[Question?]
1.
Are you aloud to play cards on Shabbat?
2.
If you eat Pizza one slice you have to say Hatozie or
Mezonons?
3.
I go to Ahkanaz school but I am Bukharian
and I do everything Ashkanaz I am supposed to do that
or I should daven in Sefardi?
4.
Once my teacher told me that when Jews suffers Hashem
also suffers .But so much people are dying from different things and how come Hashem is not doing anything?
Answer:
1.
It’s permitted, meaning it’s not considered work on Shabbat, but certainly one should
try to spend Shabbat in a better manner than by playing cards. If you do play
cards, make sure after you are finished you don’t sort the cards but just put
them away in random order.
2.
If the dough is made on milk or apple
juice then Mezonos, otherwise it’s a dispute and so
it’s better not to eat only one slice. Rather try to eat more or eat a piece
of regular bread first.
3.
While you are in that school you could davin like
them nusach Ashkenaz.
4.
This is not a simple subject. I recommend you reading R. Ezriel
Tauber, “Darkness before Dawn”; R. Arye Kaplan “Handbook of Jewish Thought, Volume 2”. You can
also see www.torahone.com/docs/Ekev.htm;
http://www.torahone.com/docs/Nitzavim.htm
(second question on Vayelech) and http://www.torahone.com/docs/Sazria.htm
(second question on Parshas Metzorah).
[Question?]
Hi Rabbi. We know that in Parashat
Yisro by 10 commandments Moshe went up and stayed for
40 days, now we turn to parashas Mispatim,
my question is this parsha taken place in the 40 days
when Moshe is on the mountain and God is going through with him all the laws?
And if you say yes, how about the end of the parsha
from Shisi and on (chapter 23 pasik
20)? And how about next few weeks Terumah Tetzaveh , is that also part of the 40 days?
Answer:
There are different opinions about the questions you
asked. You should know in general that the shita of Ramban and the GR”A is that the Torah should always be
assumed in chronological order unless it explicitly states otherwise. What this
means is that when the Torah actually says that some even took place earlier
than a different event which was described before, then we know that here the
Torah “goes back” in terms of the time sequence of events. Otherwise the Torah
is always chronological. The reason some events are described not
chronologically is because the Torah wants to finish with one topic and then
goes back to a different topic and events that happened before.
Not everyone agrees with this idea and apparently the Chazal themselves argue on this topic. Rashi
and Ibn Ezra generally assume that any paragraph of
Torah could be chronologically out of order and they often state in their
commentaries that a particular event took place before or after. So there are
different opinions as to when the first part of Mishpatim
took place –
either when Moshe was on Sinai the first time or
before he ascended. Similarly there are different opinions regarding when the
end of this parsha took place as well as during which
of Moshe’s stays on the Mount he received the command to build the Mishkan (next parshios) – during
the first 40 days or the last 40 days.
[Question?]
Shalom
Rabbi, I wanted to know something about kosher signs on food packages. I bought
a box of cereal and it had single K sign on it. My brother said anybody can put
K sign and sell it saying that kosher. What would you think about this K sign?
Should I trust it or not?
Answer:
Generally
you brother is right, letter K alone is not enough to know the product is
kosher and certainly does not mean anybody checks for its kashrus. However I
suggest calling one of big Hashgacha agencies and
verifying this particular case. There may be a reason why this cereal is in
fact kosher but there is no hashgacha on a package.
[Question?]
Hello
Rabbi I wanted to know what do we say before going to sleep. I heard that we should
say regular Shma but some say there is bed time Shma. Is it ok to say regular Shma
or not?
Answer:
The bed time Shma is a
regular Shma. Only that there are other verses people
add as printed in sidurim. So the general name for
all this became bedtime Shma.
[Question?]
What
broha should I say before eating corn flakes?
Answer:
Most people make haadama if
the corn flakes are made without crashing corn into powder, and shehakol if this type of cereal is made through crashing
and restoring back. There is no simple way to tell which cereal companies use
the first method and which the second. Star-K did some research on this and
it’s available at their website.
[Question?]
If
there are 2 talits katan:
one is made of wool and its width is less then 1 ama
(but of course more that half an ama) and another one
is made of cotton and its width is more 1 ama. What
is better to wear? Thanks.
Answer:
Probably
it’s better to wear the second one. The reason seems to me that since for the
first one is safek if one needs tzitzis
altogether since is somewhat small (there may also be problems with wearing it
outside on Shabbat and at any rate one should not make a brocha
on a Talit this size). The second Talit
for sure requires tzitzis but there are some opinions
that the obligation is only Rabbinical, but some say it’s from Torah. At any
rate a mitzvah is performed with it for sure.
[Question?]
Who
was Bar Kochba? I heard from a rabbi that he tried to
convince the Jews that he was messiah?
Is
there any Talmud about this? And if yes can you tell me where.
Answer:
Look
in Bavli Sanhedrin 93b; Yerushalmi,
Taanis 24a; see also Vayoel
Moshe 1:39,52,53 for further discussion.
[Question?]
As
we read next week parsha of Maten
Torah, my question to the rabbi is, from what I understand the torah that was
given in sinai, was just the 10 commandment, now
today the Torah is much more than that, it gives the whole history with the mitzvos, (the 5 books)
1)
When did the Torah go from the 10 commandment to what we have today?
2)
Who wrote the 10 commandment? b) Who wrote the rest of the Torah?
3)
What about parshas Devorim
is it a repeat of what it says in Bamidbar and Vahyikrah or Devorim has new
things that were not written in the safer?
Answer:
1.
The ten commandments were heard by the entire nation (even in that there is a
dispute and some say only the first 2 were heard by everybody), but there were
some commandments given even before Sinai (like in Mara) and the rest were
received by Moshe while he was on the Mount. When he descended he taught the
Torah to the Jewish people. Most of the commandments were thus received through
Moshe and taught to the nation near Sinai (at Chorev)
and later throughout the rest of 40 years in the wilderness. Note also that
some details of certain commandments were given to Moshe later when need arose
(an example is the details of inheritance, see Bemidbar
27).
