Q & A: Animal ‘Rights’ And Sacrifices Without Sin (Part I)
Question: I understand that in the time of Moshiach we will return to the offering of animal sacrifices. But on the other hand, if, as we are told, those will be times without sin, then what will we sacrifice? In this modern world, some also argue that animals have rights and thus animal sacrifice is wrong. How do we answer them as well?
Menachem
Via Email
Q & A: Leaving Shul After Shacharit Shemoneh Esreh (Part II)
Question: On occasion we have missed the Torah reading and Ashrei U’va Letziyyon, Aleinu, the Yom and the Kaddeshim, even though we started out with a quorum, as some members leave for work. What are we to do in such an instance? Are there any options?
Name Withheld on Request
Q & A: What If People Leave Shul After Shemoneh Esreh And No Minyan...
Question: Even though we started out with a quorum, as some members leave for work. What are we to do in such an instance? Are there any options? Name Withheld on Request
Q & A: Of Windows, Places, And Weather (Part III)
Those of us who sit closest to the windows have to suffer the windows being open because those sitting away from the windows, more to the center of the sanctuary, claim they are too hot from the heat of heating system. Do they have the right to impose their comfort at the expense of our health?
Name withheld
Via email
Q & A: Of Windows, Places, And Weather (Part II)
Question: Every winter, we run into the same problem: those of us who sit closest to the windows have to suffer the windows being open because those sitting away from the windows, more to the center of the sanctuary, claim they are too hot from the heat of heating system. Do they have the right to impose their comfort at the expense of our health?
Name withheld
Via email
Q & A: Of Windows, Places, And Weather (Part I)
Question:. Every winter, we run into the same problem: those of us who sit closest to the windows have to suffer the windows being open because those sitting away from the windows... claim they are too hot from the heat of the heating system. Do they have the right to impose their comfort at the expense of our health?
Anonymous
Via email
Q & A: Should An Unmarried Man Be Barred From Leading Services? (Part II)
Question: A number of years back, when I was still unmarried, I had yahrzeit, but in the shul where I davened they wouldn’t let me serve as shaliach tzibbur as they had a rule that no one unmarried was allowed to daven from the amud. Obviously, I could still say Kaddish, but I wanted to lead the services for the sake of the neshama. My question is: Did they have the right to deny me what I felt was my yahrzeit obligation to my departed parent?
Mark Halberstam Esq.
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Via email
Q & A: Should An Unmarried Man Be Barred From Leading Services? (Part I)
Question: A number of years back, when I was still unmarried, I had yahrzeit, but in the shul where I davened they wouldn’t let me serve as shaliach tzibbur as they had a rule that no one unmarried was allowed to daven from the amud. Obviously, I could still say Kaddish, but I wanted to lead the services for the sake of the neshama. My question is: Did they have the right to deny me what I felt was my yahrzeit obligation to my departed parent?
Mark Halberstam Esq.
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Via email
Q & A: The Connection Between Hallel And The Shacharit Amida
Question: Why, if on Rosh Hashana the shofar is blown during Musaf, is Hallel on the festivals and Rosh Chodesh read during Shacharit?
L. Freund
Via Email
Q & A: The Tenth Of Tevet Among Other Fast Days
Question: Is there any significance to the fact that the fast of the Tenth of Tevet (Asara B’Tevet) almost immediately follows Chanukah and that it is the shortest of all the fast days? Does this allow us to be more lenient in its observance? I hope you will address this in your column, which I eagerly read every week.
M. Goldman
Miami Beach, Fla.
Q & A: Of Gelt And Dreidels
Question: Non-Jews distribute gifts at Christmas to their friends and family. What is the halacha about and reasoning for Jews to distribute gifts at Chanukah to friends and family? Growing up, we used to get Chanukah gelt rather than gifts from my parents.
Larry Marks
Via E-Mail
Q & A: What’s In A Name? Name Changes Among The Patriarchs (Part II)
Question: We see numerous instances in Scripture where a person’s name was changed. Some people are then always referred to by their new name, while others are not. A case in point is the way we refer to our Patriarchs in the daily Shemoneh Esreh. Why is that so?
Abraham Goldman
Jerusalem
Q & A: Lenient And Stringent Rulings (Part II)
Question: My rabbi recently ruled leniently in a certain matter relating to the laws of mourning. Am I disrespecting my late mother if I follow this advice?
No Name Please
Via Email
Q & A: Lenient Or Stringent Ruling From The Rabbi (Part I)
Question: My rabbi recently ruled leniently in a certain matter relating to the laws of mourning. Am I disrespecting my late mother if I follow this advice?
Name withheld on request
Via email
Q & A: The Difference Between Mention And Request (Part II)
Question: Can you explain the different starting times of Mashiv haruach u'morid hagashem and Ve'ten tal u'matar livracha as opposed to Morid hatal and Ve'ten beracha, and why they are said as part of particular berachot in the Amida, as found in the siddur?
