Avram
Q: Is it permissible to call
a child "Avram"? After all,
the Gemara in Berachot (13a) says: "Bar Kapara teaches: Anyone who calls
Avraham 'Avram' transgresses a positive Mitzvah. Rabbi Eliezer says: He transgresses a
negative Mitzvah", and this is brought in Magen Avraham (156:2).
A: There is no explicit
prohibition, but it is improper to do so (And Ha-Rav Chaim Kanievski answered
that the Gemara in Gittin 50a quotes "Avram Choza'ah", and that which
the Gemara says that "Anyone who calls Avraham 'Avram' transgresses a
positive Mitzvah" – only applies to Avraham Avinu. Derech Sichah Vol. 1 p. 32. And see Shut Minchat Yitzchak 4:30).
Tzedakah Organizations
Q: I heard that there are
many Tzedakah organizations in which much of the money goes into the pockets of
the administrators. How can I know which
organization is trustworthy?
A: You should request oral
certification from a Rabbi, Rebbitzin or social worker.
Emunah of Women
Q: Is there a difference
between men and women regarding Emunah?
A: No.
Soldier Davening during Guard
Duty
Q: If I Daven during guard
duty and an officer asks me how it's going, is it permissible to interrupt my
Davening to answer him? If I do not
answer he will discover I am Davening.
A: It is forbidden to Daven
during guard duty without explicit permission.
If it is not possible to Daven before or after guard duty then you are
exempt: one who is involved with one Mitzvah is exempt from performing another
Mitzvah. Sukkah 26a. With all halachic questions, one should call
the 24-hour-a-day phone line of the military Rabbinate 052-9414414.
Mourner at a Wedding
Q: My Rabbi in Yeshiva is
supposed to be the Mesader Kiddushin at my wedding in a month, but he is a
mourner. Is it permissible for him?
A: Yes. But I don't understand why you don't ask him
directly.
Comforting Mouners
Q: I heard that it is forbidden
to say to a mourner: "What can we do". Why?
A: It imples that if it were
possible to do something, we would, and it is impossible to do something
against a decree of Hashem. Baba Kamma
38a. The Meharshal says, however, that
this is only if one makes such a statement complaining against Hashem as if –
G-d Forbid – He did an injustice. But if
it is said to ease the mourner's pain, the halachah is that it is permissible
(Yam Shel Shlomo #10).
Weekly Parashah and Current
Events
Q: Is there really a
conection between the weekly Parashah and current events or do Rabbis just give
creative give Divrei Torah?
A: There is a
connection. Magen Avraham, Chapter #580
(and so too the Tosafot on Megillah 31b).
Elderly Dog
Q: We have an elderly dog who
suffers a great deal. Is it permissible
to put her to sleep?
A: Yes. It is proper.
"His mercies are on all His works" (Tehillim 145:9. And Ha-Rav Moshe Feinstein would stand during
Pesuki De-Zimra, recite it outloud, and passionately say: "Hashem is good
to all, His mercies are on all His works".
Meged Givot Olam p. 72).
