1) One who has a pile of freshly laundered clothing that is "in a mixture" in a laundry basket or otherwise in an unsorted pile, and wants to put each article of clothing away in its designated place, according to some Poskim a random article of clothing may be taken out of the pile and folded (provided it is folded in a permissible way, a Halacha we shall B'Ezras Hashem discuss in the future) and put away in its place followed by the next randomly chosen piece, until all the clothes are folded and put away. (Ruling of Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal quoted in Shmiras Shabbos K'Hilchasa Perek 3:82. The reasoning is the same as with drying silverware, as each piece of clothing is being picked up to be folded, a means in itself, and not to be sorted.)
2) Other Poskim, however, maintain that even if done in the aforementioned manner it is still considered Borer and is prohibited. (Ruling of Rav Nissim Karelitz Shlita quoted in Orchos Shabbos page 179 footnote 140. See the footnote at length for the reasoning behind this and why this differs from picking up a piece of silverware to dry.)
All agree that it is prohibited to sort the clothing into piles and only then begin folding them and putting them away.
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers. Taken from the Q & A pages on the Halacha For Today website.
Although the answers I give to questions are taken directly from the Sifrei HaPoskim, and aren't my own, they are still for study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha.
Questions can be emailed to HalachaForToday@Yahoo.com
Reader's Question:
Is there any source to the idea that Kol Isha (a man listening to a woman singing) is mutar (permitted) if one is listening to a recording rather than a live voice?
Answer:
See Shu"t MaHaram Shik, Even HaEzer Siman 53 where he rules that the prohibition is only when you see the woman singing.
Many Poskim, including Rav Ovadya Yoseph Shlita, in Shu"t Yabia Omer Orach Chaim Vol. 1 Siman 6, rule that if one knows what the woman looks like, be it personally or from a photo, even the MaHaram Shik would concur that it's prohibited to listen to her voice.
In Shu"t Mishne Halachos Vol. 5 Siman 224 he writes that even if it is halachically permitted to hear the woman's voice when she isn't seen, it is still a "Davar Mechuar, a repulsive thing" for a male to listen as it definitely brings to improper thoughts. He writes that even if the prohibition of Kol Isha wasnt transgressed, the prohibition of "Lo Tasuru Acherei Levavchem" will be transgressed by listening to her voice, recorded or otherwise. This is according to the MaHaram Shik as well.
See also Shu"t Chelkas Yaakov Vol. 1 Siman 163 and Shu"t Shevet Haleivi, Even HaEzer, Vol. 3 Siman 181 where they categorically rule that even recorded voice of a woman is prohibited.
There are no Posklim that rule that it is 100% permitted.
CHIZUK CORNER
As a Zechus for the Refuah Shelaima of one of the Gedolei HaDor, the Telzer Rosh Yeshiva , HaRav Chaim Stein Shlita, R' Chaim Yaakov ben Chasya Miriam, B'soch Sha'ar Cholei Yisroel, we will B'Ezras Hashem post here each day a short inspirational thought to help us all improve our lives and grow in our service of our Father in heaven, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING MEANINGFUL FOR THIS SECTION, PLEASE EMAIL IT TO ME. THANK YOU AND TIZKEH L'MITZVOS!
אל תתיאש מן הרחמים
Chizuk For Today:
Question: Is there anything wrong with [a Jewish male] Davening without a Minyan, as long as he saysKrias Shema at the right time?
Answer by HaRav Avigdor Miller Zatzal:
Let me explain to you what I said before. When you Daven with a Minyan you're identifying with the Klal Yisroel. You know our Tefilos are all plural. We don't say Refoeini Hashem, heal me Hashem. We say Refoeinu Hashem, heal us, and we say Baruch Ato Hashem Rofei Cholai Amo Yisroel.
It's such an important element, it must be emphasized. It's a form of identifying, we're together, we're all one. Even when you put on your hat in the morning and you make a Brocho, Oter Yisroel B'sifara, You crown Yisroel with glory. You put on a belt, Ozer Yisroel B'gevurah, You crown Yisroel with power, a belt gives you power. So you see that we're all together, and therefore when it comes to Tefila, not only the words should be together, but physically you should be together, the least you can do is go to a Minyan.
The Minyan represents the Klal Yisroel. To a certain extent the Shechina is there too. But when you Daven in your home it's a demonstration you're not interested in identifying. Now in case you're not able to, in case you have to go to work at a certain time, there are extenuating circumstances, but there's no question that to Daven with a Minyan ought to be a regular part of a loyal Jew's routine, because that's the form of showing he belongs to Hakadosh Baruch Hu through His people that are serving Hashem.
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