Ashkenazi
eating at Sefardi's House
Q:
I am Ashkenazi. Is it permissible for me
to spend Seder night at the house of a Sefardi, who eats Kitniyot?
A:
Yes, but don't eat Kitniyot. It is
permissible, however, to eat: food which touched Kitniyot, food which absorbed
Kitniyot, food in which the Kitniyot are no longer recognizable and are
nullified in a majority, and food cooked in Kitniyot pots and pans (Shut
She'eilat Shlomo 3:141).
Breaking
a Glass under the Chuppah
Q:
Why do we break a glass under the Chuppah?
A:
A Remembrance of the destruction of the Temple in order to show that our joy is
still incomplete. Berachot 31a. Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 560:2.
Q:
Should the glass be expensive or perhaps inexpensive to avoid "Bal
Tashchit" (wantonly destroying items)?
A:
An argument can be made both ways: Expensive to bring a bit of sadness, or
inexpensive to avoid "Bal Tashchit".
Sedei Chemed, Asifat Dinim Marechet Zayim #12. One should therefore take a regular
glass. Shut Yabia Omer 4:19.
Selling
Chametz over the Internet
Q:
Is it possible to sell Chametz over the internet?
A:
Yes. It is a form of appointing an
agent.
Precedence
in Granting a Furlough
Q:
I am an officer in Tzahal. If I am able
to grant some of the soldiers a furlough, should I give precedence to married soldiers?
A:
Definitely. A married soldier has a
great need (see Shut Keshet Nechushah Vol. 1, p. 136).
Wrapping
the Tefillin
Q:
When one wraps the Tefillin around his arm 7 times, do 2 half loops combine and
count as one of them?
A:
It is a dispute (Petach Ha-Dvir 27:2.
Kaf Ha-Chaim 27:35).
Hand-Made or Machine-Made Matzah
Q: According to Ha-Rav Tzvi Yehudah Kook, which is preferable:
hand-made or machine-made Matzah?
A: Our Rabbi was particular to use machine-made Matzah since it
was decided by the halachic authorities that machine-made Matzah is Kosher, and
there is, in fact, greater care regarding the concern of Chametz than with
hand-made Matzah (and once when our Rabbi was asked this question, he answered:
In the same amount of time that we exert ourselves to make one hand-made Matzah
it is possible to make Reb Noson’s [our Rabbi’s brother-in-law], his own and
many other people’s Matzah for the entire holiday).
Korban
Pesach
Q:
Should one sign up for the Korban Pesach in anticipation of the coming of the
Mashiach?
A:
No. There is no need. We anticipate the coming of the Mashiach
every day, but the building of the Temple will not be today. See Rambam, Melachim 1:2.
Davening
in the Wrong Direction
Q:
If I began Davening in the wrong direction, i.e. not towards Yerushalayim. May I turn around?
A:
Yes, walking for the needs of Davening without speaking is not considered an
interruption (Mishnah Berurah 104:2. Piskei Teshuvot ibid.).
