Yeshivat
Ha-Gush
Q:
It is correct to say today that we and Yeshivat Ha-Gush are two separate
worlds, just as one would say about us and the Charedim?
A:
I don't know who "we" is. All
the Zionist Yeshivot are the same, with minimal differences. And the same with the Charedi world: that
which we share is far beyond that which separates us. It is forbidden to create sub-groups within
the Nation "And who is like Your Nation Yisrael, one Nation in the
Land" (see Maran Ha-Rav Kook's article "Masa Ha-Machanot" in
Maamrei Ha-Re'eiyah).
Nazi
Insult
Q:
When people are arguing and someone calls the other a Nazi, how should he
respond?
A:
He should not respond. By stooping to
this level, the name-caller disqualified himself and lost the argument. This is called "Reductio ad Hitlerum" or "argumentum ad Hitlerum", i.e.
where someone compares his opponent's views with those of Adolf Hitler or the
Nazi Party (see Wikipedia for this expression).
Internet Fast
Q: Is it worthwhile to have a "Ta'anit Dibur" (a
fast from speaking)?
A: It is preferable to have an internet fast.
Papaya
Q: What is the blessing on papaya?
A: Adamah. Shut
Yechaveh Daat (4:52).
Woman Covering Hair during Davening
Q: If a married woman Davens at home on her own, is she
obligated to cover her hair?
A: The basic Halachah is that she is not obligated, but in
practice, the Minhag is for a married woman to cover her hair when Davening,
even if she is alone. Shut Yabia Omer
(Vol. 6 Orach Chaim #15). Sefer Tefillah
Ke-Hilchata (Chap. 7 note #24 in the name of Ha-Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach).
Revelation of Eliyahu
Q: Why did Eliyahu Ha-Navi appear to the Arizal and the Vilna
Gaon but not the Rambam?
A: The Rambam had a revelation of Eliyahu through his
intellect.
Kashering and Toveling
Q: If one purchases a non-Kosher utensil from a non-Jew,
which should be done first – Kashering it or immersing it in a Mikvah?
A: Kashering it.
Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 120:2 (And see a discussion of this issue in
Ha-Rav's commentary on the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 37:4).
Woman who is in Doubt about Birkat Ha-Mazon
Q: I am a woman and I am almost certain that I did not recite
Birkat Ha-Mazon but I am not 100% sure. What should I do?
A: There is a huge debate regarding whether a woman who is in
doubt about whether she recited Birkat Ha-Mazon should recite it or not. She therefore should not recite it (Piskei
Teshuvot 186:2). But if you are almost
certain that you did not recite it, then you should recite it.
Writing on Fog
Q: It permissible on Shabbat to write on a window which is
fogged up?
A: No (And so too Shemirat Shabbat Ke-Hilchata 16:28).