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In my opinion: If every time he agrees to put on Tefillin he is going to be pressured to also put on Rabeinu Tam, he may not agree so fast to put on Tefillin anymore. So it's up to… In my opinion: If every time he agrees to put on Tefillin he is going to be pressured to also put on Rabeinu Tam, he may not agree so fast to put on Tefillin anymore. So it's up to you to play it smart and know when to offer Rabeinu Tam and when to refrain from it. It should also be noted that the Rebbe did not include Rabeinu Tam in Mivtza Tefillin. Rabeinu Tam is more the person's own responsibility towards himself, versus Mivtzoim where we have a responsibility towards others as well. Additionally, it should be noted…Show more
Question: It is often repeated that it's "minhag Chabad" not to eat Matzah starting already 30 days before. However the only basis for this is a letter in Igros Kodesh in which the Rebbe writes this to a person… Question: It is often repeated that it's "minhag Chabad" not to eat Matzah starting already 30 days before. However the only basis for this is a letter in Igros Kodesh in which the Rebbe writes this to a person in the context of a response to a person whom the dentist wants to pull out his teeth. Is a letter to a yachid in which the Rebbe mentions something in passing enough to re-establish something as minhag Chabad despite the fact that the Rebbe never came out with any such proclamation or request to add to Sefer HaMinhagim? (It…Show more
Here are a few excerpts from our Halacha guide: Thursday: Denture wearers who are scrupulous, should not eat or drink any warm or sharp chametz substance for a twenty-four hour period prior to kashering their teeth (which should be… Here are a few excerpts from our Halacha guide: Thursday: Denture wearers who are scrupulous, should not eat or drink any warm or sharp chametz substance for a twenty-four hour period prior to kashering their teeth (which should be done on Friday). Friday: Young people with non-removable braces, or those with bridgework or implants should avoid all hot and sharp chametz foods for twenty-four hours beginning this morning at 10:55 am. Prepare boiling water for Shabbos, which will be used after cleaning teeth well before the chametz end-time on Shabbos morning, and then “kashering” their braces or…Show more
White flour is technically more Mehudar, though some communities specifically use whole wheat for various reasons - see below. Sources: בכלל, סולת מהודר יותר לענין ברכה. וכ"ה בעניננו בארחות…
המוצא כתבי קודש וכדומה ברה"ר בשבת, ישאר לידם לשמור אותם עד מוצ"ש ואז יכניס אותם לרה"י. ואם אינו יכול לישאר וחושש שיבואו לידי בזיון (דהיינו בזיון גדול או שיתקלקל וכדומה), יקח אותם פחות פחות מד' אמות, או נותנם לחבירו… המוצא כתבי קודש וכדומה ברה"ר בשבת, ישאר לידם לשמור אותם עד מוצ"ש ואז יכניס אותם לרה"י. ואם אינו יכול לישאר וחושש שיבואו לידי בזיון (דהיינו בזיון גדול או שיתקלקל וכדומה), יקח אותם פחות פחות מד' אמות, או נותנם לחבירו שעומד בתוך ד' אמות וכו', וכשיגיע לבית/חצר הקרוב יתנם לחבירו בשעה שחבירו הולך בתוך הבית/חצר. ואם לא יבואו לידי בזיון, יכול להניחם ע"ג דבר שאינו רה"י, כגון ע"ד דבר שפחות מי' טפחים גובה וד' טפחים רוחב. Source: ראה שו"ע אדה"ז שא, נא-ד בדין המוצא תפילין או ס"ת ברה"ר בשבת. ובערוה"ש סי"ז כתב דה"ה בכל הספרים. ולהעיר משו"ע אדה"ז שלד,…Show more
Renting together is not allowed, even for a short amount of time, as this is considered permanently dwelling with your sister. However you may visit her temporarily (e.g. coming from out of town to stay by her for several… Renting together is not allowed, even for a short amount of time, as this is considered permanently dwelling with your sister. However you may visit her temporarily (e.g. coming from out of town to stay by her for several days or vice versa) but permanently is not allowed. Poskim dispute the exact amount of days that is deemed temporary. A brother and sister living by their parents, are allowed to dwell permanently in the same house, since others are present. Source: אבהע״ז ס׳ כ״ב חלקת מחוקק ס״ק א. אג"מ אבהע"ז ח"ד סי' סד ס"ק ג. #10819Show more