2.
If you mean who wrote the tablets, the Torah calls them written by Hashem (Shemos 31:18), meaning Hashem created the writing on the Luchos
(see for instance Pirke Avos
5:6) and there are mystical interpretations of this statement. The entire Torah
was written by Moshe either all at once in the end of his life, or he was
writing piece by piece during the 40 years they were in the desert.
3.
In Devarim Moshe was teaching Torah again to the
Jewish people before departing. What we have in the book of Devarim
is a number of commandments hitherto not mentioned. However Moshe was not
teaching them now for the first time, rather they were taught before and
written only in the book of Devarim.
[Question?]
Is
it allowed to bind the tzitzit in the evening after
the shkia inasmuch as this mitzva
is applied to the daylight hours? And if not if it's already bound in the
evening is it kosher bediavad? Thanks
Answer:
It’s good lechatchila. [Question?]
When I have to go to the toilet in the middle of the
seuda, what should I do afterwards? To wash hands in
the way it's being done after the toilet and then after the broha
to wash once again in the way as it's being done before the meal? Or I have to
wash only once? Which type of washing?
The same question regarding going to the toilet in
the middle of eating wet vegetables.
Answer:
There
is a general machlokes as to whether a person who
went to the bathroom during a meal and now is planning to eat more bread needs
to make a new brocha on washing. Assuming you follow
the opinion that requires washing without a brocha
(see Kaf Hachaim
164:16-17), the question remains how to wash. This is also subject to dispute.
You see there are different opinions in general if you need to wash three times
after the bathroom or once is enough. If you are accustomed to wash three times
(like most Sefardim do), then you should wash three
times and make Asher Yatzar. This washing should be
good for the remaining bread or wet vegetables as well (and see Kaf Hachaim 165:3).
[Question?]
When
you wake up in the morning, is there a specific way, how to get dressed? In
other words, what’s the order from top to all the way to the shoes, also if I
wake up in the middle of the night to go to the rest room do I need to wash nagel vaser?
Answer:
For
details see commentators to Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, siman 2 (like mishna berura 2:4, 2:7 etc). In general top is given priority to
bottom, right side comes before left side (except for tying shoes). The Rema in Darchei Moshe (2:1)
brings that people are not so makpid in our day …
You
do wash the hands as soon as possible but without a brocha.
At any rate you should try not to walk 4 amos without
washing hands.
[Question?]
Who was Reb Yehuda Hachasid? What year did he live in? What Takanas did he make and why? Who listens to his takanos today?
[Answers?]
One of Rishonim in Germany.
About 800 years ago.
The main sefer attributed to him is called Sefer Chasidim. It’s full
of Musar and contains also some Kabalistic ideas. He
also left a Tzava (an ethical will) with some things
that he advices not to do which are brought nowhere else and whose source is
unknown (but might be in Kabala). Some say this tzava
primarily applies only to his descendants.
There is a lot of
discussion in the Acharonim about the Tzava of Rabeinu Yehudah Hachasid. Some of it is quoted in Shulchan
Aruch and the commentators.
[Question?]
In
Hilchot Shabbat
the way I understand is when it comes to Cooking (Bishul) as long as
I put it up raw meat a minute before Shabbos it can be no problem since I put it on the fire (of
course with A blech to continue on to Shabbos) before Shabbos I have no
problem, although the actual cooking will be on Shabbos
or it has to be cooked before Shabbos or at-least 3/4
done?
Also
what does Shehiya
mean?
Answer.
The
heter of “raw meat” applies even when there is no blech. So too the heter of ½
cooked (or 1/3 cooked according to a different opinion) but this heter is a Machlokes and Sefardin in particular should not rely on.
But
when there is a blech,
then you can leave the food in any way you want even if it’s a little cooked.
Shehiya
means leaving on the stove before Shabbos (the Gemorah uses it as opposed to “chazara”
– returning the pot back on the blech after it was removed
to take some food out).
[Question?]
If
I go in to bagel shop to buy coffee, can I make a bracha in the
store by starting to drink and have in
mind to drink the rest in my car and not make a new bracha or that won’t help since am leaving the store
its called hesach hadas
even if its on my mind when I make the bracha in the
store to drink in my car .
Answer.
There
is a dispute about it. The Kaf Hachaim
and Ohr Letzion are meikel, so if you are Sephardi
you have what to rely on to make a brocha with intent
to continue drinking outside and in the car (you should first walk a few steps
towards the exit to show intent and then make the brocha).
If you are Ashkenazi you should not rely on this lehatchila
and not make a brocha or drink until you get to the
car to avoid any safek.
[Question?]
So
Grain that has taken root before Pesach, meaning it was planted before
Pesach even if it is harvested after
Pesach, is it permitted to be eaten? Since
it was planted before Pesach or once its harvest after Pesach you have till
wait until the next Pesach? So if that is the case and am a farmer I will make
sure that I plant these five grains on condition that I can harvest before
Pesach …
Answer:
It has to take root before Omer for Omer to matir it. There is a dispute how long before Pesach it has
to be planted in order to be permitted, some say only 3 days before the Omer.
In
[Question?]
Today
I walked in the bagel shop and there was a sigh written that all are food is yashan. Can You please Explain what yashan
is and what chadash means? Also may I eat if its chadash?
Answer:
The
Torah says (Vayikra 23:14) that we can’t eat any of
the five grains (wheat, barley, rye, oats and spelt) of the “new” crop until
the “Omer” offering is brought the day after Pesach. What this means is that
any of these grains that are grown after previous Pesach can’t be eaten until
in any form until the end of the day after Pesach (which outside the Land of
Israel where all holidays are celebrated for two days means after two days
after Pesach meaning till after the first day of Chol
Hamoed is over). This law applies in our day. There
are however two disputes:
1.
