A weekly shiur by Dayan Levi Yitzchok Raskin, Rov of Anash in London, explores interesting Torah questions and halachic dilemmas.
The following issues are discussed by Dayan Raskin in this week’s episode:
1) When writing a Kesubah, should names ending with א-ל or י-ה be written normally, or with a hyphen or apostrophe? [1]
2) A Mezuza was affixed diagonally, but tilted backwards rather than forward. Is it OK? [2]
3) Is bowing at Modim done differently to the other bows in Shmoine Esrei? [3]
4) A group of non-Jewish school-children are visiting a synagogue. May I open the Oron Kodesh and open a Sefer Torah for them to see?[4]
5) What is the background to the custom of having two lit candles in front of the Chazan, and in the case of a Chiyuv – to light five candles?[5]
6) The husband is able to light Menorah at the ideal time – right after sunset, but his wife can only be home an hour and a half later. Should he light on time or wait for her? [6]
7) If he does wait for her, may he eat in the interim?[7]
8) In error I placed £300 in my Charity Account, when I really intended to give £30. May I consider the extra £270 as Maaser for future earnings?[8]
9) A Jewish locksmith works for a non-Jewish firm. He was given a job: to fix the door of a church. Is he allowed to keep the payment?[9]
10) Our online order landed us with avocadoes from Eretz Yisroel. May we eat them; give them to a non-Jew; throw in the bin?[10]
11) What is the difference between Geshem [in the 2nd brocho of Shmoine Esrei] and Motor [in the 9th brocho]?[11]
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[1] ס' גנזי הקודש ע' 96; משפט הכתובה ח"ב פי"ד.
[2] רמ"א יו"ד סי' רפט ס"ו; שכל טוב שם אות קמה.
[3] ראה שוע"ר סי' קיג ס"ו; פסקי תשובות שם אות ד; 'התקשרות' גליונות שצ, שצג, תט.
[4] ראה ספר חסידים אות תקלג; נתיבים בשדה השליחות ח"ב ע' 266 ואילך.
[5] ספר המנהגים-חב"ד ע' 18; פסקי תשובות ח"ב סי' קנא הע' 91.
[6] ראה רמב"ם סוף הלכות חנוכה; רמ"א סו"ס תער"ב.
[7] ראה נתיבים בשדה השליחות ח"ב ע' 138-9.
[8] ראה ס' צדקה ומשפט פ"ה סי"א, ובהערות שם.
[9] שו"ע יו"ד סי' קמג ס"ב.
[10]
[11] ראה ערוך השלחן סי' קיד סק"ב; מלבי"ם זכרי' י, א.