Visiting
Safari
Q:
Is it permissible to go on a safari where the animals roam freely?
A:
If there is danger, it is forbidden.
Maran Ha-Rav Kook wrote in Igrot Ha-Re'eiyah (3, 852), that one should
not go on a trip in a place where there is even a fear of danger. It is only permissible to take a slight risk
for making a livelihood or performing a Mitzvah (Mitzvat Ha-Re'eiyah 3:17). It is obviously forbidden to leave Eretz
Yisrael for such a reason.
Drawing
Q:
B"H, I have a talent for drawing.
How can I use it to serve Hashem?
A:
Draw things which arouse positive emotions.
War
with Terror
Q:
How is it possible to say that the State of Israel is the beginning of
Redemption if there is still terror?
A:
B"H, we are well beyond the beginning of Redemption. But, to our great distress, there are murders
in every country. See Wikipedia: List of
Countries by Intentional Homicide Rate, murders rates for 100,000 citizens –
Americas: 16.3. Africa: 12.5. Europe: 3.0.
Oceania: 3.0. Asia: 2.9. World average: 6.2. State of Israel: 1.36. Blessed is Hashem who saves us.
Pouring
Water on Ground before Leaving
Q:
Some communities have the custom to pour water on the ground before leaving the
house. What is the source?
A:
There is no source. It is for a good
sign.
Mitzvah
of Serving in the Army
Q:
I heard from an Ultra-Orthodox Jew that in the period of the Kings they only
drafted people with ADD or ADHD, because they were unable to sit and learn
Torah in Yeshiva.
A:
This is made up. There is no source for
this in the laws of war of the Rambam.
Ruach
Ha-Kodesh for Woman
Q:
Is it possible in our times a woman could have Ruach Ha-Kodesh?
A:
1. There is no difference between a man and a woman in this respect. 2. Ruach Ha-Kodesh is only for unique
individuals. See the last chapter of
Mesilat Yesharim.
Temporarily
Closing the Mikveh
Q:
Is it permissible to temporarily close the Mikveh in order to expedite
renovations?
A:
It is forbidden. Shut Imrei Yosher
(2:210 #1). Shut Igrot Moshe (Yoreh Deah
2:91).
Mistakenly
Entering the Har Ha-Bayit
Q:
I entered the Har Ha-Bayit because people told me it was permissible. I was certain that it is a great
Mitzvah. I then found out that the
Rabbis forbid it. How do I do Teshuvah?
A:
Regret. Abandonment of the
transgression. Acceptance of not
repeating it. Recitation of
Tehillim. Tzedakah. Completing all of Mesilat Yesharim.
Cell
Phone in Shul
Q:
Is it permissible to bring a cell phone to Shul during the week?
A:
Only if it is turned off. Shut Mishnat
Yosef (4:13).
Shabbat
Observance or Building Mikveh
Q:
I am going on Shelichut and most of the people there are not observant. Which is preferable – focusing on Shabbat
observance or building a Mikveh?
A:
1. Rabbenu Ha-Rav Tzvi Yehudah taught us that learning Emunah is the foundation
for everything. 2. Ha-Rav Yonatan Steif,
who was a Gadol in America, ruled that one should focus on building a Mikveh,
since a person is obligated to have self-sacrifice for the laws of Family
Purity, which is not the case for Shabbat observance (Shut Mahari Steif
#187). Obviously, Shabbat observance is
also extremely important and one of the main facets of a Torah-observant Jew.
Moshe
Rabbenu's Name
Q:
Batya, the daughter of Pharaoh, gave Moshe his name (Shemot 2:10). How did she know Hebrew?
A:
She called him an Egyptian name and it was translated. Pharaoh's words brought in the Torah were also
not said in Hebrew.
