Shul Archives - AskTheRav

Is it allowed to use a Shul as an event hall?

Question: Are you allowed to make a meal in a shul like by a farbrengen? What about renting a shul for a Bas Mitzvah? It seems from the research…

Is there anything wrong with playing musical instruments in Shul as part of the services while davening (on week days of course)?

Yes it's wrong, as it’s considered imitation of gentile practices. Sources: כ״כ גדולי ישראל רבים - ראה שו״ת חת״ס ו, פו הביאו במשנ״ב שלח, י. ס׳ צרור החיים…

Suspended Aron Kodesh

Question: Dear Rabbi Braun, 1. Regarding a Aron Kodesh that is attached to the wall and does not extend to the ground, I saw that the Chayei Adam prohibits…

Covering the Paroches

Question: Is there anything wrong to put the Paroches of an Aron Kodesh behind the wooden doors in front of the Sifrei Torah and put the names of the…

Question Regarding Torah-Themed Pamphlets

Question: I know that Seforim should not be laid upside-down—does the same apply for Pamphlets containing Torah (for example, “L’chaim,” "Sichat Hashavua,” and weekly-Parsha booklets printed in 770 for…

Is one allowed to tape a sign on the inside door of an Aron Kodesh (such as with the Tefillah of B’rich Sh’mei)?

A sign is okay on the door. And so is the Jewish custom in many places. Source: ראה שו״ת נוב״י תנינא יו״ד קפג. #5632 (2)

Is one allowed to store Tefillin in an Aron Kodesh?

Only on a hook in the door. Not in the Aron Kodesh itself. In the shelves beneath it’s okay. Source: שו״ת נוב״י תנינא יו״ד קפג. #5632…

Would this be considered interference with the shliach’s activities if…

Question: I live in... where they had a Chabad House run by the local shliach. A lot of things happened with the Chabad House and now is there no…

Article: The Yeses and Noes of the Breakaway Minyan

It can happen quite frequently in large shuls (and less often in mid-size ones): You come to daven on Shabbos to find that a small but significant group of…

I walk too far from Shul to walk there on Shabbos…

Question: I live 1 hour and 15 minute walk from Shul. I drive there during the week. I feel uncomfortable walking there mincha & maariv at night. only Shachris…

I do not live so close to a shule. The only nearby shule uses a “Shabbos” microphone. Is there a halachic problem with such a microphone on Shabbos?

AskTheRav: There are details missing here. What type of shul is this that uses a "Shabbos microphone"? What is their mechitzah standards and other religious standards? User: Thank…

Is it permitted for my students (2nd grade) to Daven Shmoneh Esreh and all of Davening, facing a wall that has a Rebbe picture on it? The Rebbe picture is very high up on the wall, where students are probably not looking during Davening. The Rebbe’s picture is on the front wall of the classroom which is Mizrach.

Although there is room to permit under certain conditions when it is not at eye level, this should not be done for many reasons. Poskim specifically caution that pictures of…

Should the white Tishrei Paroches be changed tonight at the start of 7 Cheshvon or tomorrow night at the conclusion?

I know of no instruction from the Rebbe one way or another. For many years, the Paroches was changed after Simchas Torah. Furthermore, in many places it’s changed way…

Can a Shliach try to have Hashpa’ah on a Reform community in such a situation?

Full Question: On page two of this interview with Rabbi Riskin, he quotes a Psak that Horav Soloveitchik A”H gave him about a frum rabbi sitting in Reform temple,…

I know the Bimah needs to be in middle of Shul and was told that one row of seats in the back of the Bimah is sufficient. The Bimah we have has 2 chairs connected to structure of Bimah, would that be enough for having “seating” behind the Bimah, or would we have to put more chairs behind the whole structure?

Since the Bimah appears (based on the picture you sent) to be close to the back wall of the Shul on the west side, there should be chairs also…

1. Is there an issue of having the Bimah behind the seats in back of Shul rather than in middle? (There is a table behind the Bimah that some sit there).

2. For some reason the Bimah became the place where the Chazzan Davens. The Bimah has few steps to to it. Heard it can be an issue. Is there…

I often Daven at various Shuls where the Aron Hakodesh is not on the eastern side of the Shul and everyone Davens towards the Aron Hakodesh. Should I nevertheless face east?

The Tzibur should face Mizrach, even if the Aron Hakodesh is in a different direction. However, If the Tzibur is facing the wrong direction, one should not change from their…

Is there any room to permit placing a Bimah in the front of a Shul?

The Bimah may not be in the front of the shul. If absolutely necessary, there is room to permit so when there is at least one row of seats between…

Where does the Rebbe give his ruling about a Mechitzah in a Shul?

In many places - see references below. Sources: אג״ק ז ע׳ שט. שם ע׳ שכח. יד ע׳ רכח. יח ע׳ שצד. יט ע׳ עד. כג ע׳ קנו. שם ע׳…

Someone got possession of a church’s furniture, and donated the tables and chairs to a Shul. The Shul does not know where it came from. Someone who knows the source of the furniture is asking if it’s OK for the Shul to use it, or does he have to tell them where it’s from?

There is no need to notify the Shul. Sources: ראה פמ״ג קנד במ״ז סק״ח שהביא דברי המג״א קנג, טו שספסלים הם בגדר תשמיש קדושה. ועכ״ז כת״ש שעשה מעשה להיתר…