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# 3777 Enlightening the Light
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Q. What is the Talmudic and Halachic source for having this tiny flickering light in the Shul above the Aron HaKodesh, called a Ner Tamid, and what does it symbolize, other than having one more thing in Shul with a plaque honouring the donor or the dearly departed in whose memory.
A. The Ner Tamid, also known as the eternal light, usually Hangs above the Aron Hakodesh in every synagogue. It is a symbol of Hashem's eternal and imminent presence in our congregations.
Medresh Hagodol (Tetzave), Medresh Chazis (2), Trumas Hadeshen (345) Mekor Chaim (150; 9), Binyan Tziyon (12), Kochabei Yitzchok (12), Yerushas Pleito (6), and others mention that it is in memory of the Menorah in the Beis Hamikdosh.
Sheloh (Torah Shebeksav) mentions that it is 'merumaz' or implied in the word 'Tamid' used in the Menorah of theTemple, signalling that it will last for all generations, even after the Churban Beis Hamikdash.
Maharam Shik (Y.D. 374) relates about a Rov that on the inauguration of his shul when he lighted for the first time the Ner Tamid, recited complete brocho: 'Lehadlik Ner Tamid.' however, the author disagrees.
Curiously, Mateh Aharon, presents a negative position regarding the Ner Tamid in a shul and maintains it seems to follow the ways of the Gentiles and should not be used.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a.
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Posted 7/7/2022 10:38 PM |
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# 3776 Magnitude of Gratitude
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Q. If someone is a great swimmer and swims more than five or six hours (about 5 km. there and back) into the sea far from the shore, which is about the common maximum for regular good swimmers, does he have to say Hagomel when he returns?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that no Hagomel brocho should be recited.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a.
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Posted 7/7/2022 10:36 PM |
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# 3775 Daily Hagomel?
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Q. See question above. How about if someone is a plane pilot, does he say Hagomel every day?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that one should not. He may recite at the end of his term, when he takes a vacation. It is better to have the above in mind when one recites Hagomel for other reasons.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a.
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Posted 7/7/2022 10:35 PM |
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# 3774 Long Time Coming Thanks
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Q. See question above. How about if someone travels by boat from a town to another town, does he have to say Hagomel?
A. Mishna Berura (219: 1) maintains that when traveling by boat and arriving to a town where one will spend one or two days, Hagomel is not recited since one is still in the middle of the journey.
Betzel Hachochmo (1: 21) and Shevet Halevy (9: 45) are of the opinion that if one has reached the place of the purpose of his travel and he will stay there three days, Hagomel should be recited. the same applies, if one returns home and will stay three days before starting a new journey.
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that thirty days have to pass in order to recite more than one Hagomel
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Posted 7/7/2022 10:33 PM |
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# 3773 Thanks So Far
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Q. . How far does one have to travel in a boat (24 ft.) during the summer to have to say Hagomel when he returns?
A. Poskim disagree as how far should one travel on a sea to be required to recite Hagomel. Following the Sephardic tradition, Ohr Letzion (2: 4) maintains that if one travels on the regular depths of the sea to a distance where the shore cannot be seen anymore and it is over 72min.of travel on one direction, one may bless Hagomel.
The Ashkenazy tradition is to recite only if the travel was longer than a couple of days.
Minchas Yitzchok (4: 12), Betzel Hachochmo (1: 20), Kinyan Torah 1: 16) and others rule that crossing the English Channel (21 miles) does not require Hagomel.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a.
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Posted 7/7/2022 10:32 PM |
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# 3772 Have a Head for Heights?
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Q. See question above . Sometime ago we received the following shaila; Q. Would it be a correct action for our shul to rent out some of its roof space for the installation of a high communication antenna. Two benefits are involved. a) Increasing the height of the shul above all houses in the close area. b) A much needed income for our shul. Is that permitted?
A. Rema (O.H 150: 3) rules that if only one corner of the shul is higher that the other houses it suffices. Mishna Berura (150: 8) adds that when just a metal pole is added to one of the roof corners of the shul, it does not count as a part of the shul.
Similarly, Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that as far as the antenna being considered as creating a higher building and structure for the shul, it likely is not, since it is not a functional or needed addition for the shul itself. However, as an income benefit it should be considered propitious. However, other details regarding the Kedusha of the roof of the shul should be addressed.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a.
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Posted 7/7/2022 10:31 PM |
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# 3771 A Tall Shaila
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Q. The Gemoro makes it quite clear that a shul should be higher than the roofs of where people live. In an area which has houses, this may not be so difficult, but in a city full of apartment buildings, how does one adhere to this rule? Does it make a difference if there are balconies or roof tops that are used and are above the level of the shul?
