Mishloach
Manot Delivered by Drone
Q:
If someone sends a Mishloach Manot by a drone does he fulfill the Mitzvah?
A:
It is permissible, just as it is permissible to send a Mishloach Manot by a
non-Jew or child, but one must be certain it arrives. See Piskei Teshuvot 695:16 (and see Chidushei
Chatam Sofer on Gittin 22:2 d.h. Ve-Ha Lav).
Tefilah
in Meah Shearim
Q:
I am a soldier in uniform passing through Meah Shearim and I need to Daven
Minchah. Should I Daven there or is it
dangerous?
A:
It is not dangerous. The crazy people
there are extremely small in number.
Name
Change of Sick Person who Died
Q:
My mother z"l was extremely sick and we add the name "Chaya" to
her name. She died a few days
later. Should we include the additional
name in the prayer Kel Malei Rachamim, on the tombstone, etc.?
A:
No. The name remains only if one lived a
month after it was added (See Shut Yad Sofer 1:2).
Musical
Instruments during Davening
Q:
In my Shul they began playing instruments during the Davening on Rosh Chodesh
and Chol Ha-Moed. They said it is to
elevate the Davening. I quietly
left. Am I correct?
A:
You are correct. We should certainly
elevate the Davening, but through Yirat Shamayim - Fear of Heaven.
Anonymous
Donation
Q:
I want to donate books to my Shul in memory of a loved one. Am I obligated to write in the book the name
of the person for whom it is donated?
A:
No. Hashem knows.
Arm
Tefilin for Person with Heart on Right side
Q:
I am a Cardiologist. There are some
people who have their heart on the right side.
Do they then put the arm Tefilin on their right arms so it will be
facing the heart?
A:
No. 1. When the Gemara in Menachot
(37a-b) says that the Tefilin should face the heart, it refers to the location
of the Tefilin on the arm. 2. A left-handed
person puts Tefilin on his right arm even though his heart is on the left side
(Shut Eretz Tzvi 1:115. Shaarei Halachah
of Ha-Rav Zev Dov Slonim, who served as Rabbi of Mercaz Ha-Ir in Yerushalayim,
Volume 1 #27).
Davening
in Ezrat Nashim
Q:
Can I Daven in the Ezrat Nashim when no women are there?
A:
No. 1. In general, you will not be
considered part of the Minyan. 2. Is it
not the same level of holiness as the men's section. 3. Perhaps a woman will want to Daven there
(Piskei Teshuvot 55:26).
XL
Before Davening
Q:
I wake up very tired and sometimes fall back asleep before Davening. Coffee gives me a stomachache. Is it permissible for me to drink XL before
Davening to wake me up?
A:
Yes. There is no difference between XL
and coffee. It contains a lot of
caffeine. It is preferable to drink the
type without sugar. By the way, it is an
unhealthy drink.
Smoking
Drugs
Q:
I am a teacher. Should I tell my
students that before I became a Baal Teshuvah, I smoked drugs and now - Baruch
Hashem - I am far from that place?
A:
No, lest they say: We can smoke drugs now and then do Teshuvah.
