'Makom
Kavua' (Fixed Place) at the Kotel
Q:
If I Daven regularly in the same place at the Kotel, is it my 'Makom Kavua'?
A:
Certainly not. No one has ownership of
the Kotel. It belongs to Klal-Yisrael
(Ha-Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv rules in the same way. In the book "Mi-Pi Ish" p. 213).
Growing
into a Torah Scholar
Q:
How does one become a Torah scholar? Is
there a Bracha or Segula you can give me to ensure that this will happen?
A:
Years of toiling in Torah learning (Ha-Rav Shmuel
Ha-Levi Wozner, author of Shut Shevet Ha-Levi, was born into a
modernish Orthodox family in Vienna and blossomed into one of the major Poskim
of our time. There
is a famous story about his mother. She had a beautiful voice and was invited by the famous
national Opera of Vienna to perform.
This would have brought her fame and fortune, but one of the leading
Rabbis told her it was forbidden to sing in front of men and/or a mixed
audience. He gave her a blessing that
for overcoming this temptation she would merit a son who would illuminate the world. Rav Wozner often spoke about growing in Torah
learning but never mentioned this story. He himself was not a gifted
student at all, but by sheer desire, unending effort, and prayer he succeeded
in becoming a great Posek. Rav Wozner's
son, Ha-Rav Avraham Eliyahu, Av Beit Din of the "Shevet Ha-Levi"
community in the Brachfeld neighborhood of Modi'in Ilit, once said that his father
never related this wondrous story. When Rav Wozner was asked if it was
true, he answered: "That's what they say". Rav Wozner wanted to avoid the impression
that simply by the merit of a Bracha one can blossom into a Torah giant. This can only be accomplished through years
of hard work and toil in Torah learning.
In the book "Ve-Lo Shevet Ha-Levi Bilvad" pp. 24-25).
Tefilat
Ha-Derech in Airplane
Q:
When should one recite Tefilat Ha-Derech when flying in an airplane?
A:
After the ascent, since there is danger if – G-d-forbid – the airplane falls
(Ha-Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach. Halichot
Shlomo 21:4).
Ruling
of Ha-Rav Against What is Written in His Book
Q:
I asked a question and Ha-Rav answered differently than what is written in his book!
A:
Rabbis sometimes do not want to include in their books rulings which could be
relied on throughout the generations.
They therefore present the basic Halachah in their books, but might rule
leniently when the Halachah allows, or strictly when need be when asked orally (For
example, A. Regarding a Sefardi eating in a Kosher restaurant or catering hall
where non-Jews cook the food. While
Ashkenazim rely on the Rama [Yoreh Deah 113:7] that as long as a Jew to lights
the fire, gas or electricity, the non-Jew may place the pot or pan on it and it
will not be considered "Bishul Akum" – food cooked by a non-Jew (which
is forbidden), Sefardim follow the ruling of the Shulchan Aruch [ibid.] that it
does not matter whether the fire is lit by a Jew or a non-Jew, the essence is
that the Jew places the food on it. In many Kosher restaurants or
catering halls, the Mashgiach lights the fire and then the non-Jews cook.
Ha-Rav Ovadiah Yosef, however, finds a leniency and writes that a regular
employee has the same leniency as a servant. Today we do not have
servants as laid out by the Torah, but when there were non-Jewish servants, it
was permissible for them to cook. Non-Jewish workers are not servants in
the legal sense, but the Rama [ibid. 4] says that our permanent workers have
the same ruling as servants. Ha-Rav Ovadiah Yosef says that we have a
case of a double-doubt. Regarding each individual Halachah, Sefardim do
not rule this way, but there are two doubts here: perhaps the Halachah follows
the opinion that a Jew lighting the fire is enough, and perhaps the permanent,
non-Jewish workers do have the status of servants. It is thus possible
for a Sefardi to be lenient. Shut Yechaveh
Da'at 5:54. But when someone asked Rav Ovadiah this
question orally, he would rule that preferably one should be strict and refrain
from eating there. Yalkut Yosef – Isur
Ve-Heter Vol. 2 p. 158.
B.
The Chazon Ish rules in his book that it is forbidden to eat the bread of
someone who violates Shabbat, but he would answer those who asked him orally
that it is permissible to rely on the lenient opinion of the Tiferet
Moshe. Shut Teshuvot Ve-Hanhagot 1:470.
C.
In Shut Az Nidberu 2:69, Ha-Rav Binyamin Zilber writes that the Chazon Ish
would answer orally that one should not eat sardines imported from outside of
Israel because of Bishul Akum, but since the Chazon Ish did not forbid it in
his book, it may be concluded that he did not hold that it was completely
forbidden. Brought in Shulchan Melachim
Volume 2 p. 1083).