If this law applies to grain grown outside the
2.
If it applies to grain grown by non-Jews, which is practically all the grain
grown today in
Starting
about the end of August the new grain begins to get to American markets. Many
people are careful not to eat it not relying on either of the lenient opinions
mentioned above. Sefardim are supposed to be strict,
and many Litvish also are (since the Mishna Berura seems to be strict
about this issue, and the GR”A also rejected both leniencies above). There is a
special guide produced by HaRav Yosef
Herman Shlita from Monsey to guide those who want to
be stringent about Chodosh.
Since
keeping this had become a lot simple in recent years more and more people
accept this stringency even though in
[Question?]
What
parts of the prayer is permitted to read before dawn? Thanks.
Answer:
Most
poskim allow saying all the morning Brochos after midnight. Some however say that the brocha ending “lehabchin bein yom uvein
laila” should not be said until down. Now regarding
the korbonos, those passages that deal with the
The
real problem is Tefillin. The lehatchila
time for Tefillin is not dawn but later, about 50
minutes before sunrise (some say 60 minutes before sunrise). So even if one
finishes all korbonos by the “second” dawn of 72
minutes, what should he do? He can put Tallis
immediately after dawn according to Rema (and this
also not everyone agrees on). I once read that the mekubalim
in Bet E-l do put on Tallis and Tefillin
immediately after dawn relying on Rashi and Rabeinu Peretz. So if it is
difficult to wait then maybe one can rely on these opinions. Shma also should not be said till about 50 minutes before
sunrise, so if one puts on Tallis and Tefilin about 72 minutes before sunrise and then starts Pesuke Dezimra, hopefully he will
say Shma not earlier than this time.
I
know that there are people that are even more lenient than all of what I
mentioned above and in fact in some Shuls they only
put on Tallis and Tefillin
between Yishtabach and Borchu
72 minutes before sunrise and say Shma a few minutes
later, but I don’t see any reason to discuss these leniencies since it’s better
to dovin alone later some time before 8-9 AM or so
than relying on all these leniencies. Also one can dovin
Shmone Esre in such a Shul and say Shma with Tefillin later on when time comes (the laws of the one who
is traveling really early are described in the Shulchan
Aruch, 89 and commentators there.)
[Question?]
Why
do we wash our hands with a cup? Where does it come from? What’s the history?
Answer:
Both
washing hands before the meal and washing hands before prayer are rabbinical takanos. The only washing hands mentioned in the Torah is
that the kohanim wash their hands before they can
perform any service in the
The
washing hands before the meal was instituted by King Shlomo
and his Beis Din (although Shlomo
instituted washing only for certain types of Holy food and washing before all
bread was added later, see Talmud, Shabbos 15a). As
usual with regards to rabbinical ordinances, our sages had various causes when
instituting them, including Kabalistic reasons. A simple reason was to remind a
person who has to it the food in spiritual purity (like a kohen
eating truma) of any tumah
(uncleanliness) he may have. Thus when washing hands
he might remember that he had touched something that made him unclean and go to
a mikva. Also this washing hands adds significance to
a meal and in general brochos should never be said
with hands that are not clean (there is a general hint in the Torah for washing
hands before and after the meal, see Brochos 53b). In
a different place, the Talmud (Chulin 106a) also
sites an opinion that the verse (Vayikra 15:11) is
yet another hint to washing hands.
As
for the washing hands before prayer it’s not clear in which generation this was
instituted but apparently this was even an earlier takana
since prayer is in place of a korban (as is hinted by
Tehillim 26:6, see Brochos
15a).
[Question?]
I
would like to ask you something. In my college my professor gave us assignment
to do about evolution. He is asking whether we agree or not. I want to say that
I don’t agree with theory of evolution since we, Jews, all know that G-d
created us as human nothing else. However, I have to give 2 or 3 proves to my
answer. Can you please help me to find proves. If I say that what written in
bible they won't believe because they don’t believe in Bible itself. Please
help me to answer with persuading proves.
Answer:
I
am not an expert on this topic, and there are books that deal with it (like
writings of Rav Avigdor
Miller) but I don't know if you will have time to buy and read them before the
assignment is due. So I will make a few points. My discussion will rather
center on how to reject the theory of those evolutionists that life could be
possible without Hashem.
-Evolution
assumes that somehow the first life forms "evolved" from inorganic
matter. For a biologist this seems plausible, given a long time, but not for a
mathematician. The reason is that it takes tremendously long time to assemble
any logical order out of chaos. Even a simple table with 20 by 20 lamps (400
lamps) which has some lamps lit and some not, will have 2 to the 400 power
possibilities of combinations of lamps on and off. So if for example if the
lamps are blinking 100 times a second, it would take trillions of trillions of
trillions of trillions of trillions ... of years to reach a needed combination.
And the RNA or DNA molecules are a lot more complicated. The possibility of any
code usable for a living being to be generated at random is nil even assuming
all the necessary ingredients somehow found their way to earth. This is even
regarding the simplest life forms. And whether the simple life form can evolve
to a more complicated one is a question that remains unproven even by those
scientists who believe in evolution. As far as I know there has not been significant
progress in this field and in fact many scientists have serious doubts about
it.
-Note
that we were not taking into account the complexity of all the life forms and
their dependants on each other. How all of them fit together and function using
each other. A simple example: plants do photosynthesis converting carbon
dioxide to oxygen, animals breath doing the opposite. There are millions of
similar examples where one life form can only exist given the other one. So if
one would "evolve" randomly before the other it would not survive.
