Ha-Rav
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Tearing
Garment for Ha-Rav Ovadiah Yosef ztz"l
Q:
Should one tear his garment when one of the Gedolei Ha-Dor ascends to heaven,
i.e. Ha-Rav Ovadiah Yosef ztz"l?
A:
One should tear his garment for one's primary Rabbi, from which the majority of
his wisdom came. According to the
Shulchan Aruch, one also tears for a Torah scholar who can answer a question in
any area of Halachah. According to the
Rama, one tears only if he is known for his teachings. The custom, however, is only to tear for the
Gadol Ha-Dor. Yalkut Yosef. Ha-Rav Ovadiah Yosef ztz"l was one of
the Gedolei Ha-Dor but not the only one.
It is also possible to tear over the loss of a Torah scholar if one is
distressed. Mishnah Berurah (Shulchan
Aruch, Yoreh Deah 340:7. Yalkut Yosef
Aveilut 4:9. Shut Yabia Omer Vol. 4
Yoreh Deah #35 ot 9. Mishnah Berurah
223:8. And see Techumin Vol. 31, pp.
215-221. And Ha-Rav Yechiel Michal
Tuchitinsky ruled that one tears for "A Gadol from the Gedolei
Ha-Dor". Gesher Ha-Chaim 4:5).
Blessing
of "Chacham Ha-Razim"
Q:
At the funeral of Ha-Rav Ovadiah Yosef ztz"l, there were more than 600,000
Jews. Was there an obligation to recite
the blessing of "Chacham Ha-Razim" (Knower of Secrets – blessing when
seeing 600,000 Jews together)?
A:
On the face it, yes. Shulchan Aruch,
Orach Chaim 224:5. But we did not hear
that the many great Torah scholars who were there did so. This may have been since perhaps we only
recite the blessing when one sees all 600,000 Jews at one time, since the
Gemara relates the case that a Torah scholar recited the blessing on the Temple
Mount (Berachot 58a). It is also not
certain that there were 600,000. There
may have been much less. Calculate it
for yourself.
Sheva
Berachot for Secular Jews
Q:
If a secular couple gets married but had been living together, do we recite
Sheva Berachot for 7 days or only 1 day?
A:
7 Days. Chatam Sofer. Yabia Omer (Shut Chatam Sofer #123. Shut Yabia Omer 5:11).
Inclination
Q:
I am an older single man and I have a strong inclination for immodest
women. What should I do?
A:
Learn a lot of Torah, especially books of Musar and Emunah. Rambam, end of Hilchot Isurei Biah. And may Hashem bless you in its merit to get
married quickly (see Derech Eitz Chaim of the Ramchal with Ha-Rav's
commentary).
Food
under the Bed
Q:
I know it is forbidden to place food under a bed where one sleeps. And what if it happened?
A:
There is a dispute, and after the fact one can use the food (The Chazon Ish was
strict not to eat it, but would give the food to the poor and not waste it
since it is permissible according to the basic Halachah, and the merit of this
Mitzvah would protect those who eat it.
Piskei Teshuvot 171 note #48).
Forgiveness
Q:
A person badly hurt me and asked for my forgiveness, but I cannot grant it with
a full heart. What should I say?
A:
The truth. It is his responsibility to
appease you. The Griz of Brisk – Ha-Rav
Velvele Soloveitchik - said: If you say that you forgive him, and then you hate
him in your heart, you are the one with the transgression (And it once happened
that someone came to ask forgiveness from Ha-Rav Eliyahu Lopian. He said: "You hurt me badly and I cannot
forgive you with a full heart. Come back
in two weeks. In the meantime, I will
learn books of Musar in order to forgive you).
