Panorama of Halacha

1) In front of my house there is a low wall to the street, less than 10 tefochim high. But there is a roof overhang. What needs to be done to allow me to carry there? [1] 2) Does a car protect a Kohen from טומאת אוהל? [2] 3) My wife miscarried after six weeks. If she has a boy, will it have a Pidyon haBen ? [3] 4) I was invited by the local imam to join his congregation for one of their meals at t...

Video version available here. This week's questions: In some sources we learn that Yerusholayim wasn’t distributed amongst the Twelve Tribes. Yet we also learn that the Mizbeiach had to be in the territory of Binyomin (to the degree that one corner of the Mizbeiach was missing, because that area was in the land of Yehudah). Can these sources be reconciled?[1] Whilst putting on Tefillin, I hear Kad...

Video version available here. 1) In the Piyut for Tal, in the phrase איומה אשר הסעת כצאן, what does איומהmean?[1] 2) When naming a child whose father isn’t Jewish, nor is there a Jewish maternal grandfather, should בן\בת אברהםbe used?[2] 3) Someone poured boiling water from a Pesach’dike kettle into a Chometz sink; may they continue to use the kettle during Pesach?[3] 4) May one ride in a rickshaw...

Video version available here. 1) Which Halochos did R’ Akiva draw from the spikes of the letters of the Torah?[1] 2) At the Seder , prior to eating Koreich , we recite כן עשה הלל. The verse quoted – about eating the Korban Pesach together with Matzo & Moror – is from the passage regarding Pesach Sheni . Why don’t we cite the verse addressing פסח ראשון?[2] 3) BH, our Chabad minyan has grown, an...

1) The word שבט means twig. [1] 2) May one measure quantities of Matzo and Moror on Shabbos or Yomtov? [2] 3) We live in an apartment building. When opening the door at שפוך חמתך, do we need to open the front door of the building? Can we open the balcony door? [3] 4) The Alter Rebbe allows one to have his Barmitzva boy serve as guarantor (ערב קבלן) for the purchase of the Chometz. Conversely, in t...

1) The word שבט means a rod. So why are the tribes referred to as שבט or מטה? [1] 2) Following on from last week’s discussion: Since the top Matzo has enough spare for Korech , why then do we break the bottom Matzo for Korech ? [2] 3) Sunflower-oil is available Kosher lePesach , but others maintain that it is included in the issur of Kitniyos . Until now I have refrained from using it on Pesach. I...

1. Question on Nusach: In Mincha on Shabbos we say ומי כעמך ישראל, whereas most Sidurim have ומי כעמך כישראל. Why the difference? [1] 2. May a man trim his eyebrows? [2] 3. May a man use a shampoo to restore the colour of his hair? [3] 4. Please clarify the necessary amounts of Matzo to be ingested to fulfil the Mitzva of Matzo, of Korech and Afikoman: [4] 5. We live quite North, so the time betwe...

There is virtue in giving Tzedoko discreetly. On the      other hand, there is merit in giving publicly – in order to encourage      others to follow suit. How do we balance this? [1] May the last words of the Kesubah – הכל שריר וקיים – be centred? [2] To effect a Kinyan , is the lifting of a thin Gartel     sufficient? [3] Our...

Was Mordechai the uncle of Esther or was he her cousin? [1] On Parshas Shekolim we forgot to prepare the 2nd     Sefer Torah. To roll the 2nd ST to Parshas Ki Sisa will      take longer than rolling from Vayakhel to Ki Sisa . Should we      still take out the 2nd ST? [2] Is it important to hear the reading of Parshas  &nbsp...

Video version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8Nq3X0lVz0&list=PLZXYYrOJjWO4Dw3qd7CFkSbAg2jeMRRXd&index=61 1. Vowel-changes in the Sidur: ואֶת כל מיני תבואתה; על כל מה שבראת: [1] 2. We don’t place food under a bed. What about sleeping on a chest-freezer (in the cellar, nor air-raid shelter)? [2] 3. Reuven travels abroad for work trip; his flight is paid for by his employer. Shimon asked h...

During a recent storm Reuven’s tree fell into Shimon’s garden. Is Reuven responsible for the broken fence and to clear away the mess?[1] Are my children’s parsha sheets considered ‘Shaimos’?[2] How to do I Kasher a dishwasher?[3] I touched the water that was prepared for Netilas Yodayim. Is that water now disqualified from use? [4] A Jewish couple got married in a non-Frum manner. They now wish to...

Video version: https://youtu.be/SOh9iIZ7oRM Is it appropriate to wear a Gartel for bentsching ? [1] A new utensil that hasn’t been Toivelled in a Mikva     - is it Muktzah ? [2] Cups that change colour when filled with very cold      liquid; may they be used on Shabbos? [3] Having touched non-leather shoes, must I wash my hands     &...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbIyLstTAQc&list=PLZXYYrOJjWO4Dw3qd7CFkSbAg2jeMRRXd&index=58 The investiture of Aharon & sons included placing some blood of their sacrifice on their right ear lobes, thumbs and large toes. Why these organs? [1] Our front yard has no wall separating it from the street, so we don’t carry out there. We have a storeroom and a garage both opening to the fron...