One should not pause unnecessarily in the middle of reading Shema and definitely not interrupt with speech or doing other things. Nevertheless, one does not need to restart Shema even if he had paused for a long time, unless… One should not pause unnecessarily in the middle of reading Shema and definitely not interrupt with speech or doing other things. Nevertheless, one does not need to restart Shema even if he had paused for a long time, unless he has paused because he was not fit to read Shema at that time (e.g. he relieved himself) or he passed a place where he cannot read Shema and the lapse was long enough for him to read the entire Kriyas Shema in it's entirety - in such a case he would have to restart from the beginning of Shema.…Show more
Question continued: If so, why is this not specifically mentioned in Siman 61, where it seems that such a halacha would belong (especially, for example, about pronouncing the word "ve'ahav'ta" with the emphasis mil'ra (like it is in the… Question continued: If so, why is this not specifically mentioned in Siman 61, where it seems that such a halacha would belong (especially, for example, about pronouncing the word "ve'ahav'ta" with the emphasis mil'ra (like it is in the Torah reading) and not mil'el (like many children are taught to sing it in school))? And if it is indeed not necessary to conform to the rules of mil'el and mil'ra when pronouncing the words of davening, why not? Answer: Lechatchila one should be careful to emphasize the correct syllable just as one should be careful with all the…Show more
One should be careful not to put anything on top of tefillin or seforim even when the tefillin/seforim are in a bag. Some are lenient with regards to putting a Siddur in the tallis bag on top of the… One should be careful not to put anything on top of tefillin or seforim even when the tefillin/seforim are in a bag. Some are lenient with regards to putting a Siddur in the tallis bag on top of the tefilin if the tefilin has its own bag. Source: ע”פ שו”ע יו”ד סי’ רפב סי”ט. והנה, יש שהעירו משו״ע או״ח סי’ כה ס”א, דלא יניח כיס התפילין למעלה מן הטלית, דמשמע דיש להניח הטלית ע”ג התפילין, וראה בחיי״א יג, א שכתב בפשיטות להניח טלית על התפילין, וכנראה טעמו לפי שהוא צורך התפילין לפי שצריך להתעטף תחילה בטלית. וכ”ה בקיצור…Show more
It should be pronounced as "Hashem" without saying the actual name, because it’s not a Posuk. #13001
Can I bake my Challa in my fleishig oven? Yes, Challah for Shabbos may be baked in a fleishig oven, even if the oven is dirty (and it’s considered fleishig, see below about cake). If you’re baking regular bread,… Can I bake my Challa in my fleishig oven? Yes, Challah for Shabbos may be baked in a fleishig oven, even if the oven is dirty (and it’s considered fleishig, see below about cake). If you’re baking regular bread, you may use the fleishig oven only if the oven is clean (see below more about its status), or if it's a small amount, or if you make a Heker (sign) before baking. Source: ראה סימן צז סעיף א ברמ"א, שלשבת נחשב כדבר מועט, אבל שאר לחם אסור אף ביש ששים נגד הטוח בעין, ראה משב"ז שם סק"א. בנקי'…Show more
One may remove all Mezuzas for the purpose of checking. If possible, one should borrow Mezuzas to put up in the meantime, especially in a home that is owned and not rented (many Sofrim have such an option). A… One may remove all Mezuzas for the purpose of checking. If possible, one should borrow Mezuzas to put up in the meantime, especially in a home that is owned and not rented (many Sofrim have such an option). A Brocha is made when placing the temporary Mezuzos (on entrances that require a Brocha in the first place). (To note that the outside door of a home is actually sometimes less likely to need a Mezuzah, or at least it might not be min haTorah - see details in article #671). Sources: לא מצינו בפוסקים הקדמונים חשש בזה במשך הבדיקה (אף…Show more
