Eretz
Yisrael is Acquired Through Suffering
Q:
I know that Eretz Yisrael is acquired through suffering, but why does Hashem
allow so many difficult things occur in Eretz Yisrael in our time?
A:
The answer is within the question, and our time isn't considered "difficult". A difficult period, for example, is when I
was born and my parents had to hide me so I wouldn't be send to a concentration
camp.
Water
Fight
Q:
In our Yeshiva high school it is forbidden to have and water fight. If someone does have a water fight, he is
fined 50 Shekels. Is a Yeshiva permitted
to punish someone in this way?
A:
1. You should ask your Rosh Yeshiva directly.
2. No one is obligated to learn there, but if you choose to do so, you
are obligated to accept their rules.
Ants in the House
Q: We have a lot of ants in our house. Is it a sign from Hashem or a natural
phenomenon?
A: Natural.
Fifth
Section of the Shulchan Aruch
Q:
What is the "fifth section" of the Shulchan Aruch?
A:
It is a saying that a Posek one must understand how to deal with human
beings. In truth, however, it is
included in the Shulchan Aruch. And
there is also a "sixth section" of the Shulchan Aruch: How to deal
with people who do not act like human beings… (It is related that the Chatam
Sofer once tested his student on the 4 parts of the Shulchan Aruch. The student knew them perfectly and the
Chatam Sofer gave him Semichah. The
Chatam Sofer then warned him: You should know that there is a fifth section of
the Shulchan Aruch on how to deal and cope with people. The student became the Rabbi of an important
community but didn't last long and was fired.
The student returned to the Chatam Sofer to complain about his terrible
situation. After hearing his words, the
Chatam Sofer said: I warned you that there is a fifth section of the Shulchan
Aruch how to deal with human beings. Why
didn't you follow my words? The student
replied: My teacher and Rebbe, I learned the fifth section of the Shulchan
Aruch, but I didn't learn the sixth section of the Shulchan Aruch: how to deal
with those who don't act like human beings… Meged Givot Olam Volume 2 p. 16.
However,
when Ha-Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach was asked regarding one of his rulings if it
was based on the "Fifth section of the Shulchan Aruch", he responded:
"No, rather based on the first [or beginning – 'Rishon'] section of the Shulchan
Aruch," and he explained: "The
Beginning ['Reshit'] of Wisdom is the Fear of Hashem" [Mishlei 1:7]. Chico Mamtakim Volume 1 p. 153.
And
once when Ha-Rav Elazar Menachem Shach was asked about the saying the
"Fifth section of the Shulchan Aruch", he said that one should not
use this term, since people may think that it is permissible to add to the
Shulchan Aruch, and it is as if his opinions are equal to those of the Shulchan
Aruch. Kovetz Kol Ha-Torah, Choveret
#52. Kuntres Halachah Ke-Rebbe Elazar by
Ha-Rav Shmuel Baruch Genut p. 37).
Acupuncture
Q:
Is acupuncture true?
A:
There have been many scientific trials over the years, and they have not succeeded
in proving most of the claims of this method (See Ner Be-Ishon Laila pp.
63-64).
Text
Message Q&A without Knowing Questioner
Q:
Isn't there a problem answering a text message question when the Rabbi does not
personally know the questioner?
A:
There are questions which do not require one to know the questioner, whether
one asks orally or in writing, and there are other questions which do require
one to know the questioner, whether one asks orally or in writing (See
Introduction to Ha-Rav's book "Piskei Shlomo").
Yielding
to One's Wife
Q:
Do we learn that a husband should always
yield to his wife, since Hashem said to Avraham Avinu: "Anything which
Sarah says to you, listen to her voice" (Bereshit 21:12)?
A:
If she is correct. See Rashi there. But in general, a couple should yield to each
other.