A. The Talmud (Shabbos 11a) and Shulcha Aruch (O.H. 150: 2) specifies that the shul should be the tallest building in town, and warns that any city in which the roofs of houses are higher than the synagogue will eventually be destroyed.
However, in modern cities, the above is not practical. The modern high structure of buildings we need, and the zoning laws of our times create a new reality. As such, it is permitted for one to build one’s house taller than the synagogue—though it is preferable to refrain from doing so when possible. (Mishna Berura ibid. 5). Therefore, adjoining balconies or roof tops would not matter in our times.
There are other interpretations to the Talmudic requirement that the shul should be the tallest building, some of them are:
Meiri (Shabbos 11a) explains that it refers to the height of the internal hall of the shul, namely that the ceiling, should be higher than customary rooms in houses.
Zichron Yehuda (1: 59) quoting Rambam, maintains that it applies only when building a new shul.
Orach Neeman (O.H. 151) opines that it refers to the beauty of the building itself and not the actual height.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a.
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Posted 7/7/2022 10:29 PM |
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# 3770 Body Shame?
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Q. If the above is permitted, can it be done as a regular business? (I resold that head at a great gain).
A. Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that one should not make a business of this kind, since it also denigrates human life.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a.
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Posted 7/1/2022 10:43 AM |
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# 3769 Watch the Head
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Q. Dear Rabino, it was great communicating again after so many years. I got an unusual question, as I told you, I much enjoy visiting the old open market places in Mexico City and other smaller villages, sometimes you find most unusual items and I like to buy and then resell in other countries at a high profit.
I found recently a stand that sold shrunken human heads the seller said he got secretively from Ecuador. They were not expensive and out of curiosity I bought one. After having a medic inspect it and giving a letter that it was indeed human, I found a client in the a Northern country that was willing to pay a considerable price and used for a conversation item for his many guest.
My question is is one allowed to derive ant benefit from human bodies (non-Jewish)?
A. Poskim disagree whether a Gentile's body is prohibited from deriving benefit of it and in need it is permitted.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that it can in principle be sold.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a.
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Posted 7/1/2022 10:41 AM |
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# 3768 Catch that Name!
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Q. See question above. In a large shul where there is two people with the same name and one is a Levi, should then this title be included in the name? Will the title be said after the end of the name that includes the mother, or after his name?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that indeed in such an unusual case the title should be included to distinguish between the individuals.
The title should be said after the man's name.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a.
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Posted 7/1/2022 10:37 AM |
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# 3767 Making a Name
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Q. When one davens for a Choleh (sick person) does one include in the name the Cohen or Levi title?
A. The common custom is not to mention any titles when reciting a Mi Sheberach for the ill.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is similar.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a.
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Posted 7/1/2022 10:35 AM |
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# 3766 The Strange Blessing
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Q. Hello Rav, regarding the bracha on people with unusual feature and on strange animals (meshane haberiyot), I read that you can't say it if you've seen them before. Would seeing them in pictures (not in person) make it prohibited to then say the bracha when seeing them in person? Any difference for sephardim? Thanks.
A. On question 1816 regrading this brocho when watching an unusual fighting match on a screen we wrote :
On question 1712 regarding reciting the blessing of birchas hailonos on flowering trees, we wrote; Ateres Paz (p. 224) quotes Horav O. Yosef zt’l that one recites birchas hailonos when observing the flowering fruit trees using binoculars or a monocular tube. Avnei Chen (26: 20), distinguishes between simple straight telescopes and the more evolved instruments that employ mirrors and the reflection of prisms. Pesach Hadbir (224: 10) equally permits their use for the brocho recited on a king.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is similar. The Rov also wrote a teshuva in Maayanei Shlomo (O.H. 77) in regards to different halachos involved in the use of mirrors and lenses.
Poskim therefore agree that watching any phenomena were we recite a special brocho on, is limited to only seeing it directly and not in a screen or a picture. (Betzel Hachochmo 2: 16, Piskei Teshuvos 224: 12)."
As is Poskim maintain that on very unusual cases you can recite the brocho again after thirty days
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a.
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Posted 7/1/2022 10:34 AM |
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# 3765 But, not that Late
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Q. See question above: Does a woman that usually davens every day also daven Ma'ariv?
A. Most Poskim maintain that women are not obligated to daven Ma’ariv, since Ma’ariv was initially established as a voluntary prayer even for men, and while eventually men accepted Ma’ariv as an obligation, women did not.