Q. Is it more mehudar to have many wicks in the Havdalah candle? A. Yes, there is a hiddur mitzvah to have more than one flame for the havdalah candle. The Alter Rebbe writes in Shulchan Aruch (298:4): “The… Q. Is it more mehudar to have many wicks in the Havdalah candle? A. Yes, there is a hiddur mitzvah to have more than one flame for the havdalah candle. The Alter Rebbe writes in Shulchan Aruch (298:4): “The optimum manner of fulfilling the mitzvah is to recite the blessing over a torch containing many [burning] brands and many [sources of] light, for the blessing uses the wording “borei meorei ha’eish” [“Who created the lights of fire” in the plural], an expression implying many sources of light.” . Q. Is there an Inyan to specifically use a beeswax…Show more
Though some say that “a person’s life is numbered according to solar years, as is the life of any growing thing, for example, trees and the like” (Rasa"g commentary on Bereishis), nonetheless, the secular birthday shouldn’t be recognized or… Though some say that “a person’s life is numbered according to solar years, as is the life of any growing thing, for example, trees and the like” (Rasa"g commentary on Bereishis), nonetheless, the secular birthday shouldn’t be recognized or celebrated beyond legal requirements. See also here. Source: ראה ביאור רס"ג בראשית. וראה אגרת השבת לראב"ע: ואומר בתחלה כי כל עגול אין לו ראשית, רק כרצון איש ואיש, אכן ראשית שנת כל אדם מרגע הולדו, ובשוב השמש אל הנקודה הראשונה שהיתה שם בתחילה תעלה לו שנה תמימה. מצאנו שהתורה מציינת את יום הולדת פרעה וכן במלחמת עמלק הלכו למלחמה…Show more
If someone is saying korbonos for Shacharis, but gets confused with Mincha and skips "Abaye" and remembers once they finished or almost finished "Ana Bechoach", do they repeat "Ana Bechoach" after they say "Abaye" or not? If someone spaces… If someone is saying korbonos for Shacharis, but gets confused with Mincha and skips "Abaye" and remembers once they finished or almost finished "Ana Bechoach", do they repeat "Ana Bechoach" after they say "Abaye" or not? If someone spaces out during pesukei dezimra on Shabbos and realizes after saying "Yishtabach" that they skipped "Nishmas" and other Shabbos additions, how should they proceed? Answer: Korbonos: no need to repeat. Nishmas: if one remembers before saying Hashem's name in the Beracha of Yishtabach, he should go back to Nishmas. If one already…Show more
ראה כאן וראה כאן (ה'). #10872
The custom is to not be particular about doing so. Source: ראה הר צבי א, סד. בירור הלכה תליתאי קלד. דברי יציב א, עו. וראה המובא בפסק"ת קלד ז, עם כמה טעמים לזה. #10841
If there is a הפסד גדול or a צורך גדול there room for leniency. Source: אמירה לנכרי בדבר שאינו אסור אלא משום שבות לצורך מצוה התירו-סימן ש"ז סעיף ה ואדה"ז סעיף י"ב. אבל בנדו"ד זה לאחרי המצוה. ומ״מ… If there is a הפסד גדול or a צורך גדול there room for leniency. Source: אמירה לנכרי בדבר שאינו אסור אלא משום שבות לצורך מצוה התירו-סימן ש"ז סעיף ה ואדה"ז סעיף י"ב. אבל בנדו"ד זה לאחרי המצוה. ומ״מ יש להתיר במקום הפסד, ובהקדם שיש לעיין אם זה שבות דשבות, שמצד קושר ומתיר הרי דעתו רק לכמה ימים ובמילא אינו דאורייתא, ומצד בנין וסתירה יש סברא להתיר משום מלאכה שאינה צריכה לגופה - ראה דעת אדה"ז בסימן ש"מ סעיף ב' וסימן של"ד סעיף כ"ה בטעם הר"ן (דלא כהמג"א סימן ש"ז סק"ז) שדוקא בדליקה החמירו לומר לנכרי מפני שאדם בהול,…Show more
Question: My first cousin recently passed away. I am aware that I have no obligation to say Kaddish for him, but I have the question whether my saying Kaddish would accomplish more than paying someone else to do it.… Question: My first cousin recently passed away. I am aware that I have no obligation to say Kaddish for him, but I have the question whether my saying Kaddish would accomplish more than paying someone else to do it. One Rabbi told me that although he never saw anything written on the matter, he would think that my being a close relative would mean that I would say it with more feeling. A different Rabbi shared his opinion that it would be better if I did not say Kaddish. If I am not accomplishing anything more than a…Show more
