Guest in Seat at Shul
Q: A guest was sitting in my seat at Shul. The Halachah says that one should Daven in a
fixed place. If I ask him to move, he might
be insulted. What should I do?
A: It is preferable not to insult him. Either sit within 4 Amot (6 feet) of your
seat or sit elsewhere (Piskei Teshuvot 9:25).
Dividing the Sheva Berachot to Honor a Great Rabbi
Q: If a family has a Minhag not to divide up the Sheva
Berachot, but rather have one person recite them all, and a great Rabbi attends
the wedding, what should they do?
A: They should certainly divide them up! It is the honor of Torah! (Ha-Admor Imrei
Sofer of Eralu bemoaned that when his son was married he did not divide up the
Sheva Berachot, as was the Hungarian custom, even though Ha-Rav Shlomo Zalman
Auerbach attend the Chupa. He said that
for the honor of Torah, he should have acted otherwise and called him up for
the Sheva Berachot. In the book
"Be-Mechitzat Zekeini", p. 259-260).
Asking Forgiveness
Q: I yelled at someone at work. People do not customarily apologize here, and
he won't understand what I want if I apologize.
What should I do?
A: It is extremely problematic that people do not ask for forgiveness. You should do so.
Kabbalat Shabbat With Minyan
Q: Does Kabbalat Shabbat have to be recited with a Minyan, as
there is no Kaddish or Barechu? Or can I
Daven by myself with greater passion?
A: You should Daven with a Minyan on account of honoring
Shabbat (Piskei Teshuvot 267:3).
Learning Torah While Donating Blood
Q: Is it permissible to listen to a Torah class while
donating blood?
A: Certainly.
Shidduch who Does Not Want Continue
Q: I went on a Shidduch and wanted to meet the young woman
again, but she is not interested. It is
very hurtful and now I feel a lack of self-confidence.
A: Ha-Rav Pinchas Hirschprung, Av Beit Din of Montreal, said
in a similar situation: The Torah is no less valuable even though the non-Jews
did not want to receive it… (In the book "Be-Didi Hevei Uvda", p.
405).
Drinking to Get Rid of Hiccups
Q: Do I recite a blessing if I drink water to get rid of the
hiccups?
A: Yes, since you are benefiting from the water.
Non-Chalav Yisrael Milk
Q: We have a little Kiosk in our Yeshiva. Is it permissible to sell food which contains
non-Chalav Yisrael?
A: You have to ask your Rosh Yeshiva. As Ha-Rav Moshe Feinstein would
say: "The Rabbi from Minsk should not interfere in a question for the
Rabbi from Pinsk" (Meged Givot Olam Volume 1, p. 55. Volume 2, pp. 31-32).
Blessing over Rain Drops
Q: If I catch rain drops in my mouth, do I recite the
blessing of "She-Ha-Kol"?
A: Yes, if you swallow them.
Denigrating Tzahal Soldiers
Q: I am a soldier. I
Davened in a Shul in Meah Shearim while wearing my uniform and some people
denigrated me. This is Torah?! What can we do?!
A: They are confused.
Patience. They will heal.