A minority opinion holds that women should daven Ma’ariv as well if they are able due to their family and home duties. See Aruch ha-Shulchan 3.106:7 and Kaf Ha-Chayim 299:62, and this is the custom of some women.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a.
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Posted 7/1/2022 10:32 AM |
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# 3764 Never Too Late?
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R-e question 3744. I'm still confused. I understand from the answer that once a woman davens Shabbos morning she should wait to hear kiddush before eating. But is there a time limit as to how long she can drink and hold off with davening? if she wakes up late, say 11.AM, can she still drink before she begins to daven?
A. Poskim maintain that a woman who davens usually Shemone Esrei, should do so before the end of Z'man Tefilah (before 11.00 AM depending on the date. See Shulchan Aruch O.H. 89: 1). This tradition of davening Shemone Esrei, should be kept voluntarily, after expressing that it is 'Beli Neder'.
After the fact, if a woman is unable to daven before then, she may daven Shemone Esrei until Chatzos or midday (See Rav M. Feinstein quoted in Ko Somar l’Beis Yaakov, pg. 34); and Machazeh Eliyahu 19:5-14).
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a.
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Posted 7/1/2022 10:30 AM |
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# 3763 Carefully Join the Party
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Q. On a Friday night early Shabbos Sheva Brochos, someone who wants to join but unlike the rest of the people that already prayed Maariv, he has not. Since he usually davens when night sets in and he is needed on that later minyan. Can he wash and begin eating since it is already close to Shabbos (After Plag), or he is not allowed to eat that late so close to Shabbos?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that he may wash hands and eat only a Kezais (30 gr.) of bread.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a.
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Posted 6/26/2022 3:36 PM |
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# 3762 Honor the King!
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Q. Do people have to stand when the Chosson gets an Aliya and walks towards the Torah?
A. Poskim write that it is the minhag to stand for him since he is considered as a king. (Orchos Chaim - H. Kiddushin p. 66, Rokeach 355 and others)
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a.
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Posted 6/24/2022 12:08 PM |
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# 3761 Say Kaddish for this Shaila?
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Q. Can a Ger recite Kaddish for his dear father that did not convert, but was very good and helpful to him, practically from the ' Chasidei Umot Haolam', (righteous of the nations)?
A. Z'kan Aharon (2; 86) maintains that although it is for many a surprising tradition, it is proper in such a case to recite Kaddish for his Gentile father, although it is not an obligation.
Mimamakim (3: 8) deals with reciting Kaddish for a non-Jewish woman, that saved the life of many persecuted during W.W.11.
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that Kaddish should not be recited.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a.
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Posted 6/24/2022 12:05 PM |
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# 3760 Up with the Chosson
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Q. On the Shabbos Sheva Brochos (the one after the wedding), is the Chosson a chiyuv to get an Aliya? What if there is a Yohrzait who always gets Maftir on that Shabbos, who has priority?
A. Mogen Avrohom (282), Biur Halocho (136) and others maintain that the Choson should be given an Aliya on the Shabbos after the wedding, especially if it was on Wednesday and closer to Shabbos. However, there is no obligation to honor him with Maftir, therefore the Yohrzait who always gets Maftir on that Shabbos, has priority
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a.
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Posted 6/24/2022 12:00 PM |
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3759 A Sefer on New Seforim II
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A Sefer on New Seforim II Q. Does one make a Shecheyanu bracha when a new Sefer Torah is donated and introduced to the Shul?
A. See question above. On question 3736 we wrote: "Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that the Sefer Torah should not be donated but rather lend to the shul as is often done. Besides, the Rov added that in our days the Sefer Torah should undergo a computerized test to check if no letters are erased or missing."
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that it may be proper to recite the blessing of Hatov Vehametiv in such a case, since many will benefit from it.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a.
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Posted 6/24/2022 11:55 AM |
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# 3758 A Sefer on New Seforim
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Q. Does one make a Shecheyanu bracha when buying or receiving a new beautiful Shas or any other precious Sefer?
A. Mishna Berura (223: 13) quotes a disagreement between Poskim if a Shecheyanu bracha should be recited for new seforim, since after all 'Mitzvos Lav Lehenos Nitnu' or they were not given for physical enjoyment.
He quotes Chaye Adam that if one was searching for this sefer, and rejoices when he found it he may make that brocho.
Rs"Z Auerbach zt'l (Halichos Shlomo (1: 23: 17), recommends in such a case to recite Shecheyanu on another item and have in mind the sefer.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a.
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Posted 6/24/2022 10:52 AM |
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Important Numbers
