Police
Officer who Killed Ethiopian
Q:
What is Ha-Rav's opinion regarding the police officer who killed an Ethiopian
man?
A:
It is impossible to express an opinion until the investigation is complete. What is certain is that the Jews who made
Aliyah from Ethiopia are as beloved and respected Jews as all other Jews. For example, those who learn in our
Yeshiva. And in particular, the one who
married my granddaughter.
Rambam's
Medicine
Q:
Is there value in the medical knowledge brought by the Rambam?
A:
No. He did not receive it from Heaven
but from the doctors, such as Claudius Galenus, as he notes in his medical
writings. We should follow the doctors
of our time.
Sign
to Be Torah Scholar
Q:
I there a sign who is suitable to be a Torah scholar?
A:
Everyone can be a Torah scholar. The
only condition is that one has a desire to be so. Rambam, Hilchot Talmud Torah Chapter 3. But this does not necessarily mean being a
professional Torah scholar. In the
future, we will all be Torah scholars.
Revelation
of the Lubavitcher Rebbe to Ha-Rav
Q:
A message is being spread around on WhatsApp that the Lubavitcher Rebbe
revealed himself to Ha-Rav and informed him that the Messiah is coming
soon. Is this true?
A:
No.
Informing
About Birth Close to Shabbat
Q:
Baruch Hashem, we had a baby close to Shabbat.
Should we inform our families who are not-religious? On the one hand, they might violate Shabbat
and drive to the hospital. On the other
hand, perhaps they will be upset that we did not tell them.
A:
If it is a doubt whether they will violate Shabbat it is permissible. Regarding
"Do not place a stumbling block", if one is uncertain that the person
will transgress the Halachah, we are "Tolim" (literally
"hanging" on the assumption) that he will not violate it (Mishnah
Gittin 5:9).
Torah
and Tzahal
Q:
If all of Am Yisrael learned Torah and fulfilled the Mitzvot, would there be no
need for Tzahal?
A:
Correct. So it will be in the future,
after the beginning of the Messianic era.
Returning
Book
Q:
I bought an expensive book, read it and was disappointed. I asked in the store whether I could return
it since it was within the time limit for return, and was told that I could. Is it permissible?
A:
It is immoral to do so.
Fatal
Accident on Shabbat
Q:
If there is a fatal car accident on Shabbat is it possible to say that it was a
punishment for desecrating Shabbat?
A:
It is forbidden. 1. We do not know the
secrets of Hashem. 2. In the late 5730s,
terrorists shot (from a boat) on an Israeli bus that was on a road close to the
shore, and a few Jews were killed. When
it was related to Ha-Rav Moshe Feinstein, they added that the Jews were
desecrating Shabbat. Reb Moshe said: It
is forbidden to say a bad thing about a Jew when something painful happens to
him (Darchei Moshe Volume 2, p. 331).
Birkat
Cohanim by 3 Yosefs
Q:
Someone told me that it is forbidden for 3 people with the name Yosef to recite
Birkat Cohanim at the same time. Is this
correct?
A:
No.
