Q & A from- Yeshiva.org.il

Mazal tov ??

Rabbi Yoel Lieberman

Question:

Hi Shavua tov. I have 2 questions. a) From where does the statement ’Mazal-tov" come from b) If we say that Am Yisrael does not have Mazal so why do we wish each other "mazal-tov"

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Wearing Tefillin at Mincha

Rabbi Yoel Lieberman

Question:

I sometimes see people putting on Tefillin at Mincha time. What is the reason for this? It is because they did not pray with a minyan for Shacharit? Is it obligatory to do so?

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kashrut

Beit El Yeshiva Rabbis

Question:

Why can we not store a cut-up onion in the refrigerator? And does adding a pinch of salt make it OK?

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Sara

Beit El Yeshiva Rabbis

Question:

What was Sara’s hebrew name? I was told that it was Iska.

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Meals and Brachot

Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt

Question:

Re the Rabbi’s Answer to the question "My daughter asked me about what we say in birkat hamazon. She said" It is not true that Hashem מכין מזון לכל בריותיו (provides food for all the creations) with all the people starving in different places of the world. What do I answer her???" How does one say "Tomid lo Chossar Lonu" If they were in the concentration camps and were starving. Thank You

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Married Men wearing a tallis over their head

Rabbi Yoel Lieberman

Question:

What is the source or reason for married men to wear their tallis over their head during davenning. I have observed some people doing this for the duration of davenning and others just for certain parts ie. from Yishtabach or Shemoneh Esrei. Is there a correct practice? Why is this particularly done by married men, as opposed to unmarried men who wear a tallis before they are married? Finally, if one is the shaliach tzibbur for mincha and the minhag of the shul is to wear a tallis, should one wear it over ones head?

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Father with medium stage dementia

Beit El Yeshiva Rabbis

Question:

Dear Rabbi, My father has medium stage dimentia. He has good days and bad days. Where do I draw the line between respecting him and interfering in his life. -Do I respect him by not saying anything or should I tell him he hasn’t got a good smell? -Should my father be corrected when he makes mistakes in Kidush or Benshing? -Should I tell him he is not capable to go abroad for Rosh Hashana, but should come to me instead? And what should I tell my children about their grandfathers behaviour? Thank you, Channa

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Birkas Cohanim

Beit El Yeshiva Rabbis

Question:

Kavod ha-rov! I am the only cohen in our kehillo chutz la-oretz. There is also a levi, but the gentleman is very old so he cannot wash my hands before duchening. Therefore our practice was that a first born son washed my hands. A rov that visited our shul said that we should abolish this practice and therefore I was unable to duchen on shavuos this year. Could you please give me a psak din about whether we should continue with our practice or whether there is any other halachic way for me to duchen with properly washing my hands. Thank you very much.

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Bracha for ’mezonot Bread’ and Pizza

Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff

Question:

If I eat bread which is mezonot in a sandwich form do i say Mezonot or wash and say Hamotzi? Or does it depend whether or not i have a ’seudah kvu’a’ (a permanent meal)? What about if I eat 1 piece of Pizza for lunch?? Thankyou

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Makeup

Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt

Question:

Are there any Halachic restrictions in regard to makeup and/or earrings for married or umarrried women?

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Bircat Kohanim

Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt

Question:

I learnt it was OK to answer amen after each part of Bircat Kohanim even if no Cohen is present. I was told this was wrong. Please clarify this issue.

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Touching the sweat of the face during prayer

Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt

Question:

I sweat a lot and it occurs that I wipe the sweat from my face with my hands during prayer. Is this a problem as far as the need of having clean hands during prayer?

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Conversion and Levi status

Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff

Question:

Rabbi, I am a male currently undergoing an Orthodox conversion; my father is Jewish and my mother had a non-Orthodox conversion. My father is a Levi; after my conversion is complete am I considered a Levi?

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פצוע דכה

Rabbi Gideon Weitzman

Question:

If a man’s testicles are still completely intact but stop working probably would that classify him as a פצוע דכה (If the Hebrew did not appear: A man with crushed testicles or a severed organ shall not enter the congregation of Hashem. Devarim 23:2)? In addition to the Rabbi’s answer could the Rabbi believe give me additional sources to look up as well? Thank you!

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Women drinking from the wine of Havdalah

Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt

Question:

I make my own Havdalah (“separation” the ceremony at termination of Shabbat and holidays). As a woman, is it forbidden for me to drink the wine? If so, what is the reason?

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Maasser

Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt

Question:

Hello, I have a lemon tree growing in a pot in my Mirpesset (uncovered) for over 4 years, and it has lemons growing in all seasons. I want to pick lemons when I need them (one or two at a time). How do I take Maasser and Truma? Do I need to do so each time I pick a lemon? What is the law regarding herbs and Maasser? Thank you Louisa Israel

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Parve soup in Milk Pot

Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt

Question:

If a parve soup was cooked in a Dairy pot (pot was not used in last 24 hours) can the soup be eaten in a meat bowl (porcelain) with silver meat spoon? Furthermore can the soup be reheated in a meaty Pot?

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A Dating couple using nicknames

Rabbi Yoel Lieberman

Question:

Is there any problem for a boy and girl who are dating using nicknames for each other? i remember Rambam mentioning that this should be avoided although i have not found it. someone once told me that especially if one is not yet engaged using romantic nicknames should be avoided.

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Kaddish for more than 1 person

Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff

Question:

I am saying Kaddish for an aunt with no one to say Kaddish for her. I am often asked to say kaddish for others who are late for a minyan or who are otherwise unable to say it. May one say Kaddish and have more than 1 person in mind? Please can you let me know the Mekorot for your answer. Thank you so much!

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Slaughtering a non-kosher animal

Rabbi Yoel Lieberman

Question:

I wish to take a stance via Civil Disobedience, It deals with shechita. Can I as a Jew, slaughter a pig rather than a permitted animal to use as the vehicle of protest? obviously, I will not make any profit from this act in a financial manner, and the question comes to mind, if the animal is slaughtered in such a fashion as to make it unfit for sale or consumption is it permissible to take this action?

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