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Beit Midrash
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- Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Answer: The argument to have them – Mezuza is a Torah-level obligatory mitzva for one living in a standard house, applying as long as he lives there. Therefore, presumably one who is capable of fulfilling the mitzva without an interruption of hours or days (while it is at the sofer) should do so. There is even an opinion that if one’s mezuza falls on Shabbat, if he can spend the rest of the day somewhere else, he should do so (see discussion in Pitchei Teshuva, Yoreh Deah 285:1).
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions (650)
Rabbi Daniel Mann
623 - Ask the Rabbi: How to Tell When Your Tefillin Need Adjustment
624 - Ask the Rabbi: Using Replacement Mezuzot When They Are Being Checked?
625 - Ask the Rabbi: Must One Give his Apartment for Free?
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There are a couple of explanations why one need not be concerned. Arguably, the mitzva is "for the life of living there," so missing hours every few years for a good reason is considered a 100% fulfillment of the mitzva. After all, many understand that tefillin is a mitzva all day (see Be’ur Halacha to 37:1), and yet we suffice, for good reasons, with wearing them during Shacharit. We seem to be doing better than that for mezuzot even without replacements during checking.
Another possibility (see discussion in Shevet Hakehati I:273) is that there is a special dispensation made for the purpose of checking mezuzot, which is, after all, a halachic requirement (see Shulchan Aruch, YD 291:1). Perhaps we can explain that since it is not practical to expect everyone to have replacement mezuza, the practice of checking includes a dispensation from mezuza as long as is necessary for the checking. Some possible differences between approaches are: how fast one must act once the sofer has completed his work (see Rivevot Ephrayim ibid., who thinks one should act promptly); order of action if the return of the mezuzot coincides with another mitzva (ibid.); whether it is a good thing to check the mezuzot more than Halacha requires (see Shevet Hakehati ibid.) or to do a check that takes longer.
Is there at least a voluntary preference to use replacement mezuzot? Although ostensibly "Why not?" there are a few drawbacks. Shevet Hakehati (ibid.) references a precedent regarding the laws of checking mezuzot that when we make it difficult to check, people push it off (see Rashi, Yoma 11a). We can add that it complicates the berachot situation. In Living the Halachic Process I:G-5, we discuss the machloket about whether to make a beracha upon returning the mezuzot after the check. If you put back different ones, or use replacements, it likely calls for berachot because berachot are impacted by the mezuza used (see Chovat Hadar 11:14). However, if one is exempt from having mezuzot during the check, there is an additional question whether a beracha is called for when putting up replacements (see Sha’ar Hatziyun 475:39). There is always the general question about how good an idea it is to act stringently when it is clearly not required (beyond our present scope).
Therefore, our recommendation is just to do what almost everyone does – not use replacement mezuzot. Exceptions can be when there will be a delay of several days or if the house will be left with no mezuzot.
Rabbis in Midrash
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.