Question: Is it okay to participate in a raffle for a Tzedaka organization. It has all the elements of a gambling game. For the participants and for the organization. Answer: Without looking into the details of the raffle… Question: Is it okay to participate in a raffle for a Tzedaka organization. It has all the elements of a gambling game. For the participants and for the organization. Answer: Without looking into the details of the raffle in order to be able to determine if it is indeed considered Halachicly gambling - this is a non issue since the funds are going to a Tzedakah. Sources: ואין אסמכתא להקדש - שו״ע חו״מ סי׳ ר״ז סעי׳ י״ט ברמ״א, שו״ע יו״ד סי׳ רנ״ח סעי׳ י׳. וראה עד״ז פתחי חושן קנינים כ״א בהע׳…Show more
Question: I have a Sefer Torah in Chabad house in a portable dresser/closet. What is the minhag in general regarding how many coverings and how to cover it? Right now it is just in the dresser (it's the only… Question: I have a Sefer Torah in Chabad house in a portable dresser/closet. What is the minhag in general regarding how many coverings and how to cover it? Right now it is just in the dresser (it's the only thing in the dresser). There's no paroches. Should I put a talis on the entire dresser, should I just cover the Torah itself inside with a talis? Or is it ok to just leave it the way it is, because either way no one is living permanently in the Chabad house? If you can tell me if there's…Show more
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 but others permit. Would this be okay for a Chabad… 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 but others permit. Would this be okay for a Chabad House? I saw a letter of the Rebbe that one should not change from the minhag. Would this be in that category? 2. A second question: I noticed some Chabad houses have wooden doors on the outside, then a curtain, and then doors again. Supposedly the outer doors are creating a mechitzah between the Aron and the shul when…Show more
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 10 mivtzoyim on the doors (made wooden letters)? Answer:… 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 10 mivtzoyim on the doors (made wooden letters)? Answer: There are many purposes for the Paroches, some of which require it to be on the outside. Regardless, one may not change from the accepted custom in Klal Yisroel, especially regarding a Shul. Some of the reasons: In order to divide between the Yidden (kodesh) and the Aron Kodesh (kodesh kodoshim). Similar to the coverings over the Keilim in…Show more
Question: My wife has gallstones and she is on a gluten free diet. The sulfites in the wine and sugar in the grape juice don't agree with her at all. She reacts immediately in terrible pain. Is it ok… Question: My wife has gallstones and she is on a gluten free diet. The sulfites in the wine and sugar in the grape juice don't agree with her at all. She reacts immediately in terrible pain. Is it ok for her to dilute the wine in water for the arba kosos and if yes how much water to how much wine. Answer: One may only add water to the extent that the wine - or grape juice - can still be drunk as wine and served to guests that way. Regardless, the water may never be 85.7% or…Show more
It is always preferable to visit a doctor of the same gender (if that doctor is equally experienced etc.) A visit to a doctor of the opposite gender is permissible for necessary medical needs including dental. Regarding dental procedures… It is always preferable to visit a doctor of the same gender (if that doctor is equally experienced etc.) A visit to a doctor of the opposite gender is permissible for necessary medical needs including dental. Regarding dental procedures which are deemed cosmetic: sometimes the need for a procedure is medical (pain), and it is the method (for instance a root canal instead of just extracting the tooth) which is cosmetic, in such a case it would be permissible even though it is not covered by insurance. Regarding a procedure which seems to be completely cosmetic (for instance those…Show more
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