1) Many people use ear plugs for various reasons during the day or when they sleep to block out noise.
Regarding their use on Shabbos, it would depend on what kind of earplugs they are.
The kind that is like a small sponge which does not assume the shape of the inner ear when inserted and reverts back to its original shape upon being removed from the ear, may be used on Shabbos.
However, earplugs that are made from silicone, wax or similar materials which assume the shape of the inner ear that they are put in to and retain that shape when being removed may not be used on Shabbos, as doing so may violate the Melachos of Boneh/Tikun Maneh, Makeh B'Patish and/or Memarayach. (See Shmiras Shabbos K'Hilchaso Perek 14:39 and footnote 109 where he prohibits earplugs on Shabbos without specifying what type of earplug he is referring to. Rav Yehoshua Neuwirth Shlita, author of Shmiras Shabbos K'Hilchaso later said that this ruling of Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal was referring only to the silicone type that retains its shape and not to the sponge type; See Orchos Shabbos page 276 footnote 43. See also Shu"t Az Nidberu Vol. 3 Siman 21)
2) Cotton balls may be inserted into the ears as long as they were set aside for such use before Shabbos. (See Mishna Berura Siman 328:152 and Sha'ar HaTziyun Siman 514:52)
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers.
These Q&A are 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@Gmail.com
Reader's Question:
One thing I always get confused with- Sometimes it happens that my obligations to wash netilas yadayim after going to the bathroom and to wash netilas yadayim for hamotzi coincide.
What is the correct process? Do I wash my hands once or twice? Do I say Asher Yatzar first or al netilas yadayim first?
Answer:
There are a few different options regarding one who uses the bathroom and now wants to wash for bread.
The Shulchan Aruch (Siman 165:1) rules that the hands should be washed, Asher Yatzar recited and then the hands washed again and Al Netilas Yadayim recited.
The Mishna Berura explains the reasoning of the Shulchan Aruch as follows: If the hands are washed only once, if Asher Yatzar is recited first followed immediately by Al netilas Yadayim, it will be a Hefsek between the washing and the Al Netilas Yadayim. If Al Netilas Yadayim is said first and Asher yatzar said immediately afterwards, it will be a Hefsek between the Al Netilas Yadayim and the Hamotzi on the bread.
To say Al Netilas Yadayim, say Hamotzi and eat the bread and then say Asher Yatzar is also not proper, as Asher Yatzar should ideally be said immediately after exiting the restroom and washing the hands.
The Mishna Berura quotes some Poskim (including the Mogen Avraham) who say that the best thing is to wash the hands after the bathroom in a way that the washing will not be acceptable for eating bread (e.g. less than a revi'is, without a utensil etc.) and to recite Asher Yatzar and then to wash again a valid washing and recite Al Netilas Yadayim.
This option is the most commonly accepted option amongst contemporary Poskim, as doing so avoids all the problems of Hefsek and also satisfies the opinion of the Shulchan Aruch. (See Halichos Shlomo; Tefilah, Perek 20:26)
The Mishna Berura then quotes other Poskim that maintain that saying Asher Yatzar between Al Netilas Yadayim and hamotzi is not a hefsek, and thus if one already washed a valid washing upon exiting the restroom he can B'dieved say Al Netilas Yadayim followed by Asher Yatzar followed by Hamotzi.
CHIZUK CORNER
This section is dedicated L'Ilui Nishmas the late Telzer Rosh Yeshiva , HaRav Chaim Yaakov ben Rav Binyomin Moshe Stein Zatzal.
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.
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THANK YOU AND תזכו למצות!
זכר צדיק וקדוש לברכה
vast world of Hashem
AN OPEN LETTER FROM A FRUSTRATED SHADCHAN:
It's so hard to please anyone these days!!!
Here is a partial list of my clients .... I couldn't even get them one date, and that is why I am finally quitting and going into the pickle business.
Avraham Avinu: How can you recommend him to my daughter? Wasn't he involved in a family feud with his father over some idols? Then he left home without a GPS or a viable business plan!
Yitzchak Avinu: His brother is an Arab terrorist!!!
Rivka Imeinu: Sorry, she seems nice but did you hear about her mishpuche??? Her father's a murderer and her brother's a ponzi scam artist... .
Yaakov Avinu: Okay, he sits and learns all day... but his brother is a no-goodnik. And anyway, we heard he has a limp..... .
Leah Imeinu: Her father's a con artist, and she has ophtalmological problems. Maybe it's genetic?
Moshe Rabbeinu: Are you kidding? His parents are divorced! And worse.. they remarried! And we hear he's in speech therapy....
King David: How dare you suggest him to our yichusdike family? Our neighbor Yenti told us that his great-grandmother was a giyoret!!!
Chava: Do you know anything about her family? We never heard of them. No one knows where she came from and she can't come up with any referrals!
Please chevra, judge the person for him/herself - you're going to marry the person, not the family.
You're getting married to build your home, not to please your neighbors.
And finally, remember that if you are in this world, you are not perfect and neither is your spouse
Important Numbers
