Erasing
Rav Kook's Picture
Q:
There is a picture of Maran Ha-Rav Kook painted on the wall of our youth group
room. We are repainting it. It is permissible to paint over his picture
or is it disrespecting him?
A:
It is permissible. It is not
disrespectful.
Immersion
in Mikveh for Sandek
Q:
How many times should a Sandek immerse in the Mikveh before a Brit Milah?
A:
There is no such obligation. If he wants
to be strict and do so, he can immerse as many as he wishes.
Non-Jewish
Father
Q:
If one has a Jewish mother and non-Jewish father, how is he called to the
Torah?
A:
Ben Avraham or Ben his mother's name (See regarding Rav Meri ben Rachel – Rashi
on Berachot 16a. Ketubot 23a. Baba Batra 149a).
Prayer
for the Spaceship Bereshit
Q:
Is there a prayer for a successful mission of the spaceship Bereshit?
A:
Tehilim.
Tiferet
Yisrael on the Mishnayot
Q:
I spoke with a Chasid and I quoted something from the commentary Tiferet
Yisrael on the Mishnayot. He said that
they do not learn this commentary. What
is the reason? Is it permissible to
learn it?
A:
They are opposed this commentary for three reasons: 1. He writes that Metzitza
during a Brit Mila is only a medical matter and we should follow the opinion of
the doctors (Shabbat 19:2) (Almost all Gedolei Yisrael disagreed with him
regarding this matter. See Shut Da'at
Cohain #140). 2. He brings a
"Midrash" that Moshe Rabbenu's nature was evil but he overcame it (end
of Kiddushin #77) (Almost all Gedolei Yisrael also disagreed with him regarding
this. See Ha-Rav's book "U-Madua Lo
Yereitem Ledaber Be-Avdi Be-Moshe", Chapter 5). 3. Regarding the discovery of dinosaurs, he
writes "the world had already once existed
and was then destroyed, and then it was reestablished four more times, and that
each time the world appeared in a more perfect state than before – now in our
time it has all become clear in truth and righteousness". Thus, the world was created more than 5779
years ago (Explained this at length in "Derush Or Ha-Chaim," found in
Mishnayot Nezikin after Massechet Sanhedrin) (These are differing
opinions among Rabbis regarding this issue.
See the booklet "Maran Ha-Rav Kook Ve-Evolutziya). Regardless, this commentary is great,
and it is permissible - and recommended - to learn it.
Prayer
for Sick
Q:
I Daven for the sick and have a long list of people I do not know and am not in
contact with. How do I know how long to
continue Davening for each person?
A:
Daven for a month for each person.
Trances
Q:
Is it permissible to listen to trances?
A:
One must listen to Kosher music which does not arouse low inclinations. Igeret Ha-Rambam to Sages of Aram Tzova,
Mehadurat Ha-Rav Shilta, p. 428.
Moshe
or Mordechai
Q:
B"H, we had a baby boy born to us on the 7th of Adar (The
birthday and Yahrtzeit of Moshe Rabbenu). The Brit Milah will be on Purim. We are in doubt whether we should name him
Moshe or Mordechai. What is Ha-Rav's
opinion?
A:
1. Both names are great and it is a personal decision. B. Ha-Rav Moshe Feinstein was born on 7th
Adar, and although his Brit Milah was on Purim and his father thought to name
him Mordechai, he decided to name him Moshe (Shut Igrot Moshe Volume 8 in the
Kuntres "Man Malchi Rabbanan", p. 7), i.e. his father based it on the
day of his birth. 3. It is widespread to
name a child "Moshe Mordechai" and many Gedolei Yisrael have that
name: Ha-Rav Moshe Mordechai Epstein (who was Rosh Yeshiva of Knesset Yisrael
in Slabodka and Hevron), Ha-Rav Moshe Mordechai Ha-Levu Shulzinger (author of
Mishmar Ha-Levi), Ha-Rav Moshe Mordechai Chadash (who was Rosh Yeshiva of Ohr
Elchanan in Yerushalayim) and others.
Maran
Ha-Rav Kook's Chair
Q:
Is it permissible to sit in Maran Ha-Rav Kook's chair in Beit Ha-Rav and to get
one's picture taken there?
A:
No (See Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 242:15).
Pluralism
Q:
Why don’t we believe in Pluralism?
A:
Because we believe in Hashem and He gave us the Torah.
