Beit Midrash Series Chemdat Yamim

Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions

Elul 19 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Finding a Discarded Aron Kodesh
I found a discarded wooden box, which someone who sold their apartment left outside a storage room. The neighbors want to throw it out. After opening it, I could tell it was used to store a small sefer Torah. What should to do with it?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Elul 8 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Excluding a Son from Inheritance
Are there sins that would cause a son to automatically lose his share? If a father is angry at a son, is he allowed to use a device to disinherit him?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Elul 2 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Missing a Key Word from Al Hamichya
Unfortunately, I did not look at a siddur last night when reciting Al Hamichya. I made a couple mistakes along the way, and I remember specifically leaving out the words “al ha’aretz” in the chatimah (end part). Was I yotzeh?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Av 26 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Buying a House with a Hidden Treasure
My student asked me the following. Shimon buys a house from Reuven at a normal price even though he knows (and Reuven does not) that there are many gold coins hidden in the attic walls. Is the sale valid? Why/Why not?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Av 19 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Electronic Communication before Davening
Is it permitted to email, WhatsApp, and use social media before davening?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Av 12 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Who Lights Shabbat Candles – Father or Daughter?
The last time my wife was away for Shabbat, my oldest daughter (under bat mitzva) wanted to light Shabbat candles instead of me. Can a minor daughter do so, and does she have precedence over me?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Av 3 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Kri’at Shema in a Whisper
As a speech therapist, I was wondering whether Kri’at Shema can be done in a whisper. In a whisper, the “z” sound is produced as an “s” and the “v” sound is produced as a “f” (and all voiced sounds become devoiced). Scientifically, this is because the vocal chords do not vibrate when whispering. Doesn’t one need vocalize to truly produce a “zayin”, “vav”, or any voiced sound, when saying Shema?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Tamuz 26 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Trips during the Nine Days
I run a camp for children under bar mitzva during a period that includes the Nine Days. We usually take them on trips off campus once a week. Is it permitted to do so during the Nine Days?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions The Three weeks
Tamuz 18 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Engagement Parties during the Three Weeks
Is it permitted to make an engagement party during the Three Weeks (i.e., before Rosh Chodesh Av)?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions The Three weeks
Tamuz 14 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Accidentally Staying on the Bus Longer than Envisioned
What is the Halacha in the following scenario? I am on an intercity bus, in which the price depends on how far you go. I fall asleep and miss my stop. Should I go to the driver to pay for the additional distance I will end up going?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Tamuz 5 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Toveling which Utensil First
I made a beracha before toveling several utensils, primarily glass, which I started with. Then I noticed that one of the utensils was metal. Since toveling metal is a Torah obligation and for glass it is Rabbinic, could the beracha on the glass utensil count for metal? Should I have made another beracha on the metal utensil?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Sivan 27 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Fulfilling Kiddush from One Who Did Not Eat
If the person making Kiddush in shul does not eat after Kiddush, is his Kiddush valid?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Sivan 21 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Reciting Kri’at Shema at the Very End of its Time
My shul sometimes misses sof z’man Kri’at Shema (=szKS) by a few minutes. The rabbi instructs people to say the three parshiyot of Shema before davening, but I usually go ahead to make Kri’at Shema on time and wait during the following beracha for the tzibbur to catch up. Is that an improvement and/or a perfect system?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Sivan 18 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Answering Amen to Hamakom Yenachem
Should a mourner (or others present) answer Amen to the words of consolation, “Hamakom yenachem etchem b’toch she’ar aveili Tzion v’Yerushalayim”?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions Various Subjects
Sivan 10 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Secrecy in Beit Din
In Israeli government courts, records of the proceedings are open to the public, but the proceedings in arbitration courts (including batei din) are supposed to be private. Is there halachic basis for this distinction?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Iyar 29 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Kaddish Rights – According to the Deceased or Mourners?
I am in the midst of the year of Kaddish/chazanut for a parent. Two brothers have been davening due to shloshim. After they finish shloshim, should we have a rotation of three or, considering that our recitations are to bring merit for the deceased, should I be chazan half the time? (We will not fight over it but would like to do the correct thing.)
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Iyar 21 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Kri’at HaTorah at Mincha
When it is not possible to get a minyan together for a weekday Shacharit, may we lain at Mincha?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Iyar 18 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Reheating Liquids on Shabbat
Regarding the prohibition to reheat liquid foods on Shabbat (in cases where there is not a problem due to returning food to a heat source), what constitutes a liquid?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Iyar 11 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Lying to Avoid Embarrassment
If someone asks you a tactless, unnecessary question, the answer to which is embarrassing, and refusing to answer is like admitting the truth, is it permitted to lie?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Iyar 4 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Sitting Next to Someone Who Is Davening on the Bus
I was sitting next to my wife on a bus, and she was davening. Was I allowed to remain seated when she got up to Shemoneh Esrei?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions