Ha-Rav
answers hundreds of text message questions a day! Here's a sample:
Difficult Prohibitions
Q: Why does the Torah forbid
me from things which are difficult for me to uphold? I am not an angel!
A: Your soul is higher than
that of an angel. Midrash Mishlei
4:25. Sanhedrin 93a. Place faith in it and you will ascend higher
and higher.
Ahavat Yisrael
Q: Is there a Mitzvah to love
each and every Jew?
A: Certainly. See Mesillat Yesharim, end of chapter 19 (and
Tanya, Chapter 32).
Light Drugs
Q: Is it forbidden to use
light drugs? What is the source?
A: There is no such thing as
light drugs, they are all hard drugs.
They are forbidden by the law, and one will be punished with jail time,
and they are forbidden by the Halachah.
Rambam, Hilchot De'ot Chapter 4. (Shut Igrot Moshe, Yoreh Deah
3:35. An observant Jew once came to the
yeshiva to speak to Ha-Rav Moshe Feinstein and explained that his son was in
prison for selling drugs, and he wanted Reb Moshe to write a letter to the
judge asking to have mercy on his son.
Reb Moshe harshly said to him: "Your son causes people to be sick
and hurts them. Let him sit in
prison!" And the father tried over
and over to convince Reb Moshe, but he in no way agreed to sign such a letter,
and added that his actions were against the laws of the country, which are not
forfeited. Reshumei Aharon, p. 22)
Charedim
Q: Why don't Charedim serve
in Tzahal?
A: They are good and
righteous people, but they err in this area (Even the current Satmar Rebbe –
Ha-Rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum – says: "If you recognize the government and
are supported by it – what justification do you have to abstain from serving in
the army?!" Mishpachah Magazine
#1085, 29 Kislev 5773).
Davening from a Siddur
Q: Is there a preference to
Daven from a Siddur as opposed to a cell phone?
A: Yes, it is the normal way.
Dressing up Like Rabbi on
Purim
Q: Is it permissible to dress
up as one's Rabbi on Purim?
A: No, imitating a Rabbi is
shaming a Torah scholar. Our Rabbi, Ha-Rav Tzvi Yehudah, scolded someone who
dressed up on Purim like the Chief Rabbi, Ha-Rav Shlomo Goren (Rabbenu p.
130. It once happened in Yeshivat Be'er
Yaakov that a Torah scholar gave a Dvar Torah at a Sheva Berachot and told a
story about Ha-Rav Aharon Kotler. During
the story, he imitated the speech pattern of Ha-Rav Kotler. The Rosh Yeshiva, Ha-Rav Moshe Shmuel
Shapira, immediately scolded him and would not speak to him for the rest of the
day! Another time, a similar incident
occurred and one of the students imitated Ha-Rav Menachem Man Shach, and Ha-Rav
Shapira scolded him: "It is forbidden to imitate Gedolim!" Meged Givot Olam, p. 47).
Mishloach Manot through a
Messenger
Q: Is there an obligation to
send a Mishloach Manot through a messenger?
A: There are those who say
that there is an obligation (Shut Binyan Tzion 1:44. Brought in Mishnah Berurah 495:18), but the
majority of authorities say that there is no obligation (Orchot Rabbenu Volume
3, p. 53. Halichot Shlomo, Chapter 19
note #44. Shut Az Nidberu 5:40. Shut Avnei Yashpe 1:133. And the Satmar Rebbe explained the position
of the Binyan Tzion that if Shimon is not in front of Reuven and Reuven sends
Shimon a Mishloach Manot through a messenger it is a clear sign that Reuven
remembered Shimon. But if Shimon is in
front of Reuven and he gives him a Mishloach Manot, it is not a sign that he
loves him and had forethought. Shut
Divrei Yoel #64 note 2).
