Q & A: Intercalating The Leap Year At Adar (Part IV)
Why does the Jewish leap year always consist of two Adars? Why specifically Adar?
Menachem
Via Email
Q & A: The Leap Year Specifically At Adar (Part II)
Question: Why does the Jewish leap year always consist of two Adars? And why specifically Adar?
Menachem
Via email
Q & A: The Leap Year Specifically At Adar (Part I)
Question: Why does the Jewish leap year always consist of two Adars? And why specifically Adar?
Menachem
Via email
Q & A: Marrying A Girl With The Same Name As His Mother
Question: Please see my personal situation. If you have time to answer that would be great. I am seriously dating a girl who has a similar name to my mother. Would this present a problem?
Name Withheld
Via email
Q & A: When The Entire People Is In Need Of Prayers
Question: Is there a special prayer or specific role for prayer when the totality of the Jewish people is in danger?
Q & A: Which Is Preferred For Kiddush Levana: B’rov Am Or Zerizin?
Question: When approaching the mitzvah of Kiddush Levana, should priority be granted to performing the mitzvah at the earliest time – Zerizin u’makdimin l’mitzvot – or to such time as the most people would be available to join in together – B’rov Am hadrat Melech?
Michael Katz
Via Email
Q & A: In Memory Of My Uncle, Rabbi Sholom Klass, zt”l
While my uncle at times remarked that my writing style differed from his, he nevertheless would also note that the Torah has 70 facets (Zohar, Bereishit 47a) and is thus a vast resource for countless opinions.
Q & A: Tu B’Shevat: The Hidden And The Revealed
Question: Tu B’Shevat is soon upon us. I am intrigued by the fact that Tu B’Shevat, also known as the New Year for Trees, is in the middle of the month and not at the beginning of a month as all the other New Years. Even the gentiles begin their New Year at the start of a month. Do you have an explanation for this?
Pesach Bernstein
Via Email
Q & A: World Reaction To October 7 Is No Surprise
Question: How has it been that in such a world where we are but a very small minority, and after so many generations though the world keeps changing, yet the Jew remains and is the same constant whipping boy? What is the miracle of our survival?
Gedalia Estra
Via Email
Q & A: Holding, Gazing At The Tzitzit (Part II)
Question: Is it proper to look at tzitzit and kiss them during the recitation of the Keriat Shema?
M. Stern
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Q & A: Holding And Gazing At The Tzitzit (Part I)
Question: Is it proper to look at tzitzit and kiss them during the recitation of the Keriat Shema?
M. Stern
Via email
Q & A: Praying For The Government During Tefillah
Question: Should we be reciting the prayer for the welfare of the government? Is it a hefsek during the tefillah, or is it important during wartime?
Martin Kahn
Via email
Q & A: Ner Ish U’Beito – How Many Light The Menorah At Home?...
Question: My husband and I are Ashkenazi, yet my children go to school with Sefardim. My son came home and said that only my husband is to light the Chanukah candles. In my parent’s home, we all lit our own candles on Chanukah to celebrate the great miracle that saved our people for all future generations. Who is correct?
Name Withheld
Via E-Mail
Q & A: Ner Ish U’Beito – How Many Light The Menorah At Home?...
Question: My husband and I are Ashkenazi, yet my children go to school with Sefardim. My son came home and said that only my husband is to light the Chanukah candles. In my parent’s home, we all lit our own candles on Chanukah to celebrate the great miracle that saved our people for all future generations. Who is correct?
Name Withheld
Via E-Mail
Should Our Chanukah Celebrations Be More Muted (Or Otherwise Look Different) This Year Because...
In essence the manner that we relate to tragic events is by empathizing with those who are affected as if it is us who are personally affected. This is called carrying the yoke of others upon ourselves.
Q & A: To Answer Amen Or Not
Question: I read your Q&A column, “Kaddish Elevates,” with great interest. However, I feel that there is something you left out: the appropriate phrases or pauses where we are to respond “Amen.” I have not seen why we don’t answer “Amen” after the phrase in Kaddish – Be’alma di’vera chir’utei – In the world He created according to His will.” Is this not one of the greatest praises – that Hashem gave us a world with such benefit that we at times don't understand that benefit. Are we not to acknowledge Hashem's greatness at all times irrespective of outcome?
