Eye
Color
Q:
Are the color of one's eyes connected to his soul?
A:
No.
Marriage
Between People with the Same Name
Q:
Is it permissible for a man and woman with the same first name to be married?
A:
Yes (This is also the ruling of Ha-Rav Yaakov Yitzchak Neiman, who served as Av
Beit Din of the Machzikei Ha-Dat of Belz in Montreal. He states that although he had not heard such
a ruling before, we should not add strictures that are not mentioned in
Tzava'at Rebbe Yehudah Ha-Chasid. Shut
Agurah Be-Ohalecha Volume 3, Even Ha-Ezer #2).
Fashion
Designer
Q:
[Question from a woman]: I am a fashion designer for women's evening wear. Is it permissible? Are there limitations?
A:
It is permissible on condition that the clothing is modest.
University
Paper
Q:
Is it permissible for me to write a university paper for someone else?
A:
Ask the professor directly.
Translating
the Kaddish
Q:
Why don't we translate the Kaddish into Hebrew?
A:
Because a translation cannot be precise.
In many Siddurim, however, there is a translation of the Kaddish, so
that a person can quickly understand the Aramaic words of this prayer.
Difficulty
in Learning
Q:
It is difficult for me to learn Gemara.
Is there hope for me?
A:
Certainly. It was also difficult for
Ha-Rav Yitzchak Elchanan Spector to learn.
And also Maharam Shick. And also
Rabbi Akiva.
Passing
Kiddush to My Mother or My Wife
Q:
If I am eating a Shabbat meal with my mother and my wife, to whom should I
first pass the Kiddush? If I first give
it to my wife, my mother will be insulted, and visa-versa.
A:
The question is not formulated correctly.
You and your wife are one, and should decide together what to do (See
the answers of Gedolei Yisrael on this question in Shut Ha-Shoel #37).
Shirt
with the Verse "Hashem is the King"
Q:
Is it permissible to wear a shirt which has the verse "Hashem is the King"
printed on it?
A:
1. It must be covered when one enters the restroom. 2. Gedolei Yisrael and G-d-fearing Jews
throughout the generations did not write verses of their clothing but upon
their hearts and their actions.
Torah
Classes on Cell Phone
Q:
If one listens to Torah classes on his cell phone, computer or MP3, does he
fulfill the obligation to set fix times for learning Torah?
A:
Yes. It is obviously preferable to learn
from a Rabbi face-to-face.
Divrei
Torah at Meals
Q:
On the one hand, the Gemara Ta'anit (5b) says not to speak during meals because
there is a fear of choking on the food, while on the other hand, Pirkei Avot
(3:3) says that a meal without Divrei Torah is like eating the sacrifices of
the dead. Isn't this a contradiction?
A:
It means that one should not talk during the actually eating, but it is a
Mitzvah to say Divrei Torah between the eating.
Mishnah Berurah (170:1-2).
