Halakhic Positions

Halakhic Positions of Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik by R. Aharon Ziegler It is not coincidental that the Yom Tov of Pesach always follows parashat Tzav. The practice of reading particular selections from the Torah in connection with a specific holiday dates back to Moshe Rabbeinu. Tzav is read before Pesach, Bamidbar before Shavu’ot, Devarim before Tisha B’av, and Nitzavim before ...

Halakhic Positions of Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik by R. Aharon Ziegler In sefer Shemot (18:14) we read-“The father-in-law of Moshe saw everything that he [Moshe} was doing to the people and he said, “What is this thing that you are doing to the people? Why do you sit alone with all the people standing over you from morning until evening?” ...

Halakhic Positions of Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik by R. Aharon Ziegler Halacha requires that we recite a Bracha, a blessing to HaShem, every time we eat, drink or enjoy anything we desire.  But what does it mean that we bless Gd? What could we, mortal human beings offer the everlasting King of Kings? The answer is that while the Divine ...

Halakhic Positions of Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik by R. Aharon Ziegler Rav Soloveitchik taught that there was a unique Mitzvah and religious experience of Shira BaMikdash, the singing of hymns in the Temple, and this Mitzvah included two components. First, there was an obligation for the Levi’im to sing during the offering of the Korban Tzibbur [communal sacrifices] as part ...

Halakhic Positions of Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik by R. Aharon Ziegler The Rambam writes (Hilchot Shabbat 30:16) that even a very important person who is not accustomed to buying things in the marketplace or doing ordinary housework is required to perform, by himself, certain tasks to prepare for Shabbat, for that is its Kavod. We know that among our Sages ...

Halakhic Positions of Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik by R. Aharon Ziegler The Gemara Shabbat (113a) teaches us, that if one can afford to, he should have separate garments for Shabbat, and separate clothes for weekdays, and if not, he should “unroll his garments”. What the Gemara means by that is very unclear, for there is a machloket [dispute] regarding its ...

Halakhic Positions of Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik by R. Aharon Ziegler According to Rav Soloveitchik, the minhag of lighting the menorah in the Bet HaKnesset is an expression of Zecher L’Mikdash, and not a Halacha of Pirsumei Nisa. It is different when the Menorah is lit at some public gathering, for there it is specifically for Pirsumei Nisa, however, not ...

Halakhic Positions of Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik by R. Aharon Ziegler Although the HaGadah from which we read at the Seder of Pesach asks, “Who knows three?” and he answers that the three refers to the Avot-Avraham Yitzchak and Yaakov, the fact is that there are many more aspects of Judaism that come with the number three. Similarly, the Midrash ...

Halakhic Positions of Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik by R. Aharon Ziegler The Kiddush of Yom Tov ends with a very generic Bracha, “Baruch Ata HaShem…. Mekadesh Yisrael Ve’Hazmanim” Blessed are You, HaShem, who sanctified Israel  [meaning the Bet Din of Israel] and [they sanctified ]the festivals. But without specifying the name of the Yom Tov. Rabbi Baruch Epstein, author of ...

Halakhic Positions of Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik by R. Aharon Ziegler Rav Soloveitchik pointed out that in the “Al HaNissim” recited on Chanukah, included in all the events for which we thank HaShem, there is also the phrase of “V’Al HaMilchamot”, for all the battles which You performed for our forefather. For this we express gratitude to God? Why should ...