Q & A: Why We Count (Only) 49 Days – And Why We Celebrate...
Question: Why do we only count the Omer after the first day of Passover, and why for 49 days only, when the Torah commands “Fifty days shall you count?” Additionally, what is the reason for the special celebrations of Lag Ba’Omer?
Harvey Abramson
Via Email
Q & A: Sefirat HaOmer In The Synagogue (Part II)
Question: In my synagogue, and I assume in most others, we all stand at attention as the rabbi or chazzan recites the blessing of Sefirat HaOmer and then proceeds to count the Omer. How can we recite the blessing afterwards when we already clearly heard it before (and thus, presumably, were yotzei with it)?
M. Goldblum
Miami Beach, FL
Q & A: Sefirat HaOmer In The Synagogue (Part I)
Question: In my synagogue, and I assume in most others, we all stand at attention as the rabbi or chazzan recites the blessing of Sefirat HaOmer and then proceeds to count the Omer. How can we recite the blessing afterwards when we already clearly heard it before (and thus, presumably, were yotzei with it)?
M. Goldblum
Miami Beach, FL
Q & A: Sefirah Catch-Up On Shabbat Eve
Question: What if one forgot not only to recite the bracha on a Friday, but the actual counting for that day as well, and then after having gone to the synagogue to accept an early Shabbat, suddenly reminded himself? May he then count the missing sefirah before it turns dark so that he would be able to continue counting with a blessing?
Pesach Bernstein
Via Email
Q & A: Shir HaShirim on Pesach
Question: Why do we read Shir HaShirim on Passover and more specifically the Sabbath of Passover? Also, being that it is one of the five Megillot, why don’t we recite a blessing over the reading of Shir HaShirim as we do for Megillat Esther?
Menachem
Via Email
Q & A: Why Don’t We Say Tachanun During Nissan? (Part II)
Question: After the Amida on most mornings we recite Tachanun. It seems that there are many days, including the entire month of Nissan, when such is not the case. My question is, what are those days and why don’t we recite on those days?
M. Solow
Via Email
Q & A: Why Don’t We Say Tachanun During Nissan? (Part I)
Question: On most mornings, after the Amidah we recite Tachanun. It seems that there are many days, including the entire month of Nissan, when such is not the case. My question is, what are those days and why don't we recite on those days?
M. Solow
Via email
Q & A: The Arba Parshiyot: Four Special Torah Readings (Part II – Conclusion)
Question: I would like to know why there are four special readings of the Torah during the period between Purim and Pesach. Also, why do we call each of those four Shabbatot by a special name, such as Shabbat Shekalim, Shabbat Zachor, etc., which we don't do otherwise?
Celia Gluck
Via Email
Q & A: The Arba Parshiyot (Part I)
Question I would like to know why there are four special readings of the Torah during the period between Purim and Pesach. Also, why do we call each of those four Shabbatot by a special name, such as Shabbat Shekalim, Shabbat Zachor, etc., which we don't do otherwise?
Celia Gluck
Via E-mail
Q & A: Intercalating The Leap Year At Adar (Part V)
Why does the Jewish leap year always consist of two Adars? Why specifically Adar?
Menachem
via email
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
Via email
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
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