S. Dorman
Via email
Q & A: The Difference Between Mention And Request (Part I)
Question: Can you explain the different starting times of Mashiv haruach u’morid hagashem and Ve’ten tal u’matar livracha as opposed to Morid hatal and Ve’ten beracha, and why they are said as part of particular berachot in the Amida, as found in the siddur?
S. Dorman
Via email
Q & A: Yom Tov Gleanings – An Unusual Practice (Part II)
Question: Looking back at the past Yomim Tovim, I am left with the following question: What is the reason for the unusual practice of the chazzan reciting shehecheyanu on Yom Kippur night?
Elimelech Feldman
Via email
Q & A: Yom Tov Gleanings – An Unusual Practice (Part I)
Question: Looking back at the past Yomim Tovim, I am left with the following question: What is the reason for the unusual practice of the chazzan reciting shehecheyanu on Yom Kippur night?
Elimelech Feldman
(Via Email)
Q & A: Ascending The Har Ha’Bayit
Question: In his Jewish Press column, Yishai Fleisher describes his visits to the Har HaBayit. I believe entry to the Har HaBayit is assur because we are all Safek T’mei’ei Mes – questionably corpse-defiled.
BeChavod Rav UVeVirchas Gmar Chasimah Tovah, Shanah Tovah UMevureches,
Avraham Yaakov Rokach
Via email
Q & A: Women’s Simchat Yom Tov Obligation
Question: According to Chazal, it would seem that women have no simcha obligation on Yom Tov other than the purchase of new garments. Is this so?
Zelig Aronson
Via email
Q & A: Buying An Israeli Etrog After The Shemittah (Part II)
Question: Every year at this time we are bombarded with a proliferation of etrogim merchants lauding their wares. Some also point to the superiority of their specific Moroccan, Greek or Italian etrogim. I usually do not succumb to their pitch as my heart is always set on supporting the State of Israel, and I end up buying an Israeli etrog. This year some have made mention of a problem regarding the shemittah. What do you suggest?
Paul Gold
Via e-mail
Q & A: An Israeli Etrog After The Shemittah (Part I)
I usually do not succumb to their pitch as my heart is always set on supporting the State of Israel, and I end up buying an Israeli etrog. This year some have made mention of a problem regarding the shemittah. What do you suggest?
Q & A: Elul And Tishrei, A Time To Repent (Part III)
Question: I am interested both in the name “Elul” and that month’s unique position as the last month of the year as it is connected with Tishrei, the month that follows, and its holidays, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. I am also interested in the religious practices during the month of Elul.
M. Goldman
Miami Beach, FL
Q & A: Elul And Tishrei, A Time To Repent (Part II)
Question: I am interested both in the name Elul and that month’s unique position as the last month of the year. Yet it is connected with Tishrei, the month that follows, and its holidays, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. I am also interested in the religious practices during the month of Elul.
M. Goldman
Miami Beach, Fla.
Q & A: Elul And Tishrei, A Time To Repent (Part I)
Question: I am interested both in the name Elul and that month’s unique position as the last month of the year. Yet it is connected with Tishrei, the month that follows, and its holidays, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. I am also interested in the religious practices during the month of Elul.
M. Goldman
Miami Beach, Fla.
The Mantle Of Leadership (Part III)
Question: As we now read Sefer Devarim, the Torah tells us that Moses was instructed by Hashem to appoint a successor. Moses wanted his sons to succeed him but Hashem tells him to appoint Yehoshua as the next leader. Why was this request of the greatest and most righteous of men denied? Also, were Yehoshua and Caleb the only named leaders or personalities to enter the land of Canaan?
M. Gorin
Q & A: The Mantle Of Leadership (Part II)
Question: As we now read Sefer Devarim, the Torah tells us that Moses was instructed by Hashem to appoint a successor. Moses wanted his sons to succeed him but Hashem tells him to appoint Yehoshua as the next leader. Why was this request of the greatest and most righteous of men denied? Also, were Yehoshua and Caleb the only named leaders or personalities to enter the land of Canaan?
M. Gorin
Via email
Q & A: The Mantle Of Leadership (Part I)
Question: As we now read the book of Devarim, the Torah tells us that Moses was instructed by Hashem to appoint a successor. Moses wanted His sons to succeed him, but Hashem tells him to appoint Yehoshua as the next leader. Why was this request of the greatest and most righteous of men denied? Also, were Yehoshua and Caleb the only named leaders or personalities to enter the land of Canaan?
M. Gorin
Via email
Q & A: The 15th Of Av (Part II)
Question: What is the significance of Tu B'Av, the 15th of Av?
David Bernstein
Via email
Q & A: The 15th Of Av (Part I)
Question: What is the significance of Tu B’Av, the 15th of Av?
David Bernstein
Via email