- Halacha
- General Questions
Rabbi Shlomo Goren
Question
Is Rabbi Shlomo Goren excepted by all Mizrachi Rabbis? And do they follow his Psakim?
Answer
Rav Goren was a great innovator and “michadesh”, with a courageous personality, and accordingly most leading rabbanim view some of his halachic decisions with awe-inspiring respect, and others with surprise. Already in his youth, the entire yeshiva world knew him as “The” rising star of the Chevron Yeshiva, for his outstanding knowledge not just in the Talmud Bavli but also the Y’rushalmi, and his super-sharp insight was already apparent at the age of 17 (!) in his published sefer chidushim on the Rambam’s little-known Hilchot Psulei HaMukdashim and Masechet Mikva’ot at 21. All Mizrachi rabbis (as any Torah-loving Jew) have utmost respect for Rav Goren’s activities already in the War of Independence, who single-handedly made sure that the entire Tzahal serves only kosher food, and personally set-up the Chevra Kadisha, going into dangerous mine-fields to rescue bodies and bring them to a halachic burial, precedents which stand until today, as standard procedure. His courage to stand up for Torah even against the anti-religious Zionist leadership in the post-Holocaust era was legendary (the biographers of Ben-Gurion mention that Rav Goren eventually won BG’s ultimate respect, as very few did!), as was his preparation for the miraculous 6 Day War, where the liberation of Har HaBayit, and all of Biblical Eretz Yisrael, caught everybody, except for Rav Goren, by surprise. The General’s shofar which he blew and small Torah which he carried everywhere with his Uzi, brought a religious spirit even to the most secular of soldiers. As most first-rate poskim, his (obligatory) bravery to search for leniency to allow suspected agunot and mamzerim to marry, sometimes brought attacks from other poskim, as did his halachic and sometimes personal conflict with Rav Ovadia Yosef during their tenure together as Chief Rabbis. He was definitely unique and unquestionably sometimes controversial, but he was undoubtedly placed by Hashem to be the “right man in the right place” regarding many historic and halachic junctions over the last century.

Necktie for Jews
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Iyyar 11, 5782

Stalking
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Adar 7, 5773
Bigdei goyim?
Rabbi Daniel Kirsch | Sivan 15, 5781

Jews wearing earrings
Rabbi Jonathan Blass | 8 Elul 5763

Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.

Bircat baalat habayit 2
Adar I 23, 5771

Gentile Prophets
Adar II 25, 5771

Orlah fruit trees
Adar I 5, 5771

Writing a Torah Scroll in English
Adar II 25, 5771

Water - Kosher?
Rabbi Dr. Aharon Adler | 4 Tevet 5763

Bracha on water
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | Cheshvan 16, 5769

Kashering a dishwasher
Rabbi David Sperling | Cheshvan 23, 5778
Genesis 24: 2-9 – Put your hand under my thigh
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Tevet 26, 5770

Early Shabbat Candle Lighting
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Av 6, 5782

A Middle Name that Won’t be/Isn’t Used
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Av 11, 5782

Conversion
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Tammuz 29, 5782