(Just to give another quick example: many trees use animals to spread
themselves to reproduce. Their sweet fruit attracts the animal, but the hard
pit does not get digested, it exits the animal, falls into earth to produce new
tree. Note that the seed is protected by the hard shell to not get damaged, and
the eatable part of the fruit becomes attractive and fragrant and the fruit
falls down exactly at the time it's ripe. Is not this a great show of Somebody
guarding the tree not only for its' own sake but to also make sure it satisfies
animals.)
-The
general conditions on earth: pressure, temperature, amount of sunlight,
everything testifies to plan and purpose. Any factory operated by computers is
far less complicated than the whole world or even a single animal. The life on
earth would not even exist if we were just slightly further or closer to the
sun, if our atmosphere was slightly different, if the water level was a few
percent higher etc etc.
Until
now I was discussing evolution "by itself" i.e. if life on earth
could have evolved without Hashem doing it. However
from the prospective of a religious Jew that Hashem
operate things, there is room to believe that He had in fact made more
complicated creatures from simpler ones. There are some Orthodox Jews who
believe that.
[Question?]
What
is the problem with learning on the Eve of Dec 25th? And if there is, is it
only until Mid Night?
Also
why do some people hold of this problem on Jan 6th?
When
you answer can you give me the source were you get them from
Answer:
There are many different customs regarding this minhag, look in Nitey Gabriel he
discusses all opinions. According to Chasam Sofer we should davka learn after
midnight. Many people don’t have that minhag altogether
in our day, meaning they learn as usual this night like any other night. The
reason is they hold that the main reason not to learn was because Jews were
afraid of pogroms and therefore preferred to turn the light of and go to sleep
not to annoy the Christians. If this was the reason, it certainly does not
apply today. Regarding the exact day when the custom was not to learn, the
difference comes from the difference when Roman Catholics and Greek Orthodox
observe their holiday.
[Question?]
I
would like to know, how many takanas did Ezrah make? And what
were they?
Answer:
Look
in Bava Kama 82a.
[Question?]
Shalom Rabbi, I want to ask you a question about
giving 10% of your salary. This is my first time earning money can you please
tell me the rules, where I give it, to whom , how much and when? Thank you.
Answer:
This is really not something I can describe standing
on one foot. You can get a book in English describing all the laws. I think Artscroll has one.
At any rate I can give general advice. There is a
dispute on what maaser can be used for, the good
advice is to say in the very beginning that you are starting to separate maaser on condition that you will be using it for various mitzvot, not just to the poor. If you make such condition
you will be able to use the money to any good organizations whether they deal
with helping the poor (tzedaka, hachnasat
orchim, arranging marriages etc) or the ones that
don't specifically deal with poor (like kiruv
organizations, sefarim distribution, sinagogues, mikvaot, yeshivot etc).
You should make an accounting every so often (once or
twice a year) to see how much you made and make sure you gave the maaserot. You can make that accounting at the same time as
when you fill out your taxes if this way it is easier.
Mitzvot that are your personal obligation can not be paid for
by maaser money. For example your obligations to give
to the poor on Purim. But once you gave the minimum to two people, you can use maaser money to give to others.
There are various opinions as to how to compute the maaser. The most accepted way is that you simply take a
tenth of the amount on your check excluded taxes. If you later get a tax return
in the end of the year, you should separate maaser
from that too.
There are different opinions as to whether maaser should be taken from things other than money. For
example gifts, presents your company gives you (even possibly insurance that
you would buy anyhow if the company did not give it). The custom seems to
follow the lenient ruling.
There are guidelines as to which charitable causes
take precedence. One of the rules is that poor relatives come first, but you
should try to give to various causes and not everything to one person or
organization.
[Question?]
Shalom Rabbi, I am a Sefardi
Jew, my mom lights candles for shabbat am I also
required to say or is t enough if I stand next to her and answer Amen. Another
question is that according to halacha do we light the
candle first or say the bracha. Also what about
covering the eyes is it also required if yes then when after doing what. Thank
you for your time for answering my questions.
Answer:
Generally Sefardi women
don't make a bracha on lighting in the family where
another woman lights (i.e. only one bracha is made
per family). Moreover most unmarried girls don't light at all. If you want to
light you can do so, but only your mother makes a bracha
to cover you both, and you answer Amen.
There are different opinions whether Sefardi women first light or first make a bracha. Kaf Hachaim
brings both customs. However Rav Ovadia
Yosef thinks that Sefardi
women (or men who light) should make the bracha
first. So if you generally follow him, then you need to first make a bracha. There are different customs what to do with the
match after the bracha. Some women just let it fall
from their hands once they finished lighting, (you have to make sure it falls
where it's not going to make fire.) At that moment they accept Shabbat.
All Ashkenazic women and
some Sefardic women light first and then make a bracha. In order that their bracha
will be considered somewhat before the action, they thus cover their eyes and
only after the bracha start enjoying the light.
[Question?]
Thanks
for your answer!
I
have another question. Is it obligatory to do maim ahronim
from a vessel? Or it's permitted to do it from the faucet? Thanks.
Answer:
There is a dispute about it, but most poskim (including Mishna Berura) are lenient. [Question?]
It's
said in the brocha Asher Yatzar
that if one of the holes in the human's body will be closed for an hour one
will die has veshalom. So what's the reason of such
an expression "one hour", after all it's clear that one can live
(yes, not a long time) but anyway more than an hour. So what's the point of
such strange expression? Thanks in advance
Answer:
First
of all in nusach Ashkenaz
there is no phrase “one hour”. However in nusach Sefard there is. In fact the author of the Shulchan Aruch is quoting various
opinions to answer your question, see his words in Orach
Chaim 6:1 and the GR”A there. According to one solution this is hinting to a
newborn baby, who needs to start breathing while the umbilical cord needs to be
closed. According to another possibility what is meant is that once the holes
are closed the time will come when a person will not be able to continue
existing even for another hour. Note also that according to Arizal
“Shaa Achat” has a Kabbalistic meaning and hints to a lofty spiritual concept.
[Question?]
