Q & A: A Sabbath Desecrator Leading Services (Conclusion)

Posted on: January 19th, 2005

QUESTION: What are the requirements for a sheliach tzibbur? May someone who desecrates the Sabbath lead the services? C.M. Siegel Rockland, NY

Q & A: Torah In English (Conclusion)

Posted on: November 3rd, 2004

QUESTION: Is one allowed to publish Torah discussions in any language other than in the original Hebrew?A ReaderWilkes Barre, PA

Q & A: A Matter Of Custom? (Conclusion)

Posted on: October 27th, 2004

QUESTION: We are a happy newly married couple who have a few disagreements concerning the upcoming holidays. My wife insists that on Erev Yom Kippur there is no need to eat more than one meal - right before the fast. She also insists that there is no need for her to eat in the sukka on Sukkot, while my custom is for a woman to do so. Who is correct?Name withheld by request

Q & A: Torah In English (Part I)

Posted on: October 27th, 2004

QUESTION: Is one allowed to publish Torah discussions in any language other than in the original Hebrew?A ReaderWilkes Barre, PA

Q & A: A Matter Of Custom? (Part I)

Posted on: October 20th, 2004

QUESTION: We are a happy newly married couple who have a few disagreements concerning the upcoming holidays. My wife insists that on Erev Yom Kippur there is no need to eat more than one meal - right before the fast. She also insists that there is no need for her to eat in the sukka on Sukkot, while my custom is for a woman to do so. Who is correct?Name withheld by request

Q & A: Tashlich

Posted on: October 13th, 2004

QUESTION: Why do some people say Tashlich on the second day of Rosh Hashana when the first day falls on a Sabbath, while others say it on the first day (in areas where there is an eruv)? What if someone missed saying Tashlich? Finally, what is the source for this custom?Zvi Kirschner(via email)

Q & A: Pinchas Not Always Zealous? (Conclusion)

Posted on: October 6th, 2004

QUESTION: Recently, as I was studying the weekly portions of the Torah, I noticed a seeming anomaly. In Parashat Balak, Pinchas does what Moses did not do and zealously killed Zimri, a tribal prince who had sinned. We find in the following portion, Parashat Pinchas, that Pinchas was rewarded for this act. Yet after that, in Parashat Mattot, Pinchas is rebuked for not fulfilling Moses' command. Can you reconcile this apparent contradiction in the way Pinchas is described?M. Goldblumvia e-mail

Q & A: Pinchas Not Always Zealous? (Part I)

Posted on: October 1st, 2004

QUESTION: Recently, as I was studying the weekly portions of the Torah, I noticed a seeming anomaly. In Parashat Balak, Pinchas does what Moses did not do and zealously killed Zimri, a tribal prince who had sinned. We find in the following portion, Parashat Pinchas, that Pinchas was rewarded for this act. Yet after that, in Parashat Mattot, Pinchas is rebuked for not fulfilling Moses' command. Can you reconcile this apparent contradiction in the way Pinchas is described?M. Goldblumvia e-mail

Q & A: Adding To The Rabbi’s Discussion (Conclusion)

Posted on: September 22nd, 2004

QUESTION: Upon concluding the Shabbat morning services at our local synagogue, we have an informal kiddush during which our rabbi discusses the Parasha of the week. At the conclusion of his talk he opens an informal discussion, inviting questions or comments. Occasionally I will make a brief comment relating to the rabbi's talk, sometimes quoting an applicable passage from the Torah. Recently a friend told me that it was not proper for me, a lay person, to comment even briefly by directly quoting the Torah, as quotes should be stated exclusively by the rabbi.I believe, however, that lay people are to be encouraged to study and quote relevant passages from the Torah. Additionally, the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) encourages us to "... teach it (Torah) to your children, to speak of it in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you arise..." Thus, it seems the Shema is urging us all, including lay persons, to quote the Torah. My rabbi told me he was not bothered by my quoting Torah verses during these discussions, but I would also like to know your opinion.Name Withheld by Request

Q & A: Sharing A Name

Posted on: September 8th, 2004

QUESTION: I am about to get married and it appears that my name is the same as my fianc?'s mother's name. I've been told that this is problematic. Please advise as I urgently need an answer.No Name, Please

Q & A: Pain, Suffering And Sickness

Posted on: September 1st, 2004

QUESTION: Why is there so much pain and suffering in this world? Could not a world be created by G-d that is devoid of pain, suffering and sickness?Y. RappaportVia E-Mail)

Q & A: The 15th Of Av – A Day Of Rejoicing

Posted on: August 25th, 2004

QUESTION: If the fast of Tisha Be'Av (the ninth day of Av) concludes the mourning period for the destruction of the Temple, why do we wait until the fifteenth of Av to rejoice? Is there a distinct significance to this date? Please discuss this in your insightful column.Sara Gutman(Via E-Mail)

Q & A: Bal Tash’chit During The Nine Days (Conclusion)

Posted on: August 18th, 2004

QUESTION: May leftover meat from the Sabbath during the Nine Days be used during the week so as not to violate "bal tash'chit" - the prohibition against wastefulness?Rabbi Yaakov Spivak, Rosh KollelKollel Ayshel AvrahamMonsey, NY

Q & A: Bal Tash’chit During The Nine Days (Part I)

Posted on: August 11th, 2004

QUESTION: May leftover meat from the Sabbath during the Nine Days be used during the week so as not to violate "bal tash'chit" - the prohibition against wastefulness?Rabbi Yaakov Spivak, Rosh KollelKollel Ayshel AvrahamMonsey, NY

Q & A: Meat And Milk Issues (Conclusion)

Posted on: August 4th, 2004

QUESTION: I am presently nursing. I would like to know until what age it is permissible to nurse my child soon after feeding him chicken. In general, how long do we wait between eating meat and dairy?A Concerned Mother New York City

Q & A: Meat And Milk Issues (Part IV)

Posted on: July 28th, 2004

QUESTION: I am presently nursing. I would like to know until what age it is permissible to nurse my child soon after feeding him chicken. In general, how long do we wait between eating meat and dairy?A Concerned MotherNew York City

Q & A: Meat And Milk Issues (Part III)

Posted on: July 21st, 2004

QUESTION: I am presently nursing. I would like to know until what age it is permissible to nurse my child soon after feeding him chicken. In general, how long do we wait between eating meat and dairy?A Concerned MotherNew York City

Q & A: Meat And Milk Issues (Part II)

Posted on: July 14th, 2004

QUESTION: I am presently nursing. I would like to know until what age it is permissible to nurse my child soon after feeding him chicken. In general, how long do we wait betweeneating meat and dairy?A Concerned MotherNew York City

Q & A: Meat And Milk Issues (Part I)

Posted on: June 30th, 2004

QUESTION: I am presently nursing. I would like to know until what age it is permissible to nurse my child soon after feeding him chicken. In general, how long do we wait between eating meat and dairy?A Concerned MotherNew York City

Q & A: Avot Between Pesach And Shavuot

Posted on: June 16th, 2004

QUESTION: I have numerous questions regarding Pirkei Avot. First, is there a specific reason that the last chapter is read on the Sabbath before Shavuot, or is this just a quirk of the calendar? Second, in that last chapter we find a listing of qualities that enable one to acquire Torah knowledge, including anava (humility). I find this difficult to believe in light of the Gemara in Gittin that chastises one of the scholars for his anava, which ultimately caused the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash.Zvi Kirschner(Via E-Mail)