Learning
Emunah
Q:
I learn Emunah from books but find it very dry.
What should I do?
A:
Attend classes. If this is not
practical, listen to them (There are thousands of classes on all subjects by
Ha-Rav in Hebrew on the website [Rav] Avinerpedia, Sifriat Chava and Maale).
Maran
Ha-Rav Kook and Chabad
Q:
What is the difference between Maran Ha-Rav Kook and Chabad?
A:
Chabad is about perfecting the individual, Maran Ha-Rav Kook is about
perfecting the community and the individual within the community (And when
Maran Ha-Rav Kook arrived in Eretz Yisrael, Rabbi David Cohain, Ha-Nazir,
walked all night from Yerushalayim to Hevron in order to greet his Rav, and
heard a class from him there. After the
hearing the talk, Ha-Nazir said to Rav Kook: What Ha-Rav said is like
Chabad. Rav Kook smiled and said to him:
"I am building the Nation".
See Safran Shel Yechidim of Rav Hillel Tzeitlin, p. 235).
Second
Marriage
Q:
I am married to a widow. When he
mentions his previous wife, it arouses jealousy within me and it is
difficult. There are also photo albums
in our home that have pictures of her.
It is ok for me to ask him to stop mentioning her?
A:
Certainly. Your jealousy is a natural
feeling. Perhaps it is better if a third
party explains to him that it is improper to act in this manner (The Chatam
Sofer's third wife was the widow of Rav Tzvi Charif, the author of Tiv
Gittin. The Chatam Sofer once saw her lighting a candle for her
first husband on his Yahrtzeit, 25th of Tishrei. He
was upset, but he rightfully did not say anything so as not to cause her
pain. The Chatam Sofer eventually died on the same day of the
year. Zichron Le-Moshe 68:1).
Tefillin
at Night for Soldier
Q:
Can a soldier who returns at night from an all-day operation, which began the
previous night, put on Tefillin?
A:
No. It is forbidden to put on Tefillin
at night. Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim
30:2. But he can put them on during
twilight (Bein Ha-Shemashot) without a blessing, and some permit reciting a
blessing during this time. See Piskei
Teshuvot ibid. #2.
Bamba
Q:
What is the blessing over Bamba?
A:
It is a dispute - Shehakol or Adamah - therefore you should recite Shehakol
(Shut She'eilat Shlomo 1:108. And this
is also the ruling in the book "Ve-Zot Ha-Berachah", p. 389. And there is a dispute between the sons of
Ha-Rav Ovadiah Yosef regarding this question.
According to Ha-Rav David Yosef, one should recite Shehakol. Halachah Berurah Volume 10, 208:30. And according to Ha-Rav Yitzchak Yosef [who
now serves as the Chief Rabbi], one should recite Adamah. Yalkut Yosef in Klalei Sefak Berachot p.
176. Ain Yitzchak, Volume 2 p. 573. And one year on the night of Pesach in Ha-Rav
Ovadiah's house, they forgot to prepare bags of nuts to give to the children to
keep them awake for the Four Questions, so they gave the children Bamba. Ha-Rav Ovadiah asked his son Ha-Rav Yitzchak:
What is the blessing? He answered:
Adamah. Ha-Rav Ovadiah recited Adamah
over the Bamba, passed it out to all of his grandchildren and told them to
recite Adamah. Sinai Ve-Oker Harim pp.
179-180).
Terrorists
Q:
Why are we revolted by terrorists, don't we believe that they are performing
Hashem's will?
A:
This is not Hashem's will but rather evil.
A wicked person absorbs Hashem's will in a false and evil manner. See Shemoneh Kevatzim of Maran Ha-Rav Kook
3:42.
Sewing on Motzaei Shabbat
Q:
My button fell off on Shabbat and I asked my wife on Motzaei Shabbat to sew it
back on. She said that it is forbidden
to sew on Motzaei Shabbat. Is this true?
A:
There are women who have the custom not to perform strenuous labors on Motzaei
Shabbat. Magen Avraham 299:1. For example, sewing. Ibid. in the name of the Chavot Yair. Sewing on a button, however, is not a
strenuous labor or the work of an expert.
It is therefore permissible (See Piskei Teshuvot 300:6).
Shut
SMS and Fear of Hashem
Q:
People sit next to me in Shul during the Davening on Shabbat night and mock the
text message Q&A which are published in the Parashah sheets. What should I say to them? Should I respond at all?
A:
You can respond to them: 1. Davening is in order to Daven and not to read
Parashah sheets. 2. Anger and mockery
are bad character traits, and they should think about that. 3. The purpose of Torah is to add fear of
Hashem and if the opposite is happening to them, these words of Torah were not
written for them. And see the words of
the Rambam at the beginning of Moreh Nevuchim: And if one does not find in it
anything which benefits him in any way, he should consider as if the book was
not written. But it is better to remain
quiet, since people who mock do not have ears which are able to hear. They should therefore add fear of Hashem
through other words of Torah.
