Pesak
Halachah before Blessing over Learning Torah
Q:
If someone asks me a halachic question before I recite a blessing over learning
Torah, is it permissible to answer?
A:
Yes, if you answer without given the reasoning (even if you think about the
reasoning). Piskei Teshuvot 47:3.
Endangering
Children for Settling Eretz Yisrael
Q:
Is it permissible for parents to live in a place in Eretz Yisrael where there
is some level of danger involved, or are they endangering their children?
A:
Children follow their parents. Shut
Me'il Tzedakah brought in Pitchei Teshuvot Even Ha-Ezer #75.
Establishing
Yeshivot
Q:
Should we establish Yeshivot in every place?
A:
Yes. A Yeshiva is the heart of life in
every place.
Calming
a Baby in the Middle of a Blessing
Q:
If I am in the middle of reciting a blessing and my baby starts crying, is it
permissible for me to make signs with my hands and smile at him to calm him
down? After all, it is forbidden to do
anything in the middle of a blessing.
A:
After the fact, it is permissible, since calming the baby will aid in reciting
the blessing properly. Piskei Teshuvot
191:2.
Photograph
on Shabbat
Q:
What should I do if someone is taking a picture of me on Shabbat?
A:
Refuse. If it does not help, turn around
or cover your face.
May
the Merciful One Bless the State of Israel
Q:
Should one add into the Birkat Ha-Mazon: "May the Merciful One Bless the
State of Israel, beginning of our Redemption" and "May the Merciful
One Bless the soldiers of the Israel Defense Force"?
A:
There is no need. These ideas are
already included in the Birkat Ha-Mazon.
Direction
of Davening at the Kotel
Q:
Should one Daven straight at the Kotel or on an angle towards the Dome of the
Rock which was the spot of the Beit Ha-Mikdash?
A:
No one knows where the Beit Ha-Mikdash stood.
Although the Radvaz said that the Dome of the Rock is on the spot of the
Beit Ha-Mikdash, Poskim have already pointed out that the Radvaz himself has a
few contradictions regarding this issue.
Ha-Rav Moshe Sternbuch writes that the Radvaz says this is in the name
of the Arabs and one cannot rely on their testimony. Furthermore, he brings in the name of the Zohar
that the location of the Temple is hidden in the ground and is unknown. And the Arizal said that nothing will be
built on top of the spot of the Beit Ha-Mikdash (Shut Teshuvot Ve-Hanhagot
3:39). And when someone said to Ha-Rav
Chaim Kanievski that today we know where the Holy of Holiest is located, and we
should therefore Daven on an angle, he responded: We don't know anything (Le-Binyamin
Amar p. 84).
Silver
and Gold Wedding Anniversary
Q:
Is the custom of celebrating a Silver or Gold Wedding Anniversary upon 25 or 50
years of marriage forbidden on account of "Chukot Ha-Goyim"
(following the practices of the non-Jews)?
Q:
No. It is a proper and logical
celebration in order to increase love and fraternity, peace and friendship (see
Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah #175).
Unemployment
Check
Q:
I receive an unemployment check each month.
Is it permissible for me to work if the payment for this work will only
be given to me after my unemployment benefits end?
A:
Ask the unemployment office directly.
