a berachah on besamim, even if he is reciting Havdalah on behalf of a group; the others in the group should recite the berachah for themselves, before they smell the besamim.

If some in the group are unable to recite a berachah, then the leader should recite the berachah on their behalf despite his cold. He should only do so after drinking the wine from Havdalah, though.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 297:5; Har Tzvi Orach Chaim 1:37; Mishneh Halachos 15:89; Shemirat Shabbat k'Hilchatah 61:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The Chazan's recitation of Kedushah

Hi,

The chazan should state the responses of kedushah [Kadosh Kadosh, Baruch Kvod, Yimloch] aloud, separate from the community's recitation of those responses. In this way, he will fulfill the obligation of individuals who have not yet completed the amidah, who then listen to his responses as their own.

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

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Waiting for a minyan

Hi,

A group of people who are davening Shacharit, and who reach Yishtabach without a minyan, should not wait for the tenth if the delay might cause them to start conversing, which is prohibited at that stage in davening. Even if they will not converse, they should not wait long, since that would rob them of time they could have spent in Torah study.

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

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Fasting when a Torah falls

Hi,

The practice of fasting when a Sefer Torah falls to the ground is subject to significant debate. In practice, all who are present should fast, even if it fell due to circumstances beyond anyone's control.

There is room to be lenient if part of the Torah remains in one's hand, although it would be appropriate to fast.

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

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Tefillin for re-trained lefties

Hi,

One who is naturally left-handed, but who trains himself to write passably with his right hand, still puts on tefillin like a left-handed person, on his right arm.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai