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Have a question? Send it in! Questions are answered by Rabbi Bartfeld.
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#88 - Lighting candles for single men who want to begin Shabbat early.
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Q. Single people who want to begin Shabbat early, and attend a minyan for Mincha that begins right before Plag Hamincha and then recites Kabalath Shabath right after, as is required by Halacha, when should they light Shabath candles? (since the can not return home after Mincha and you can not light before Plag).
A. The Remah O.C. 261,2 and Mishne Berurah ibid. 25, state that you can not accept Shabbos before Plag (One and half hour zemanios, before Shkiah or Tzeis - see M.B. ibid.), therefore the mitzva of hadlokas neiros remains unfulfilled and the brocho is levatolo. This presents a serious challenge for single people who want to make early Shabbos. Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a suggested three solutions:
a) If you reside near the Shul, go home after the Plag and light then.
b) If going back is not an option, you may kindle lights in the Shul, provided that after Maariv you make Kidush there and eat a Kzais bread.
c) if the above is not feasible, you can request from a neighbour to be your agent, light the candles at your residence and make the brocho after Plag.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
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Posted 6/10/2011 12:10 PM |
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#87 - Maariv and Shabbos Zmanin in Northern Canada
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Q. I am planning a trip to Canada and Alaska next month and because night doesn't come in till very late please tell me if I should be davening Maariv at a normal time or whether I have to stay up to daven when it gets dark? Also as far as Shabat is concerned, shall I light candles at a normal time or do I wait for the night times? Same for havdala. Is there anything else I have to do because of this situation?
Thank you
A. It appears from your question, that the places you would be visiting are below (south of) the Arctic Circle (66.5622 N Latitude), but close to it. On these locations even on the Solstice day (June 21), the sun does set below and rises above the horizon, yet the night is short and may not become dark enough to see the stars. For example on Yellowknife, (NWT), Canada, which locates about 250 miles south of the Arctic Circle (62.45 N), on June 21, (the longest day) the Shkiah (sunset) is 11.38 PM, Chatzois (midnight) is 1.39 A.M. and the Netz (sunrise) is 3.39 A.M. The Plag Hamincha is 9.34 PM, so one can daven Mincha before the Plag, and Maariv right after on weekdays. On Shabbat you daven Mincha before the Plag and you can be Mekabel Shabbos right after. Similarly in Anchorage, Alaska, (61 ,10'), on June 21, the Shkiah (sun set) is 11.42 PM, Chatzoth (Midnight) is 2.02 AM., Netz (sunrise) is 4.21 A.M. The Plag Hamincha is 9.41 P.M.
One should repeat the S'hma right before Chatzois, when possible, or at least 72 minutes after the Shkiah. However, there are opinions, (Toras Chaim, 235), that you can comply with the mitzvah of S'hma, if you say it at the time when normally people in that location go to bed, or they rise, regardless of the position of the sun.
Shabbos ends on those locations, (where it does not get totally dark to see stars) right after Chatzois (midnight). You can make Havdalah in Yellowknife after 1.39 A.M. or wait until the next morning before you eat breakfast, (you don‘t recite the Borei Meoirey and B'somim brocho then . (O.C. 299.6). The end of Zman S'hma in the morning at Yellowknife is 8.39 A.M., (Hagra) and the end of Zman Tefilah is 10.19 AM)
Because of the complexity and severity of the Halochos involved, especially on Shabbos, one should avoid traveling above the Arctic Circle on the days when the sun does not set at all. If you do please consult again. Safe trip.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
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Posted 6/10/2011 12:03 PM |
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Posted 5/27/2011 4:51 PM |
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#85 - Non-jew turning on an electric stove top on Yom Tov.
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Q. If a non-Jew turns on an electric stove top on Yom Tov, Is one permitted to use it?
A. Most Poiskim maintain that creating fire in Yom Tov (moileed) is only a rabbinic prohibition (see Rashi Shabbat 33,a – O.C.502 and Taz ibid. 1). As far as the usage of electric heating and light during Yom Tov, is subject to Halachick debate, the accepted majority rule is to prohibit rabbinically (see Hachashmal Bechalacha, ch. 5 – also Hachashmal Leor Hachalacha, conclusions).
Yavia Omer (1, O.C. 19 – 2, O.C. 26) allows in need, the use of electricity on Yom Tov, via a Gentile.
Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a pointed out, that Mishnah Berurah (O.C. 502,4) permits after the fact, the use of usual common fire that was produced on Yom Tov, regardless if created by Gentile or no.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
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Posted 5/27/2011 2:18 AM |
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#84 - Making a brocha on the tree blossoms in different hemispheres.
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Q. If somebody visited South America during our winter and made a brocho there for the new blooming trees (in their spring). Does he have to repeat the brocho when he sees new blossoms in the northern hemisphere?
A. This brocho is uttered once a year only, regardless of which part of the world one recited it first.
Shaarei Yemei Pesach, (ibid.) mentions Tu Bishbat as the beginning of the year for this brocho, However, Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a is of the opinion that the year is counted from Rosh Hashonoh.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
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Posted 5/27/2011 2:15 AM |
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#83 - Making a brocha on the tree blossoms after Nissan.
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Q. Thank you so much Rabbi for your prompt answer. I would also like to know if I can still make the brocho for the tree blossoms, as it is not Nissan anymore.
A. Nitey Gavriel (Pesach 3, ch. 46) quotes a number of Poiskim that permit reciting Birchas Hoilonois, for first tree bloomings seen during the month of Iyar, (Mishmeres Sholom recited the brocho on Lag Baomer itself), Sivan or before Nissan on Adar (Birur Halocho 226 - Shaarei Yemei Pesach ch.2). Nevertheless, one should say it as soon as feasible.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
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Posted 5/27/2011 2:14 AM |
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#82 - Shaving the friday before Lag BaOmer when LAg BaOmer comes out on Sunday
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Q. Tomorrow Friday one can shave since Lag Baomer is Sunday, is that from the morning or do you have to wait till Chatzos? Can you use new clothing on Friday too?
A. You can shave from the early morning on as it is considered already Likvod Shabbos, but not from the night before (Thursday, Bein Peisach L'Shavuos p. 249). You can also then wear new clothing if this is done Likvod Shabbos, (Hilchos Ktanois 1,33 - ibid.).
Rabbi Abraham Bartfeld
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Posted 5/19/2011 10:57 PM |
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#81 - Owning a store that sells non kosher products
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Q. Thank you and Rav Miller for your prompt answer to our last Shaileh. A client is interested in buying a Dollar store, there are items that are part of the inventory that are not Kosher such as cans of prohibited fish and spam, is there a problem with selling them? The customers are not Jewish.
A. In principle there is a prohibition on trading with a "Dovor Hoosur" (prohibited foods). Some Poiskim maintain that the prohibition is rabbinical, (Bais Yosef, Rashbo, Y.D. 117 et. al.) since he may come to eat the items he does business or work with. Other Poiskim assert that it is biblically forbidden (Tosafos Pesachim 23,a - Rambam- Rosh - Taz Y.D. ibid.). You may trade, nevertheless, with foods that are only rabbinically forbidden (Y.D. ibid. 1). Accordingly it would certainly be advisable not to engage in a venture where you would have to do commerce with biblically prohibited food. However if the store was purchased, the non kosher foodstuff that was acquired with the rest of the inventory, could be sold but not reordered. (Y.D. ibid.)
However, the Oruch Hashulchon (Y.D. 117,27), seeks leniency for those store owners that have as a small part of their merchandise non kosher foods, since the items are few, and their main business is conducted with permitted foods. On condition that maintaining those provisions are essential for the success of their trade.
Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a, advised, in addition, to sell to a Gentile (in a halachically permitted and proper manner), that part of the business that deals with non kosher foodstuff. He further required the Jewish store owner not to handle or be in direct contact with the non kosher items.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
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Posted 5/19/2011 10:47 PM |
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#80 - Aquiring Property rented out to Illegal or Halachicaly Problematic Businesses.
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Q. There is this commercial strip plaza that our company is interested in acquiring, it could be a very good investment. One of the units is a health centre that after investigation turned out to be a massage parlour. They are an essential part of the income of the property and they have a lease for an extended time. Is there a problem owing a property that caters to such an enterprise, should we be concerned as visibly orthodox Jews that an eventual Chilul Hashem could result if this tenant gets into trouble with the law?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit"a opinion is that though the purchase of this property may not be prohibited by Halocho, it definitely is not the proper or correct endeavour to go into on moral grounds. Also the purchaser will not be able to renew the lease of the problematic unit when it expires.
Rabbi Abraham Bartfeld, as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
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Posted 5/13/2011 2:33 PM |
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#79 - Seferas Haomer - Counting Yesterday
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Q. I counted sefiras haomer 18 minutes after shkiah and the next night when I counted I said today is so and so and yesterday was so and so.
Can I still count now onwards with a bracha?
Thanks,
A. Rav Ovadia Yosef Shlit"a , (Yavia Omer 4,43 - Yalkut Yossef 489,29), writes that if someone totally forgot to count Sefirah the night before and also did not remember during the following day, until after the shkiah, he should immediately count without a brochoh, and then wait for nightfall and count the next day with a brochoh. He recommends to delay counting until Rabeinu Tam's time for nightfall, and then subsequently keep this schedule, even if he normally does not wait for Rabeinu Tam's zman, so it will not appear as he is following contradictory timetables.
He adds that this Psak is limited to counting before the time nightfall of the Geonim (13.5 minutes zemanios after the Shkiah).
Sefer Ysroel Vehazmanim (p. 544), addressed this same question and his opinion is far more lenient. If the individual regularly follows Rabeinu Tam, the above would apply until the beginning of Rabeinu Tam's Shkiah (13.5 minutes before Rabeinu Tam's nightfall - He quotes a position that extends until the full 72 minutes after the Shkiah).
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit"a opinion is that the above applies until approximately 30 minutes (Toronto area) after the Shkiah only.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
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Posted 5/13/2011 2:27 PM |
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#78 - Using New Items During Seferah.
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Q. I bought some new suits before Pesach but I didn't get a chance to have them checked for Shaatnez before the beginning of Sefirah. Can I use them now or do I have to wait till after Lag Baomer. Also I have the same question about a car bought before pesach, but the delivery got delay until before Lag Baomer. Also clothing bought on sale during the beginning of Sefirah, do I have to wait until after Lag Baomer to use it?
A. There are different opinions and Minhogim in regards to using new clothing during the days of Sefirah, some forbid (Leket Yosher O.C. p.97) some permit (see Nitey Gavriel - Pesach 3, ch. 54,3).Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit"a opinion is to be lenient.
The ones that prohibit do so mainly because of the brocho of Sheheyanu, that they consider improper at the time of sorrow of Sefirah. But they permit wearing them on Shabbos or on Lag Baomer, since the brocho is recited at the time we wear them first. Non important clothing is permitted in need (Afrakso Deaniyo 176).
Buying a new car is permitted also if required, (Nitey Gavriel ibid. 55,6) as the minhag applies mainly to clothing.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
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Posted 5/13/2011 2:21 PM |
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#77 - Loosing a Minyan before or during Kriyas HaTorah.
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Q. We began reading the torah and realized at the end of the first aliyah that a few people walked out and there was no minyan at the beginning of kriyas haTorah.
What is the correct thing to do? Do we start all over again once the people for the minyan returned? Does the first oleh have to repeat the bracha and the bal korah has to repeat again?
A. In O.C. 58-3, Remah states that even if there was a minyan for the repetition of Shemone Esreh, but they exited before Krias Hatoroh, you cannot begin the reading as it is a different part of the Tefilah. Krias Hatoroh is a Dovor Shebekdusho and it requires a quorum of ten (O.C. 143,1 - Mishna Berura ibid.). In their absence you would have to start over again and repeat with a brocho the first aliyah. If some left after the first reading began (not only the brocho), you could then after the fact, continue without a complete minyan.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
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Posted 5/6/2011 12:57 PM |
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#76 - Storing Chumetz in a Refrigerator over Pesach.
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Q. Can I store sold Chumetz in my refrigerator over Pesach?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit"a opinion is that if it is chometz gomur it should not be stored even if sold, if it is only in a mixture or kitniyos it is permitted if totally wrapped, separated and labelled.
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Posted 4/18/2011 1:21 AM |
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#75 - Voting during Chol Hamoad
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Q. Can I vote in the upcoming elections during Chol Hamoad?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller"s Shlit"a opinion is that you can vote with a Shinui if you could not have voted before or after Peisach.
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Posted 4/18/2011 1:18 AM |
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#74 - Discarding Chumetz in Commercial Garbage Containers
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Q. Large garbage containers that belong to a Jewish landlord, and they will be emptied only during Pesach, can the landlord place his own discarded Chometz into them on Erev Pesach.
A. If the waste containers belong to the landlord, he should also rent them out. Then he could place he's own discarded chometz before Pesach on them, as the containers and the property are not in his domain.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
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Posted 4/15/2011 1:40 PM |
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#73 - Rental Property Returned During Pesach
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Q. Dear Rabbi, If someone owns a rental property and a Gentile tenant returns his unit during Pesach, and it contains a sizable amount of abandoned chometz, what should he do? How should he clean it for the next tenant?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit"a opinion is to rent out to a Gentile, in the Mechiras Chometz process, the complete rental facility for the Pesach period. This is necessary even though the chometz does not belong to the landlord, as he never had the intention to acquire it. However the departing tenant could have been Jewish and the remaining chometz, could be considered "chomtzoi shel Isroel birshus Isroel", or chometz that is owned by a Jew and is now in the property of the Jewish landlord. This is prohibited according to the Gr"a, Beis Meir and other authorities. The landlord should also instruct the superintendent or a gentile worker beforehand to clean and prepare the unit when the tenant returns it. Although he rented out the entire facility, it is understood in the agreement that he can still enter it and do what is necessary for its upkeep, as he is to return to it shortly.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a.
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Posted 4/15/2011 1:35 PM |
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#72 - Kashering Glass for Pessach
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Q. I understand it is possible to kasher glass which has not come into contact with hot food by soaking in water for 3 days and changing the water every day. Does it have to be soaked on the outside as well as the inside? Does the water have to be changed at the same time every day? Last time, I soaked it in a bathtub. If I do this, does all the water have to be 100% emptied and what if some items fell over, leaving an air bubble?
A. There are different opinions in regards to kashering glass utensils for Pesach. The Mechaver in O.C. 451,26 requires only good cleaning and rinsing, as glass does not absorb. For Ashkenazim, Remoh (ibid.) is stringent, and he considers glass made from sand, to be similar to earthenware utensils, that can't be koshered. Mishne Berurah (ibid. 156) advises to acquire new glass utensils for Pesach when possible. If new glasses are not an option, milui veirui, could be done. This implies filling their inside only completely with water, keeping each time the water for at least 24 hours, (regardless of the time of day), and then emptying them totally and replacing with fresh water. When done thrice, it would render them kosher, especially if they were not used hot. You could shorten the process by kashering in a boiling pot, if you are not afraid that the glass utensils may crack. (M'adanei Shmuel on Kitzur Sh.A. 116-35, Sdei Chemed 4,5,30).
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a.
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Posted 4/15/2011 1:31 PM |
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#71 - Extending Shabbos
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Q. I cannot find anything about the subject of how long I may extend my shabbat? May I end shabbat (with maariv and havdala) at midnight for example? Is this discussed anywhere?
A. You can extend Shabbos until close to Chatzois (midnight), if you leave enough time, for praying Maariv and eating the Melaveh Malkah Seudah. Both should be carried out, primarily soon after the end of Shabbos or before midnight. It is only after the fact that you can do them until daybreak . (See O.C. 235,3 – Yisod Veshoresh Hoavodo, Megale Amukois).
Seifer Nishmas Shabbos quotes, the Arizal's opinion that the holiness of Shabbos does not depart until midnight. This also relates to until when should one wear Bigdey (clothing of) Shabbos. (See Mogen Avrohom 262,2)
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
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Posted 4/13/2011 11:20 PM |
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#70 - What is one supposed to do after the seder with the wine from Kosh Shel Eliyahu?
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Q. What is one supposed to do after the seder with the wine from Kosh Shel Eliyahu?
A. Sefer Chag Hamatzos (35,22) quotes a number of Authorities (Hagodas Chakal Itzchok – Beer Yehuda et. al.) that report the minhag of pouring the Kois shel Eliohu, after reciting Shfoich Chamoscho, into the cups of the participants. They will use it then for the 4th. Kois.
Minhogey Hasam Soifer (10,7), using the same approach of "adding another Mitzva, to the one already done", advises leaving the cup covered until the next morning and using it for the Kidush of the day.
Seifer Vayaged Moishe (30), combines both traditions. After Shfoich Chamoscho the remains are poured into the cups. Then the Kois Shel Eliahu is replenished and left for Kidush Hayom.
Nitey Gavriel, however, mentions the opinion of R.S.B. of Lubavitch and Rav Yakov Landa Zt"l (Rab"d of Bnei Brak), of pouring it back into the bottle, after adding a bit of wine to the cup, (for non-pogum purposes). The opinion of Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a is also to pour it back into the bottle, when it can't be saved for Kidush Hayom.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a.
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Posted 4/13/2011 11:16 PM |
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#69 - Making a Bracha on Inventions and Machines.
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If you see a great invention or a super computing machine do you have to make a Bracha?
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit"a opinion is that the customary brocho recited when encountering a great sage of the nations, (Blessed be the One who imparted from His wisdom to creatures of flesh and blood), could be said without Shem Umalchus, (not mentioning Hashems names), when witnessing the fruit and creations of their wisdom.
Rabbi. A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shilt”a
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Posted 4/8/2011 4:04 PM |
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Important Numbers
