Ha-Rav answers hundreds of text
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Police Officer
Returning on Shabbat
Q: Is it permissible
for a police officer to return home (or to the station) in his car after
answering a call?
A: Yes. There are four reasons: 1. There are those
who permit him to return, even if violating a Torah prohibition, lest we cause
him to refrain from going to save a life in the future, since he will be
"stuck" there. Shut Yaavetz
#132. Shut Chatam Sofer Orach Chaim
#203, 6:99. 2. There is a concern that
people will refrain from joining the police if they will lose out on having
Shabbat at home. 3. There is a concern
that he will neglect going if called, whether consciously or
unconsciously. 4. The return trip itself
with a weapon is permissible since it is considered a security detail, although
not on the schedule. Some of these
reasons also apply to army officers on active duty, other security personnel,
doctors and nurses. But it is certainly
preferable if one can remain in that place or be returned by a non-Jew. See Shut Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:80, 5:25. Orchot Rabbeu vol. 1 #213 in the name of
Ha-Rav Y.Y. Kanievski in the name of the Chazon Ish. Ha-Griz Mi-Brisk, brought in Asya #56, p.
64. Shut Teshuvot Ve-Hanhagot 3:105,
4;80. Amud Ha-Yemini #17.
Psychology
Q: Is it permissible
to study psychology?
A: Yes. It is a Mitzvah. But one should remain in contact with a Rabbi
or a G-d-fearing psychologist, since there are parts which are problematic.
Calling a Soldier –
Nazi
Q: Is it permissible
to appoint a person who called a soldier "Nazi" as the Shaliach
Tzibur?
A: Certainly
not. May Hashem have mercy on him and
lead him to repent (Sichot Ha-Rav Tzi Yehudah – Shemot p. 45).
Time of Redemption
Q: I heard in the
name of the Vilna Gaon's students that the time between Adam and King David is
the same as between David and the Messiah.
According to this, isn't it possible to know when the Messiah will
arrive?
A: "Adam"
is an acronym of "Adam-David-Messiah". King David is in the middle. King David was born in the year 2854, double
that amount and we reach the year 5708 – the year of the establishment of the
State of Israel. But one should not involve
himself in calculating when the Messiah will arrive.
Beard
Q: Is there a
prohibition to shorten one's beard?
A: It is
permissible. It is a pious act not to
cut one's beard at all (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh 181:10. Zohar, Naso 130. Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin was asked: How is it
that he fixes his beard contrary to the words of the Zohar? He said: "Look in my Zohar". In the margin of his Zohar, he wrote:
"With a razor", i.e. it is forbidden to touch one's beard with a
razor. Although Maran Ha-Rav Kook once
said to a Torah scholar that he should not round off or fix his beard at
all. Igrot Ha-Re'eiyah 2, 101).
Lenient Rabbi
Q: In theory, is it
permissible for me to always search out a Rabbi who is lenient?
A: Yes. One who wants to follow Beit Shammai may do
so, one who wants to follow Beit Hillel may do so. Eruvin 6b.
But not leniencies which contradict one another.
Driver who Fell
Asleep
Q: I have fallen
asleep 15 times on the steering wheel and nothing bad has come of it. Should I recite Ha-Gomel?
A: No. But you should repent for the great sin of
driving in such a state. The most
essential thing is not to commit this sin again.
