Cremation
Q: Is cremation permissible according to the Torah?
A: Certainly not.
There is a positive Torah Mitzvah to bury the deceased. It is an honor for the deceased, an honor for
the living and an honor for the soul (in the book Gesher Ha-Chaim [Volume 1
16:9], Ha-Rav Yechiel Michal Tukachinsky writes that it is a severe prohibition
to cremate a body, since one nullifies a positive Torah Mitzvah with his hands,
and causes a great calamity to the deceased.
Gedolei Yisrael therefore agree that the ashes of one who is cremated are
not to be buried in a Jewish cemetery.
Other Rabbis explain, however, that while cremation is absolutely
forbidden, it is nonetheless permissible to bury the ashes in a Jewish
cemetery. Shut Seredei Aish 2:123-124. Shut Melamed Le-Hoil 2:113-114. And in Shut Chelkat [2:4], Ha- Rav Mordechai
Yaakov Bereish, Av Beit Din of Zurich, writes that it is preferable to be
buried in a non-Jewish cemetery than to be cremated!).
"Ve-Hu Rachum"
Q: Many times at the beginning of Maariv, people who are there
to Daven say "Ve-Hu Rachum" to encourage the Shalaich Tzibur to
begin. Is there a problem with this?
A: Yes, since it is the Shaliach Tzibur's role to begin (And
Ha-Rav Moshe Aryeh Freund, Av Beit Din of the Edah Ha-Charedit in Yerushalayim,
once got up to serve as Shaliach Tzibur on Motzaei Shabbat, and one of the
Daveners loudly began "Ve-Hu Rachum".
Ha-Rav Freund turned to him and said that the Shalaich Tzibur begins
this line. Mara De-Shematata p. 50).
Kidney Donation by a Cohain
Q: I am a Cohain and want to donate a kidney. Is the lack of a kidney considered a blemish
for which I would not be able to say Birkat Cohanim?
A: No, since it is hidden, i.e. internal.
Loving Your Fellow Jew as Yourself
Q: How can I reach the level of loving my fellow Jew as
myself?
A: Through intellect, i.e. thinking about the positives of
that person, despite his deficiencies.
Kashrut at a Wedding
Q: I am invited to a wedding under the Kashrut supervision of
the Israeli Rabbinate. The host told me
that they could order us a Mehadrin meal, but the other guests sitting with us
will see the difference in the meals.
What should we do?
A: Eat like everyone else, since the food is Kosher, and you
should not separate yourself (And this how Ha-Rav Yosef Chaim Zonnenfeld and
Ha-Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach acted.
They would eat foods at a Simcha that they were strict not to eat in
their home, as it says in the Book of Tehillim
[101:2], "I walk with wholeness of heart within the confines of my
house" - in the confines of my house I am strict, with other people I am
not. Ve-Alehu Lo Yibol Volume 2, p.
66-67. See Shut Pe'at Shadecha 1:66
which also mentions how Rav Zonnenfeld acted in this way).
Smoking
Before Davening
Q:
Is it forbidden to smoke before Davening just as it is forbidden to eat and
drink?
A:
Yes. Piskei Teshuvot 89:17. And, in any event, smoking is forbidden (See
Piskei Shlomo Volume 4 on smoking).
Gemera
Fell on Floor
Q:
While cleaning, my entire set of Gemara fell on the floor and my Kiddush cup
broke. What should I do?
A:
Pick up the Gemara and kiss it. If you
are troubled about it, give Tzedakah.