Where
in chazal is the story when the tana
would ask his wife to make meal of say chicken and she would go and make it
something else? I think it was Reb Chiya.
Can
you please give me what mesachteah and what Daf.
Answer:
Yevamos
63a.
[Question?]
Who
were the ten lost tribes? Or who were the two that remained?
When
and what time in Jewish history did it happen?
Why
did it happen?
Also
can you tell me some insight what chazal say about
it?
Answer:
The
two that remained are Yehuda and Binyamin. Also Levi remained. The others were
exiled, but there are some of the others among us too, since there was always
migration and immigration from the
Assyrian
kings exiled the ten tribes about 2600 years ago.
There
is a lot of Chazal, be more specific. There is a
dispute if the remainder of the ten tribes will ever come back. But at any rate
the descendants of all tribes are in existence among us today as mentioned
above. See also Ramban, maamar
hageula, end of first perek
that the ten tribes did not return to
[Question?]
My
mother cooks the chullent before shabbos
with a crackpot, now she puts underneath the crakpot
a silver foil, so if it leaks out of the pot it does not get the counter dirty,
my question is in middle of shabbos once I take off
the pot of chullent to serve, am I aloud to use the
silver foil for something else? Or is it muktza since
it was set aside
Also
what is the reason that some people don’t use a crackpot on shabbos?
Answer:
The
foil is not Muktza. The reason some people don’t use
crackpot is because some gedolim held it might be hatmana. Hatmana laws are far
more strict that just leaving something on the blech,
see Orach Chaim 257:1.
[Question?]
Shalom, I would like to ask you s/t that has to do
with dreams. Can you please explain me what is a dream , does it come true? And
everything else about a dream. Thank you.
Answer:
Dreams is a complicated topic, many pages of Talmud
(in tractate Brochos) and other books deal with them,
so it’s hard to summarize in a few words. Generally speaking a dream can
sometimes be a result of one’s personal thoughts during the day for instance.
At other times a dream can “come from above”, we are thus taught that it can be
1/60 of a prophesy. Even in that case it gets projected, refracted and
reflected many times in various spiritual worlds and therefore it comes in an
unclear form with not all of its’ context exactly correct. We are thus taught
that every dream has some empty content (dvarim batelim). Another piece of information: there are certain
people who have an ability to interpret dreams and the dream then gets
“fulfilled” according to their interpretation. It’s therefore important that if
one saw a dream that bothers him or her, they should relate it to a friend who
will only offer a good interpretation. Another option is that during Birkas Kohanim, when there is
Divine Mercy coming down to this world, the one who saw a dream says a prayer
to Hashem to turn it only to good. When this is hard
to do, there is a possibility to “Metiv Chalom” (improve the dream) when three people sit down and
the one who saw a dream tells them about it and says certain verses and they
answer back with verses and wishes on his behalf. The exact nusach
of this is printed in sidurim.
Question? If
the person in the midle of amidah
feel the need to go to the bathroom, what should he do in this situation. Is he
aloud to stop in the middle of his prayer and go, or should he finish his amida and then go? Thank you.
Answer:
Shalom,
If he started Shmone Esre when he did not want to go to the bathroom and
later felt the need, he should not interrupt but finish. However if he did
interrupt, he can continue praying when he comes back starting from the
beginning of the brocha he was in if the interruption
was for less time than it takes to say the entire prayer. Otherwise he has
to start all over.
All of the above applies if he did not feel the need
to go to the bathroom when he started praying. However if he feels the
need to go, he is not allowed to start. If he started Shmone
Esre when he had an urge to go, and could not hold
himself for even 72 minutes, then his prayer is invalid and he needs to pray
again. There is a dispute if this applies only to wanting to go for
big (number 2) or even for small (number 1).
[Question?]
Shalom Rabbi, I would like to ask you a question. I pray every
morning at home but i am not sure in changes due to
Hanukah can u please tell me changes in Shmoney Asrey(Amidah) and do we say Musaff for Hanuka or not? Thamk you.
Answer:
Shalom,
The
18th (pre-last) brocha has an addition about Chanukkah, it starts with words Al Hanisim.
If you forget to add it you still fulfill your obligation after the fact. Musaf is not said on regular days of Chanuka
unless they fall on Rosh Chodesh (this Monday) or Shabbos. Then the same addition is made in Musaf's pre-last brocha (Modim).
[Question?]
hi
Rabbi
why
do we say vesan Tal umotor
based on a secular calendar? (DEC 4th) more to the question why don't we do it
like in
also
just another observation ,once you explain to me why the 4th my next question why this year
its DEC 5th
please
give me a very clear and lengthy answer
thanks chag semach
Answer:
In
Eretz Yisroel they start
asking for rain earlier because they need more rain water. We ask for rain
according the minhag in
The
general law was setup to depend on solar year since this is what weather
conditions depend on. One might ask then why in Eretz
Yisroel a similar system was not setup to make starting
date depend on solar year? In Eretz Yisroel they need to ask as early as possible, and since
they can’t ask for rain during holiday season or too close to it until people
can return from Yerushalaim to their home towns, the
date (7th Cheshvan) was chosen 15 days
after Sukkos.
The
reason the date Chutz Laaretz
comes out on Dec 4-5 is because for all simple calculations we use Shmuel’s Tekufa meaning we
consider the solar year 365.25 days. Now our 19 year cycle calendar is setup
using a different more accurate number for the solar year, but for all simple
calculation like when to ask for rain and when to make Birkas
Hachama, Shmuel
approximation is sufficient. The reason for this difference is that calendar is
setup by scholars whereas calculations like when to ask for rain are made by
regular people. So since the western secular calendar currently is using a
smaller number for solar year than 365.25 we keep moving our date compared to theirs
every 3 out of 4 centuries.
The
reason we ask one day later when next year is leap is again because the leap
year chosen by Julian used by western calendar is not the same counted by us.
