Writing or Buying a Sefer Torah

Hi,

One fulfills the mitzvah of writing a sefer torah by purchasing one that has been written.

There are those who criticize this route because one takes advantage of work that others have done, but generally these sifrei torah do need some repair, and therefore that is not a concern.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Yoreh Deah 1:163)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Conversion of a pregnant woman

Hi,

Normally, a woman who converts to Judaism must then wait three months before she can marry, so that she will know with certainty that any subsequent conception occurred after the conversion. However, a woman who is pregnant at the time of conversion need not wait, since the reason for waiting is obviously inapplicable.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Yoreh Deah 1:158)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Conversion for the sake of marriage

Hi,

A conversion which is entered into for the sake of marriage is valid after the fact, assuming that the person who converted fully accepted the obligation to perform mitzvot.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Yoreh Deah 1:157)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Attending a brit at which Shabbat will be violated

Hi,

One is not supposed to put himself into a position where he will witness violation of the laws of Shabbat. However, one should not lose the opportunity for a mitzvah in order to avoid such a place; therefore, a mohel should go to perform a brit milah in a place where people violate Shabbat, and then leave once the mitzvah is done.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Yoreh Deah 1:156)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Lending as tzedakah

Hi,

One may lend money to a pauper, having in mind that should the pauper not pay back then the loan will count toward the maaser kesafim obligation of giving 10% of one's income to tzedakah. Of course, this works only where the pauper is indigent enough to qualify as a recipient of that 10%.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Yoreh Deah 1:153; see this responsum for another discussion about retroactively identifying a loan as tzedakah after default)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Use of tzedakah one has received

Hi,

One who receives tzedakah, which was given with the stipulation that it be used for his household's basic needs (food/clothing/utilities), is not permitted to use it for other purposes, even to pay off debts. One may not even borrow from the funds for that purpose.

This may be true even if the money is given without such a stipulation; even within the view of those who contend that an individual recipient may vary from donor intent, a recipient may only use tzedakah for purposes which will enable the donor to fulfill his mitzvah of tzedakah.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Yoreh Deah 1:152)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Vows for tzedakah

Hi,

One who takes a vow to give tzedakah if a certain condition is fulfilled, such as, "If I succeed in losing weight, then I will give ________ to tzedakah," then the obligation to give tzedakah begins only upon fulfillment of the condition.

This is true whether or not the individual structures the vow with the technical vow structure identified in the Talmud.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Yoreh Deah 1:151)

Have a great day,
Mordechai