Video version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZf8W0Jfbsw&list=PLZXYYrOJjWO4Dw3qd7CFkSbAg2jeMRRXd&index=57 1) At the beginning of the Sedra , Rashi says that there was a total of thirteen commodities donated for the building of the Mishkon. Actually, the Torah lists fifteen materials. Which two are dropped by Rashi? [1] 2) When burning Challoh, must it be burnt to a cinder? [2] 3) One who...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVpm7U7KrM0&list=PLZXYYrOJjWO4Dw3qd7CFkSbAg2jeMRRXd&index=56 After having eaten some cake and some fruit of the ‘Seven Kinds’, I said the ‘After-Brocho’, but I forgot to mention the fruit. Do I have to repeat? [1] When purchasing a home, one should affix Mezuzos immediately; for rented premises, we have grace until 30 days. What about a leasehold? [2] I know...

1) One praying alone, should he recite the 13 Attributes of Divine mercy?1 2) When lighting candles for Shabbos, many ladies will not extinguish the match, but leave the match to expire on its own. What if using a gas lighter; may she release her finger from the trigger after having lit her last candle?2 3) May one open a metal screw-cap bottle on Shabbos?3 4) When visiting a Jewish grave in a non...

YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfPoKxzg62E&list=PLZXYYrOJjWO4Dw3qd7CFkSbAg2jeMRRXd&index=54 1. In celebration of Shabbos Shiroh, the Maharal of Prague would gather the children and tell them about the Splitting of the Sea, the fruit trees at the sea, the fruit of which were plucked by the children, who shared the food with the birds - who joined in the singing of שירת הים. A...

https://youtu.be/pykJOq_LJhA A doorway that widens at waist height, where does the Mezuza belong? What is the Minhag Chabad re. the Chazan saying Shema when taking out the ST on Shabbos & YT: facing the Oron Kodesh or facing the congregation? [1] If one scratches his head )or a part of the body that is usually covered) during learning or davening, is it enough to use a disinfectant spray to cl...

Before Shmone Esrei, we rise when saying תהלות לא-ל עליון. Why at that point? [1] What is the Brocho for ‘Ezekiel Bread’? [2] A patio-door made up of several doorways – does each one need a Mezuzah? [3] Do old Mezuza-cases need to be placed in ‘ sheimos’ ? [4] For the burial of ‘ Sheimos’ , may one use bio-degradable sacks? [5] We’re on holiday and we need to Toivel some new utensils. May we do so...

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxRPRKgahdE&list=PLZXYYrOJjWO4Dw3qd7CFkSbAg2jeMRRXd&index=51 The clouds prevented us from reciting Kiddush Levono before the official cut-off point (Motzei Shabbos). But you allowed reciting it on Sunday night. Please explain: [1] Question following on from discussion about the Morning Brochos: I rise well before dawn. Should I be saying the Broc...

1. After the Shema before going to sleep, we include the verse גד גדוד יגודנו. Why? [1] 2. In the case of a miscarriage ר"ל, is it customary to give the fetus a Jewish name? [2] 3. Having just fed a young child meat or chicken, may a now give them a bottle of milk? [3] 4. We have a hot-water urn in Shul, for use on Shabbos morning. May I switch it on just before Shabbos, and the water will heat up...

1) Each morning we thank Hashem for the “pure soul” that He has given us. How does that fit with the concept of Gilgulim of souls? 2) B.H. I have a 9ft Menorah. During Chanukah I do public lightings in several small communities. None of the locals are game to climb a ladder and light the Menorah. So, one person on the ground says the Brochos and lights the candles, after which I go up the ladder a...

1) Why is there no mention of Chanukah in על המחיה? [1] 2) Does a blind person light the Menorah with a brocho ? [2] 3) Reuven’s mother is in hospital in a critical state. He spent the 1st night of Chanukah with his mother, and relied on his wife’s lighting Menorah at home. For the 2nd night of Chanukah, his wife will stay at the hospital. Does Reuven say שהחיינו when he lights Menorah? [3] 4) The...

1) Who lights the electric lights for Shabbos: husband or wife? [1] 2) How do I know if a thought is from the Sitra Achra ? [2] 3) On Shabbos morning, until when may a woman eat without Kiddush? [3] 4) Someone has been a regular donor to a particular institution. He now wishes to switch and to contribute to a different institution instead. Is that permitted? [4] 5) Is there an issue with using Ksa...

1) Follow-on regarding the three words added to Shema , to amount to 248 words. [1] 2) What is the reason for the long list of blessings in Kaddish deRabonon (in comparison those evoked in the regular full Kaddish )? [2] 3) Re. Kaddish in the 11 months in the year of Aveilus ר"ל, the Chabad custom is to aim to recite Kaddish at least 16 times per day. Is the ‘day’ in this respect from Shacharis th...