(Julian could have chosen any of the years to be leap and then starting from
that year every fourth one would be leap again. Had he chosen one year earlier,
we would always ask for rain on the same day the entire century). Imagine that
secular year would be leap not when it’s divisible by four by when it’s remainder
3 mod 4. The average result would be the same, but then last February would
have been leap and then the 4th of December this year would actually
be the 5th. So we would always ask for rain the night after the 4th
of December. But because they count the leap years one year later, we have to
take that into account.
[Question?]
Shalom
Rabbi Chaim, My parents, who are not so observant, bought a toaster from a
non-Jewish friend but I am doubting that we as Jewish people are allowed to use
it. Or is there any way to kosher it I would like to know from you. Thank you.
Answer:
I asked your
question to Rabbi Pesachia Fried. He said that after
cleaning it you should turn it on and run it through the maximally long cycle
with highest possible temperature. You will also need to immerse it in a Mikva. After this don’t use it for 24 hours so it dries up
otherwise it may break.
[Question?]
Shalom,
I would like to ask you what is not really ABOUT Torah or Hashem,
so can you please answer me. I have a friend who is 15 years old she is a girl
and she goes to yeshiva with me. Her birthday is coming up and I don't know
what to get her. On my birthday she got me a siddur. So can you please tell something Jewish I
could get her? Thank you. I can't wait for your answer.
Answer:
There are many good
Jewish books you could buy for her. Books by Rabbi Arye
Kaplan or Rabbi Ezriel Tauber
may be very good, but you know better what you friend might like. If you are
not sure, you can give her gift certificate to Eichlers
so she can choose on her own.
Also how about a
trial subscription of HaModia newspaper and magazine?
That costs $20, and most people like it a lot. Their number is 718 853 9094. Or
you can buy her a membership in a Jewish library for a year if she lives in one
of the neighborhoods where this exists. Another possibility: if she lights the
candles Friday night (most single girls do not but if she does) you
can get her nice candle sticks if hers are plain.
[Question?]
I
understand that the time of Chanukah the Jews were under kingdom, my question
is when did Jewish kingdom start (I don’t think the Jews had one under by the
first temple)
and
also when did it finish
also
can the rabbi give me a list of all the
Jewish kings?
Answer:
-I
think you meant to say there was not a “True” Jewish Kingdom after the
destruction of the
-After
Herod killed all the Chashmonaim, his dynasty ruled
for another 103 years. These people were completely unfit to serve as kings and
their Halachik status was servants. This dynasty
finished when the
-
First children of Matisyahu ruled, the last of the
brothers was Shimon. They were all righteous and they were the only righteous
kings in that dynasty. After Shimon’s death, his son Yochanan
ruled and at the end of his life he allied with the Sadducees. Then his sons
ruled the last one being Alexander Yonai who was
completely on the side of Sadducees.
When Alexander Yonai died and his children
were too young, his wife Shlomis Alexandra was
officially the queen but in practice she gave the power to the sages. This was
possibly the best time during the
[Question?]
am
a single guy who live with my parents , as Chanukah is coming up ,do I have to
light, if my father is already lighting for the house? So if you say no ...does
that mean I have the option?? And if I choose that I don’t want to light, do I
have to be at the time when my father makes the brachah?
Now
if choose to light, can a make it with a bracha? Or
you might tell me not to make the bracha since it
might be a waste of bracha being that my father has
me in my mind.
Again
being that I live with my parents, and I don’t own the house, what should I do
and give me all my best options
Answer:
Many
of these questions are subject to dispute. In general, for Ashkenazim the minhag is that all (male) members of household light with a
brocha. The real question is if your father lights on
time and you come home very late, whether you should still light with a brocha? It’s known that the main mitzvah of Chanukah is
fulfilled even if one member of household lights (even one candle every day),
and the rest fulfill their obligation even when they were not present at the
time of his lighting. The custom for everyone to light is Mehadrin
min Hamehadrin. However maybe it’s not worth while to
light with a brocha for those who come home late
especially if they light inside the house. This is certainly true if you come
home when everyone is asleep. I should also mention here that according to the
GR”A anybody who lights more than 30 minutes after the proper time is always
supposed to light without a brocha. The general
custom is not to follow the GR”A, but certainly you should try to be home at
proper time and light then with a brocha.
[Question?]
Why
is it that woman light candles Fri. 18
min before sunset?, why not right by sunset or why not 10 or 15 min before?
Also
why in Yerushaim is it 40 min before sunset?
Answer:
This
is all dependant on various customs. You have to add some time to Shabbos. Not everyone lights 18 minutes before shkia, CRC instituted to light 15 minutes before shkia. Probably the minhag to
light 18 minutes before is based on the shita of R.
Eliezer MiMitz that this is when Bein
Hashmoshos starts.
In
Yerushalaim also not everybody lights 40 minutes
before shkia. Probably the custom to light this early
has to do with general minhag to add 1/12 to Shabbos (see Beer Hetiv 261) like
the Shmita that had an extra month (1/12 of the year)
added. This way for those who keep 40 minutes before shikia,
and more than an hour after shkia Motezi
Shabbos, the total Shabbos
is about 26 hours i.e. 24+24/12. See also Trumos Hadeshen (1st Tshuva)
and Mordechi (2nd Perek
of Shabbos) and Bach and Aruch
Hashulchan (261).
Also
the Tosafos Shabbos hints
to the Tosafos of Olam Haba, as the Seventh day corresponds to the Seventh
thousand years, while the end of Friday corresponds to the times of Moshiach.
So by greeting Shabbos early in Yerushalaim,
the hope is to also be zoche to greet Moshiach early.
[Question?] If
I eat cereal in the morning ex. cheerios and milk... what bracha
do I make, or to avoid any problem make two brachas
by eating and drinking them at first separately and then continue eating it
together, and if you tell me to do this option then what would be the order
milk or the cheerios?