Menachem
Via e-mail
Q & A: The Rainbow: Israel’s Tribulation And Triumph (Part IV)
Question: Now that we have begun the new cycle of the Torah reading, I read in the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch that one is to say a blessing upon seeing a rainbow but that it is forbidden to gaze upon it excessively. Is this not such a beautiful phenomenon? Why should there be any prohibition connected with it?
Zelig Aronson
Via Email
Q & A: The Rainbow: Israel’s Tribulation And Triumph (Part III)
Question: Now that we have begun the new cycle of the Torah reading, I read in the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch that one is to say a blessing upon seeing a rainbow but that it is forbidden to gaze upon it excessively. Is this not such a beautiful phenomenon? Why should there be any prohibition connected with it?
Zelig Aronson
Via Email
Q & A: The Rainbow: Israel’s Terror And Triumph (Part II)
Question: Now that we have begun again the new cycle of the Torah reading, I read in the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch that one is to say a blessing upon seeing a rainbow but it is forbidden to gaze upon it excessively. Is this not such a beautiful phenomenon? Why should there be any prohibition connected with it?
Zelig Aronson
Via Email
Q & A: The Rainbow: Israel’s Terror And Triumph
Question: Now that we have begun again the new cycle of the Torah reading, I read in the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch that one is to say a blessing upon seeing a rainbow but it is forbidden to gaze upon it excessively. Is this not such a beautiful phenomenon? Why should there be any prohibition connected with it?
Zelig Aronson
Via Email
Q & A: Shnayyim Mikra Ve’echad Targum – Torah Twice And Onkelos Once (Part...
Question: I’m told that it is meritorious to complete the reading of the weekly Torah portion during the week and that it is a segula bestowing the blessing of long life. Does this apply even if one has no understanding of the text?
Shmuel B.
Via Email
Q & A: Shnayyim Mikra Ve’echad Targum – Torah Twice And Onkelos Once (Part...
Question: I’m told that it is meritorious to complete the reading of the weekly Torah portion during the week and that it is a segula bestowing the blessing of long life. Does this apply even if one has no understanding of the text?
Shmuel B.
Via Email
Q & A: Shnayyim Mikra Ve’echad Targum (Torah Twice And Onkelos Once) – Part...
Question: I’m told that it is meritorious to complete the reading of the weekly Torah portion during the week and that it is a segula bestowing the blessing of long life. Does this apply even if one has no understanding of the text?
Shmuel B.
Via Email
Q & A: A Simchat Torah Query: ‘Custom Seems To Void Halacha
Question: I recently learned that one may not dance or clap hands on Shabbat or Yom Tov. If so, how do we dance on Simchat Torah?
Aryeh Josefsohn
Via Email
Q & A: Prayer And Its Origins (Part IV)
Question: The Gemara in Berachot teaches that the Sages authored our prayers. If so, it would seem that we did not pray before this time. Did we pray before their innovation or not?
Menachem
Via Email
Is It Proper To Build A Sukkah In Your Front Yard, Near A Public...
In the United States the issue might be that such action might provoke people to acts of anti-Semitism which has spiraled in the States.
Q & A: Prayer And Its Origins (Part III)
Question: The Gemara in Berachot teaches that the Sages authored our prayers. If so, it would seem that we did not pray before this time. Did we pray before their innovation or not?
Menachem
Via Email
Q & A: Prayer And Its Origins (Part II)
Question: The Gemara in Berachot teaches that the Sages authored our prayers. If so, it would seem that we did not pray before this time. Did we pray before their innovation or not?
Menachem
Via Email
Q & A: Prayer And Its Origins (Part I)
Question: The Gemara in Berachot teaches that the Sages authored our prayers. If so, it would seem that we did not pray before this. Did we pray before their innovation or not?
Menachem
Via Email
Q & A: L’David Hashem Ori (Part III)
Dear Rabbi Klass:
As most of us know, in Elul and until Shemini Atzeret we say the 27th chapter of Tehillim (“L’David Hashem Ori – [A Psalm] of David: The Lord is my light”). The second verse states: “Bikrov alay me’re’im le’echol et besarai…– When evildoers approach me to devour my flesh….” Why does it not say “reshaim – wicked ones” or “anashim ra’im – evil people?”
Tzila Kleinbart
Brooklyn, N.Y.