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1) One who is making a Seudas Mitzvah (e.g. Bris, Bar Mitzvah [according to some Poskim], Siyum on a Mesechta where 10 people will participate, etc.) may not pay the expenses of the meal with Ma'aser money.
However, if in order to avoid family[or other] conflict, one is compelled to invite more people than originally planned, half of the additional costs may be taken from Ma'aser. (Shu"t Hagr"i Gans based on Ahavas Chesed Vol. 2 Perek 19:2. See also shu"t Chasam Sofer Siman 231)
2) Ma'aser money may be used to purchase kosher food for Jews who aren't accustomed to eating Kosher. (Psak of Rav Moshe Feinstein Zatzal quoted in Kuntres Am HaTorah Mahadura 2 Choveres 11)
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER:
(Reader Submitted Questions of interest (on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topics) and my Answers taken from the Q & A page on the Halacha For Todaywebsite. For study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha. Questions can be sent to Halacha For Today )
Reader's Question:
[You wrote]: "The "Kedusha" consists of the phrases "Kadosh...", "Baruch..." [and according to some opinions, also "Yimloch..."]. Any additional stanzas that are added on Shabbos and Yom Tov aren't really part of the "Kedusha" Therefore, if one is middle of his/her own silent Shemona Esrei when the Chazzan reaches Kedusha. They need to stop and "listen" (or if in middle of Elokai Netzor, stop and recite) to only the above two [or three, according to the opinions that count "Yimloch"] sentences, and then can continue their silent Shemona Esrei." Isn't this considered a hefsek {Shomea K'oneh}of my Tefilah that I am in the middle of?
My Answer:
That's a very good question. It seems from the Poskim that "Shomea K'Oneh" would only be a Hefsek if you are stopping to listen to something that is a Chiyuv Gamur for you to say, thus by listening via "Shomea K'Oneh" it would be like you actually said it and be a Hefsek. For this reason, Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal paskens that you may not listen to Havdalah while in the middle of Shemona Esrei, whereas kaddish and Kedusha isn't a Chiyuv gamur for you to say, so even though you are being Yotzei by listening, it isn't as if you said it and thus isn't a Hefsek. Regarding listening to Krias HaTorah while in middle of Shemona Esrei, Rav Shlomo Zalmen held it's a hefsek. The Chazon ish held not to do it, but if done, you are Yotzei.
See also Mishna Berura Siman 104 Sif Koton 28.
Our holy sages, the Chazal tell us
תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן עולם הבא, שנאמר הליכות עולם לו, אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות - one who studies [at least two] Halachos daily is assured a portion in Olam Haba - the world to come. (:מגילה כ"ח )
Important Numbers
