Ha-Rav
answers hundreds of text message questions a day! Here's a sample:
Purpose
of Prayer
Q:
What is the purpose of prayer?
A:
To serve Hashem with our emotions.
"And serve Him with all of your heart" (Devarim 11:13. See introduction to Tefilat Amecha vol. 1,
pp. 7-15).
Eretz
Yisrael Vomiting out Sinners
Q:
The Torah says that Eretz Yisrael will vomit out sinners (Vayikra 18:25,
28). If so, how is it possible that our
country contains so many Jews who are far from Torah observance?
A:
It is a sign that they are not sinners according to this definition, as
explained by Rabbi Avraham Azulai in Chesed Le-Avraham (Ma'ayan Shelishi, Ein
Ha-Aretz, Nahar 12). They are sinners in
their individual lives but not in their communal lives. Orot #84.
They are bad on the outside but good on the inside. Igrot Ha-Re'eiyah, Igeret #555 (see Alo
Na'ale #41).
Bread
on the Street
Q:
If I see bread thrown in the street, must I pick it up?
A:
You are not obligated to do so, as no one will eat it since it's dirty, and it
no longer has the status of bread for this Halachah (This is also the ruling of
Ha-Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv. Kav
Ve-Naki #58).
Giving
the Benefit of the Doubt
Q:
Is giving someone the benefit of the doubt a Mitzvah or a pious act?
A:
A Torah Mitzvah. "Judge your fellow
favorably" (Vayikra 19:15). And see
Pele Yoetz, entry on "Sanagoria".
Experiments
on Corpses
Q:
Is it permissible in medical school to perform experiments and operations on
corpses of people who donated their bodies to science?
A:
Almost all of the halachic authorities forbid it, but it is permissible on
non-Jewish corpses, since different laws apply to their bodies even in their
lifetimes. Shut Da'at Cohain (#199).
Learning
Torah with Secular Jews
Q:
Is it permissible to say words of Torah to secular Jews who have not recited
the blessing over learning Torah?
A:
Yes, as our Rabbi Ha-Rav Tzvi Yehudah ruled (Ha-Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv also
rules this way. Kav Ve-Naki #9).
Cohain
who Married a Divorcee
Q:
If a Cohain married a divorcee (which is forbidden according to Halachah), is
the Shul exempt from saying Tachanun (as in the case of a permissible
marriage)?
A:
Certainly not. This is not a day of joy
but a day of sadness (This is unlike the ruling of Ha-Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv
who exempts them from saying Tachanun, since he is still a groom and it is a
Yom Tov for him. Although he does rule
that this Cohain should not receive an Aliyah since he should not be honored
when he violated a transgression. Kav
Ve-Naki #25).
Mitzvot
between One Person and Another
Q:
What is more important to teach a child – Mitzvot between a person and Hashem
or between one person and another?
A:
Hashem prefers Mitzvot between one person and another. Rosh at the beginning of Peah. The reason is that Mitzvot between one person
and another are included in Mitzvot between a person and Hashem (since people
were created in the image of Hashem).
