Eliyahu
Ha-Navi
Q:
Does Eliyahu Ha-Navi appear in our times in the form of a regular person?
A:
No. Eliyahu Ha-Navi only reveals himself
to the holiest of individuals (see the book Chayei Olam, chap. 30, where Ha-Rav
Chaim Kanievski records many places in the Gemara, Yerushalmi, Midrash, holy
books and among great Rabbis where Eliyahu revealed himself).
King
Shlomo and Chess
Q:
Is it true that King Shlomo invented Chess?
A:
This is only a story. See the book
"Otzar Yisrael" of Rav Eizenstein, entry on chess.
Prayer
for Captured and Missing Soldiers
Q:
Should we add Jonathan Pollard's name into the prayer for captured and missing
soldiers?
A:
Certainly. He is a great hero who
displayed self-sacrifice for the sake of the Nation of Israel.
Younger
Child
Q:
Why does the younger child favored a preference in the Tanach? For example, Kayin and Hevel, Yishmael and
Yitzchak, Esav and Yaakov, Leah and Rachel, Menashe and Ephraim, David and his
brothers, etc.
A:
One gains favor through his efforts, not through his relative age.
Mermaid
Q:
How do we relate to the Gemara in Bechorot (8) which discusses a fish that is
half human?
A:
It does not say that such a creature exists, but only what would in theory be
the law if it did (see Netivot Olam, Netiv Ha-Torah, Netiv 14. And the book “Be’er Ha-Golah”).
Learning
the Satmar Rebbe's Books
Q:
Does one receive the reward for learning Torah when learning the Satmar Rebbe's
books?
A:
Certainly.
Picture
without Permission
Q:
Is it permissible to take someone's picture without his permission?
A:
Certainly not. You must be sure that he
agrees (Shut Mishneh Halachot 4:114.
See, however, Shut Be-Tzel Ha-Chochmah 4:85. There is a famous picture of Maran Ha-Rav
Kook sitting in an arm chair, which was taken when he was in London during the
First World War without his knowledge. At the moment it was taken he was
waiting for a Brit Milah to take place.
The photographer later came to Maran Ha-Rav, brought him the picture and
said: Although I brazenly took his Honor's picture without his permission, I
now request a favor from Ha-Rav: please allow me to publish this picture as a
source of livelihood. Maran Ha-Rav
responded with a smile on his face: Isn't it an explicit verse in the Torah
[Shemot 21:16]: "One who steals a man and sells him"! Maran Ha-Rav Kook ztz"l of Ha-Rav Z.A.
Rabiner, pp. 110-111).
Merits
and Demerits
Q:
It is written that if a man speaks Lashon Ha-Ra his merits are transferred to
the person he spoke Lashon Ha-Ra about and that person's demerits are
transferred to him. Is this correct?
A:
Yes. It is in the book "Chovot
Ha-Levavot", brought in the Chafetz Chaim's "Shemirat
Ha-Lashon," and is also found in the Zohar.
Pre-Natal
Testing
Q:
Should one have pre-natal testing or is it preferable to trust in Hashem?
A:
Trusting in Hashem is only where Hashem explicitly informed you that He will
take care of you without you having to exert any effort. He did not say such a thing in this area, and
He commanded that one should follow the instructions of doctors (see Rabbi
Avraham ben Ha-Rambam, Ha-Maspik Le-Ovdei Hashem, Sha'ar Ha-Bitachon. Kovetz Teshuvot of Ha-Rav Yosef Shalom
Elyashiv vol. 1).
