Ha-Rav
answers hundreds of text message questions a day! Here's a sample:
Driver Talking on Cell Phone
Q: Should one report to the
police a driver who is holding a cell phone and talking on it?
A: Certainly. It is a life-threatening situation (This is
also the ruling of Ha-Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv based on Sanhedrin 72 and
Ketubot 35. Kav Ve-Naki #676).
Ripped Shirt
Q: During a disagreement in
school a friend grabbed my shirt and it ripped.
Is he obligated to pay for the damage?
A: If he acted in a regular
way during the disagreement, he is exempt.
Shulchan Aruch, Choshen Mishpat 421:13.
And this is all the more so if he is under the age of Bar Miztvah. Shulchan Aruch, Choshen Misphat 424:8. But you should check the school's rules in
such matters.
The Taste of Pork
Q: Is it permissible to eat a
Kosher spice that has the taste of pork?
A: Yes. Like the brain of a Shibuta fish which tastes
like pork (As Yalta says: "For everything that the Torah forbids,
something similar is permitted".
Chullin 109b).
Ad
of Shabbat Desecration
Q:
Is it permissible for a newspaper to accept an ad for a company which violates
Shabbat?
A:
Certainly not. It is aiding and
strengthening transgressors. And if it
encourages Jews to participate in the Shabbat desecration, it is also forbidden
on account of "Mesit" (enticing Jews to sin), as Ha-Rav Moshe
Feinstein writes (Shut Igrot Moshe, Orach Chaim 1:99).
Bill
with Divrei Torah
Q:
Is it permissible to bring into the bathroom a 200 shekel bill which has Divrei
Torah on it?
A:
Only if it is in one's pocket, since the words are legible to someone with good
eyesight. See Shut Tzitz Eliezer 16:31.
Shehechiyanu
for Reaching 70 Years Old
Q:
Should one recite Shehechiyanu for reaching 70 years old?
A:
This does not have a clear source (Shut Chavot Yair #70 writes that one who
reaches the age of 70 should recite Shechiyanu.
And the Mishnat Yaakov 2:225 [brought in Piskei Teshuvot 223 note 50]
writes that this was what the Chafetz Chaim did in front of his prize students). The age of 60 is mentioned in the Gemara as a
holiday since one passed the time of Karet (Moed Katan 28a, and brought in Ben
Ish Chai Reeh #9 and Kaf Ha-Chaim 223:29).
But the age of 70 is not mentioned (Pri Megadim, Mishbetzot Zahav 444:9
and the Chatam Sofer, Orach Chaim 225:1 writes that it should be recited
without mentioning Hashem's Name and Kingship).
Some recommend wearing a new garment on one's 70th birthday
and reciting Shehechiyanu on both. This
is always possible (When Ha-Rav Shlomo Goren was Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv, he
recited Shehechiyanu on the night of Yom Ha-Atzmaut in Shul as was his
opinion. One of the people there
questioned it, and Rav Goren waved his tie, as if to say that he was wearing a
new tie, and so the blessing was on it.
After the davening, Rav Goren scolded the man: It is obvious to you that
one says Shehechiyanu on a new tie, but not on a new State?! Nonetheless, Ha-Rav Aviner did not recite
Shehechiyanu on his recent 70th birthday).
Cities
Given Over by King Shlomo
Q:
King Shlomo gave 20 cities to the King of Tzur in exchange for his help in
building the Temple. Can't we learn from
here that it is permissible to give away parts of Eretz Yisrael in negotiations?
A:
He only gave away the produce. Rabbi
Yitzchak Abrabanel.
Christianity
Q:
Are all strands of Christianity considered idol worship?
A:
There are different levels of idol worship, but they are all idol worship,
since they claim that the father is the son, and they pray to the son. Sichot Ha-Rav Tzvi Yehudah, Yahadut
Ve-Natzrut.