Answer:
Your
uncertainly is whether milk is tafel (secondary) to
cereal or not. This is an old question and moreover the answer may depend on
the person eating.
Certainly
if you make the two brochos before you mix them you
will avoid the problem. Then the order is Mezonos
first. The real question is the brocha Achrona. If in fact milk is tafel,
you would only need al hamichya. Even if milk is not tafel and has chashivus in its’
own right, there is another shaila if you drank
enough milk within short enough time. The issue is the old machlokes
of whether drinking a reviis should be done within a
short time (that it takes to drink reviis normally –
a couple of seconds?) or a longer time (kedey achilas pras) which is a few
minutes. Certainly you never drink cereal milk fast enough to satisfy the first
opinion. Plus there are opinions that you don’t even have to drink reviis, but only a kezais.
So
you see already there are too many different uncertainties here. If you really
want to be yotze all opinions for sure (which is what
I do) you will eat or drink something on the side. So for example, if besides
cereal, you drink a cup of orange juice, then first you make mezonos on cereal, then shehakol
on orange juice and have kavona to include the milk,
in case it’s not tafel, then after you finish you
make al hamichya and bore nefashos.
[Question?]
Why
did God create this world?? God is perfect, He did not need to make this world
to proof anyone.
Answer:
This
is very old and deep question. I suggest you read Rabbi Arye
Kaplan’s books like “Handbook of Jewish Thought”, “If you were God” and others.
To say in few words, G-d “wanted” that there will be creatures that are capable
of enjoying closeness to Him. The whole creation was an altruistic act.
[Question?]
Shalom,
I wanted to ask you how do we kosher a microwave. what I know is that we must
put a cup of water inside and boil it until it has lots of vapors but when I do
it it never makes vapors so how or what should I do?
Answer:
First,
I’d like to mention that not everybody agrees microwave can be koshered. Also,
you should know that most poskim allow to use the
microwave without koshering if the food is completely closed from all sides
(and even better if it’s double wrapped, but make sure to use material that’s
microwavable.)
Now,
regarding your question, after you cleaned the microwave inside and waited 24
hours, you tried to boil a container of water, it did not boil. Maybe you did
not set the sufficient time period? Maybe you used distilled water that does
not produce bubbles? If I understand the physics of this correctly, adding a
drop of salt (or maybe a drop of dirt) might do the trick. If nothing else
works, some allow boiling a pot of water on fire and placing it immediately
into the microwave.
Note
that you may need to kosher the insert tray that’s under the pots (or replace
it) since hot food may have fallen on it before. The way to kosher it is at
least by pouring boiling water on it.
[Question?]
when
I know a person about to be shomer shabbos but he is not
committed yet , now he does not know that opening up a light is a problem on shabbos ,
therefore he is only a ohnes , now if I would tell
him that opening up a light on shabbos is a problem he might continue anyway .. so I
just made the situation that he is a mazid .. so is
it better that I don't tell him so he remains a ohnes
Answer:
If
chances are he will listen, then you should tell him. But don’t just tell the
difficulty, tell him the solutions (timers for instance). Maybe buy him a timer
and install it for him if you can?
[Question?]
When
am in middle of shema
and the bal tefilah is ready to say kedushsa at the loud shemoneh esrei ,
what
should I do:
a)stop
were am holding and stand up but don’t say anything, cause I will be mafsik
b)stop
were am holding and stand up but do say kedushsa
c)sit
and continue of shema
Answer:
B).
Stop and answer only the main two parts of Kedusha: Kadosh Kadosh … and Baruch Kevod … All this assuming you are not in the middle of the
first Posuk of Shma and not
in Baruch Shem Kevod ...
[Question?]
When
I am behind in davining
shmone esre and the tzibur is holding at thacanun ,
and now when I finish shmone esre
they are done with tachanun , may I say it by my
self? If yes does it include everything from Tachanun
or some of it? Or better yet what about if I daven biyuchidus at home?
Answer:
When
you are in the Tzibur there is enough to rely on, to
say the entire Tachanun even if you are not in sync
with them. But at home you have to skip 13 Midos (if
your custom is to say them altogether). Other parts of Tachanun
can be said beyachidus for sure.
[Question?]
If
a person lends someone money and the guy pays him back, can the guy who is
paying back say thank you? Because its like giving interest because he is
giving him more than he deserves???
Answer:
You
are right. He should only say thank you after he gave back the money, and
waited for a short time.
[Question?]
If
a person wants to become religious, which (easy) mitsvah should he START observing in your opinion?
Answer:
Shabbos
and Kashrus are certainly good candidates. Also saying Shma
and making brochos over food. In some cases it’s
advisable that he should start by attending a synagogue where good classes are
given for that may inspire him to keep more mitzvos.
[Question?]
When
is Moshiach coming?
Answer:
When
I find out I will Bli Neder
notify you right away! But at that time you want need my notification since you
will know this without me.
[Question?]
1) were is padan aram 2)were is Gerar?3) how old was Yitzchok from the beginning to the end of parsha ?
Answer:
1)
In
2)
In South East of Eretz Yisroel,
probably around where Palestinian autonomy is now.
3)
He was 40 when he married, 60 when he had his children, 123 when he blessed Yakov
and then Yakov (who was 63) went to Syria (stopping in the academy of Shem and
Ever on the way for 14 years) and arriving at the age of 77 – that’s going to
be the next parsha.
[Question?]
Hello
Rabbi,
Its
me again, I am not sure if you heard but they were doing an operation in
Answer:
I
don’t know, but in general even a regular person with regular body can have
more than one soul.
[Question?]
Hello
Rabbi, I have a question with listening to the radio. Am I allowed to hear woman sing?
Answer:
There
are different opinions about it. Those who allow make a stipulation that you
have never seen the singer. Most opinions don’t allow. Also, if she is singing
indecent things (as is often the case) then it’s for sure not right to listen
to her. Even if it’s not a woman but a man who sings improper thing, one should
not listen to him.
