Ha-Rav answers hundreds of text
message questions a day! Here's a sample:
Kashrut of Peacock
Q: Is a peacock
Kosher?
A: It possesses the
signs of a Kosher animal, but we lack a tradition that it is eaten. It is therefore forbidden (See Chulin
63b. Rashi on Chulin 116a. Shulchan Aruchm Yoreh Deah #88).
Buying University Project
Q: I am a student in university and have to hand in a
work. Can I pay someone to do the work
for me?
A: If the professor agrees.
Marriage Problems
Q: We have marital problems. Is it worthwhile to have the Mezuzah in our
bedroom checked?
A: It is worthwhile to turn to a marriage counselor. It is obviously good to check all of your
Mezuzot from time-to-time in order to fulfill the Mitzvah in the proper manner
(See our commentary on the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, end of chapter 11). But this
is a separate issue.
Verse on a Wedding Invitation
Q: Should one put a verse on a wedding invitation?
A: No, since it will be thrown in the garbageand requires
being placed in a Geniza. See Rosh
Ha-Shanah 18, where the Sages established a holiday on the day they succeeded
in abolishing the mention of Hashem's Name in official documents (Shut Igrot
Moshe Yoreh Deah 2:135. Shut She'eilat
Shlomo 4:233, 235. Ha-Rav Yehudah Amital
relates: When I came to invite Ha-Rav Charlap to my wedding with my
father-in-law, Ha-Rav Tzvi Yehudah Meltzer z"l, Rav of Rechovot, I gave
him the invitation, which was simple without any verses or designs. Ha-Rav looked at the invitation and pointed
out to me with his unique gentleness that Jerusalem was not mentioned and it
was not raised above my greatest joy.
Ha-Rav Amital painfully concluded his story: "After this point, I
felt admonished." Shirat
HaYa"m, p. 176. Although it is
possible to mention Jerusalem without a verse or with a picture).
Divine Test - Expulsion from Settlements
Q: Why does Hashem want to evacuate settlements, such as
"Givat Ha-Ulpana"? Why this
test? People can't pass this trial!
A: During Redemption, there are retreats and crises. There is 90% successe and 10% - or even less
– failure (see Ramban on Shemot 5:22-23).
Husband who Dedicates Time to Himself on Shabbat
Q: My husband is only interested in dedicating time to
himself on Shabbat and is not interested in learning Torah or playing with the
kids. What should I do?
A: Perhaps you can come to a compromise. This is a complex issue for a text
message. Speak to my wife.
Fighting against
Expulsions
Q: How long are we going to be patient in the face of
expulsions from settlements? Perhaps it
is time to wage war like the Charedim and we will benefit like them.
A: We should wage a war of ideas, without violence, insults
or hatred. Article "Et Achai Anochi
Mevakesh" of Rabbenu Ha-Rav Tzvi Yehudah (Le-Netivot Yisrael vol. 1, p.
140).
Shaliach Tzibur with a TV
Q: Can someone who has a TV in his house serve as Shaliach
Tzibur?
A: It depends on whether this transgression is prevalent in
that particular community (see Ein Aya – Shabbat 31a).
