Fast of the Firstborn, when Pesach starts on Sunday

Hi,

One could argue that when Pesach starts on Sunday, so that Taanit Bechorim (the Fast of the Firstborn) is observed on the preceding Thursday, one would need to make a siyyum on both Thursday and Friday, since making the siyyum on Thursday alone would simply push the fasting obligation to Friday.

However, since the whole fast is a matter of custom, and since there are those who argue that in such a year there simply is no fast, making a siyyum on Thursday may suffice.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:69:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

"Mei'ein Sheva" on Friday night in a non-synagogue minyan

Hi,

If a location is regularly used for a minyan on Friday nights, then they should recite the "mei'ein sheva" quasi-repetition of the amidah, even if there is no Torah scroll present.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:69:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Drinking from the Sheva Berachot cups at Seudah Shlishit

Hi,

We don't eat or drink after sunset on Shabbat, until Shabbat is over and one has recited Havdalah.

Therefore, where Seudah Shlishit is also a meal of Sheva Berachot and it ends after sunset, the person who recites birkat hamazon does not drink from the cup. However, the chatan and kallah do drink.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:69:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Musaf before Shacharit?

Hi,

One who comes to shul so late that the shul is preparing to daven Musaf should not begin with Musaf. He should start with Shacharit, despite the fact that this means he will miss reciting Musaf with the community.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:68)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Naming with a non-Hebrew name

Hi,

One who is naming for a deceased relative should use that relative's actual name, even if it is Yiddish rather than Hebrew.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:66)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

What time does Shabbos end?

Hi,

[As always, note the disclaimer that appears on top of this blog.]

In most of North America, it is sufficient to wait until 50 minutes after sunset for Shabbat to end, and this is equivalent to the 72-minute wait observed in some places in Europe. It varies based upon latitude. However, it is appropriate for those who are able to wait a full 72 minutes, even in North America.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:62)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Making guacamole on Shabbos

Hi,

May I prepare guacamole on Shabbos, mashing avocado and mixing it with lime juice and spices?

One of the forbidden melachos of Shabbos is tochein, which involves breaking a solid material into small particles. There is some debate as to whether this occurs when mashing soft entities which will stick together afterward. Therefore, one should do this right before eating the food, since many authorities rule that tochein not relevant when one eats the food soon afterward. Ideally, one should mash the avocado with an unusual implement, such as the handle of a fork.

One may squeeze lime juice directly into the avocado without concern for the melachah of sechitah (squeezing liquid from certain solids). One may then mix the juice into the mashed avocado without concern for the melachah of lishah (sticking small items together, to form a dough-like entity) ; the liquid does not cause the particles of avocado to stick together. Even were the spices to stick together, this would not constitute lishah.

(Mishneh Berurah 320:22, 321:45; Chazon Ish Orach Chaim 57, 58:9; Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:74:Tochein 2; Shemirat Shabbat k'Hilchatah 8:19-20, 8:footnote 81)

Have a great day,
Mordechai