Beit Midrash Jewish Laws and Thoughts

Prayer

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 17 5779 | Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff
How can this happen?
Quiz Question: Someone received revi’i, the fourth aliyah, Shabbos morning, and, later that day, received back-to-back aliyos?
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
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 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
Adar II 28 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Temporary Markings in a Sefer Torah
Is it permissible to mark a place in a sefer Torah with a “post-it” or the like to know where a reading starts?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Adar II 21 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Alerting People to Stand
At our minyan, we take a sefer Torah from a beit midrash in which people are learning and return it to there. Sometimes when we return the sefer Torah, someone bangs so that everyone will stand up for it. Is this necessary?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Adar I 29 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Davening Late with a Minyan
I went for Shabbat for a family simcha to a community with one shul, which started tefilla at 10:00 AM, after sof z’man tefilla. Was it better to daven with a minyan or by myself at the right time?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Adar I 29 5779 | Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff
Part 2 Shul Building
Adar I 23 5779 | Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff
Part 1 Shul Building
Shvat 25 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Making Up a Skipped Beracha during Shemoneh Esrei
After Kedusha of chazarat hashatz, the chazan went to “R’ei v’onyeinu” instead of “Ata chonen” and finished the beracha before people succeeded to correct him. He went back to “Ata chonen.” When he got up to “R’ei v’oyneinu,” he did not recite it, reasoning that it was incorrect to repeat it. Was he correct, and why?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Shvat 18 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Davening in Front of a Mirror
Is the prohibition against davening in front of a mirror or reflective glass a chumra or a serious halacha?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Shvat 8 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Sefarim under Seats
In our shul, the seats have drawers underneath them to store chumashim, siddurim, etc. Thus, we sit over these books. Is that allowed?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Tevet 24 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Donating a Sefer Torah to a Shul
People who own sifrei Torah often lend them to a shul. Is there any reason they cannot donate them (which can get them a tax credit)?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Tevet 19 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Reading before Going to Sleep
Is it permissible to read a book after the bedtime Shema/Hamapil? I like to read in bed before falling asleep, but I sometimes fall asleep and, if I have not said them beforehand, it is possible that I will sleep through the night without reciting them.
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Kislev 27 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Interruptions during Hallel
Is it and/or under what conditions is it permitted to interrupt Hallel for matters of some importance?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Kislev 12 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Greeting before Davening
The Mishna Berura rules that one may not go over to his friend’s place in shul before davening. As the shul’s rabbi, is there a heter for me to go over to a new congregant to make him feel welcome and comfortable with our tefilla?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Cheshvan 27 5779 | Rabbi Daniel Mann
Announcements before Shemoneh Esrei of Ma’ariv
I thought that at Ma’ariv of Rosh Chodesh (or other times there is something new to say), the gabbai calls out “Ya’aleh V’Yavo” (=YVY) before Shemoneh Esrei. But in many shuls, someone just bangs. Which way is correct?
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
Cheshvan 21 5779 | Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff
Part 2 Davening for Rain in the Southern Hemisphere