Wearing
Tzitzit Out
Q:
My boss at work demands that I don't wear my Tzitzit out. Should I concede?
A:
The Mishnah Berurah (8:26) writes that one should always wear his Tzitzit out,
and you should therefore not concede.
Shut Tzitz Eliezer (17:4). But it
is enough to have a little bit of the Tzitzit sticking out (This is also the
ruling of the Steipler Gaon in Orchot Rabbenu Vol. 1 p. 229).
Birkat
Cohanim and Fertility
Q:
We do not have any children. Will it
help to ask the Cohanim to have us in mind during the Birkat Cohanim?
A:
Yes. After all Hashem is the one who
blesses and not the Cohanim, and the blessing of Hashem is a great thing (When
this question was asked of Ha-Rav Chaim Kanievski, he responded: Why not? Segulot Raboteinu pp. 274-275).
Tzedakah
for a Non-Jewish Parent
Q:
I am a convert. Can I give Tzedeakah to
my non-Jewish father who is poor?
A:
Yes. We also help the non-Jewish
poor. And you should give him even more
than your Tzedakah (Gittin 61a). And
this is true all the more so for your biological father to whom you have an
obligation to give gratitude (Sdei Chemed – Avelut #156).
Traveling to Rebbe Nachman's Grave in Uman
Q: Is traveling to Uman good or bad?
A: In general, it is forbidden to leave Eretz Yisrael, except
in the case of a Mitzvah. Visiting Kivrei Tzadikim (the graves of the
righteous) is not defined as a Mitzvah, but as a positive act. Are there no graves to visit in Eretz
Yisrael? Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov,
Sarah, Rivka, Rachel and Leah are greater than Rebbe Nachman (Shut Orach
Mishpat #147).
Q:
Why don't we ask the Rabbis of Breslov their opinion?
A:
The senior Rabbis of Breslov are opposed (see the booklet "Rosh Bnei
Yisrael" of Breslover Chasidim).
Q: But Rebbe Nachman promised that he will lift
out of Gehinom anyone who visits his grave?
A:
Rebbe Nachman is not greater than Avraham Avinu, and it was already promised
that Avraham Avinu sits at the entrance to Gehinom and will not even allow
anyone who has a Brit Milah to enter (Bereshit Rabbah 48:8. And the
Chidah wrote that Asher ben Yaakov stands at the entrance to Gehinom and saves
anyone who knows Mishnah. Midbar Kidmot, Marechet 1 #51). When the great Rabbis were asked about
leaving Eretz Yisrael to visit Uman, Ha-Rav Mordechai Eliyahu said: "It is
not proper to leave Israel on Rosh Hashanah or during the rest of the year, and
it is preferable for one who wants to pray at the graves of tzadikkim to visit
the graves of tzadikim in the Land of Israel – Hevron, Kever Rachel, Kever
Rashbi – who was the teacher of Rebbe Nachman, etc. Do not leave Israel for the
impurity of the lands of the other nations." Ha-Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv answered:
"Go daven at the Kotel."
Ha-Rav Ovadiah Yosef said: "How did the grave of Rebbe Nachman
become more important than the graves of the Rambam and Ha-Gaon Rav Yosef Karo?" Ha-Rav Dov Lior explained how absurd is the
thought-process of those who travel to Uman: "People travel to the grave
of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in order to ask him to help them to travel to the
grave of Rebbe Nachman so they can make a request of him" (See Kum
Hithalech Ba-Aretz #49).
Orot
Ha-Teshuvah
Q:
Whose notes appear in Orot Ha-Teshuvah of Maran Ha-Rav Kook in the edition of
Or Etzion?
A:
They are the notes of Rabbenu Ha-Rav Tzvi Yehudah.
Recovering
Corpses in the Army on Shabbat
Q:
Is it permissible on Shabbat to recover corpses of soldiers who have been
killed or is violating Shabbat only permissible to save a life?
A:
It is permissible. 1. For the morale of
the soldiers, since they know that they will not be abandoned if - G-d forbid –
something happens to them. 2. Out of a
concern that the enemy will recover them and try to ransom them. Ha-Rav Shlomo Goren (Meishiv Milchamah Vol. 2
p. 217).
