Halachah

by R. Daniel Mann Question: If one does not have enough time to take part in a whole wedding, is it better to come for the chupa or for the meal? Answer: Although they are sometimes discussed interchangeably, there are two distinct, albeit closely related, mitzvot in which non-principals at a wedding should try to take part. The gemara (Ketubot ...

by R. Daniel Mann Question: I have $30,000 of credit debt (in the US). I lost my job, and my new job pays less. I do not see how I can pay the debt. What does Jewish law say about filing for bankruptcy? Answer: [We responded to the querier regarding his situation but are broadening (in brevity) the discussion. Last ...

by R. Daniel Mann Question: I have $30,000 of credit debt (in the US). I lost my job, and my new job pays less. I do not see how I can pay the debt. What does Jewish law say about filing for bankruptcy? Answer: [We responded to the querier regarding his situation but are broadening (in brevity) the discussion. We ...

by R. Daniel Mann Question: I am a kohen who comes from America, where a kohen does not duchen (do Birkat Kohanim) if he is chazan. At the yeshiva I am at, even the chazan duchens. What should I do if I am asked to be chazan? Answer: A mishna (Berachot 34a) states that a kohen serving as chazan should ...

by R. Daniel Mann Question: My friend picked up a trempist (hitchhiker) who did not put on his seatbelt. Police pulled the car over and gave a ticket to the driver (not the passenger) for driving with someone not buckled. Should the passenger reimburse my friend?   Answer: This is not a ruling about a specific case but a discussion of ...

by R. Daniel Mann Question: Following our grandchild’s birth, I have been adding personal thanks to HaShem in “Modim.” Is it appropriate to do so on Shabbat? Answer: We will focus mainly on your assumption – that one may add personal thanks in Modim. There is little in the poskim on this specific question, but we can learn from many ...

by R. Daniel Mann Question: What types of requests are prohibited on Shabbat? Is davening for peace and tranquility in one’s own words permitted? Answer: It would appear that there are contradictory approaches on the idea of withholding requests on Shabbat. The Yerushalmi (Shabbat 15:3) says that one is not allowed to “demand his needs” on Shabbat. In Berachot (5:2), ...

by R. Daniel Mann Question: Is it better to do netilat lulav (=nl) in the sukka before one goes to shul or during tefilla (before Hallel)?  Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 644:1) describes nl as being done before Hallel. One could have claimed that this is due to time concerns. Although b’di’eved one can fulfill nl from alot hashachar, ...

by R. Daniel Mann Question: Is it indeed proper to wear white clothes and not wear gold on Yom Kippur? Is there a difference between men and women? Should one wear or avoid nice clothes on Yom Kippur? Answer: The Rama (Orach Chayim 610:4) cites two minhagim found in Rishonim, regarding white clothes. The Mordechai (Yoma 723) says one should ...

by R. Daniel Mann Question: Is it permitted for an avel (mourner) to serve as a chazan for Yamim Noraim (Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur)? Whose decision is it – the shul’s or the avel’s? Answer: The classical source on the topic is the Maharil (15th century, Ashkenaz), based on the Maharam. In contrast to the rabbi who asked him ...