[Question?]
Shalom
Rabbi, I have a question from my science class in college. Scientists believe
that there are two "kingdoms": animal and plants kingdom. They think
that human beings belong to animal "kingdom" what do you think about
it?
Answer:
In terms of the physical body indeed a human being can be considered a kind of
animal. The real difference between the religious approach and the irreligious
approach lies in the special soul that a person possesses, while an animal only
has a low level animal soul. The GR”A used to say: from physical point of view,
a person is even “worse” than animals while from spiritual he is much better.
What he probably meant is that physically we are poorly equipped than animals.
We need very special conditions for living, we can’t stand very low or very
high temperatures, many foods that are available naturally in abundance (like
grass) are not suited for a human being. We can’t run away from predators, nor
can we catch most animals for food through simply running after them. In short,
if not for our intellectual ability that comes with the soul, we would be quite
underprivileged. But our spiritual “ingredient” compensates fully for the lack
of physical ability…
Rabbi,
If non-Jews would ask you "give me a prove that G-d exists" what
would you answer?
Answer:
One of the well known proofs that in fact many people on earth are quite aware
about is the complexity of our universe with everything prepared very carefully
for life. To my mind any unbiased person can see the “Hand” of “Someone” with
supreme wisdom in every aspect of “nature” that makes life on Earth possible.
On top of it, any serious study of any living being, animal or plant can reveal
endless wisdom showing plan and purpose. Attributing all of this to blind
“evolution” is simply too farfetched. The inorganic nature contains everything
needed for organic life, the conditions on our planet are so perfectly prepared
for life … Every step we take we see plan in purpose in everything around us.
Question:
Shalom, I have a question on bereishit.
It is described that there is no badness or jealousy in Heaven so why did nachash(snake) made Chava sin?
Thank you.
Answer:
First of all, at the time of Adam’s sin he was not exactly in heaven, but in a place
called Gan Eden on Earth. It’s just that all the
worlds were spiritually higher at that time, and so was the level of animals
(see also Arizal, Taamey Hamitzvos, Parshas Ekev). Secondly there is a possibility even for an angel to
make a mistake through lack of his connection to his spiritual root. As a
result of such mistake he would normally be “expelled” since as you mentioned
there is no possibility for “jealousy” or other “sins” to remain on High. In
case of Satan however since he and his army of angels is needed to provide our
testing, he is not being expelled even after he showed the above traits (See Ramchal, second part of Daas Tvunos, 30-34, it’s on pages 40-41 in the standard green
edition of Kisvey Ramchal,
volume 2.)
Question: What should I light first on Friday , Chanuka candles or Shabbos candles ?
Answer: Chanukka candles are lit first.
[Question?] Why do men wrap Tefillin
straps around the middle finger?
[Answer:] There is some similarity between Tefilin and marriage... (our marriage to Hashem in a way).
As
usual there are elements of 7 and 3. Like 7 brochos
of marriage and 3 primary parts of marriage (Kidushin,
Kesubah and Chuppa). This
corresponds to the 3 and 7 here: 7 wraps around the arm and three wraps around
the middle finger.
A deeper significance also exists: 7 corresponds to 7 lower sefiros,
and 3 – to the 3 higher ones.
If your question is why the "middle" finger in particular is chosen,
the truth is there is an opinion that this is where the Kala wears her ring. In
any case this is the main, and the longest finger, to which "Ama" is measured and it is called an "Ama".
_________________________________________________________________
[Question?] In the situation if I don't have
a cup to wash my hands after using bathroom can i
still say a Bracha after washing my hands?
But if you are planning to eat bread, you should not
wash hands inside the bathroom. You can however if there is no other way take a
cup of water from the bathroom outside the bathroom and wash there. You can use
any cup, I am sure you
can find something (or plastic cup if there is nothing else).
________________________________________________________________
[Question?] Why are we not allowed to shave
our face with razor?
[Answer:] To answer this one would need to write a whole book. At any rate, the
hair of a man's face (beard) is a projection of a spiritual "beard" -
the 13 principles of Hashem's mercy. Each hair is a
channel through which spiritual energy is
flowing.
If your question is why the "razor" in particular is prohibited, the
truth is that most Rabbis forbid using electric shaver as well. However to
explain the opinion of those Rabbis that do permit electric shavers, well
generally electric shavers don't destroy the hair in it's entirety. A little
bit is left even though it's usually less than 1 mm. However those shavers that
"shave
closer than blade" are for sure forbidden.
_________________________________________________________________
[Question?] I have a question about freedom of choice in this world according to
Torah. This is my way of thought: It is
interesting to notice how HaShem sets up everything
in this world. Great Tsadikim were actually born
because HaShem wanted them to be born. For
instance, Avraham was fed by angel Gavriel and
was secluded from the world -- so of course 99% of people will choose HaShem as G-d since they have most purest thoughts. Itskhak's mother Sarah breastfed him and all other kids of
the world (source: Midrash Says) -- HaShem did that on purpose as to show that she's the real
mother and no one else. Moshe was chosen by HaShem
(as Torah says because he was able to take care of animals and therefore he'll
for sure be able to take care of people), but was he really chosen because of
this? Are we saying that out of millions of Jews in
Also, Talmud says that whoever gets angry is like he
did avoda zara because by
getting angry, the person shows that he thinks there's another entity besides
G-d. G-d is the only One who sent this problem to a person, but He did it
through another person. Adam made a sin by eating a forbidden fruit, but if he
were to repent on time, HaShem wouldn't have punished
him. It also says that everything in this world is decided on Rosh HaShanah -- everything except how people utilize it.
Yehudah slept with prostitute who was actually his own daughter in law Tamar
because he knew that this will bring Mashiakh into
this world. But he wasn't aware who she is. So, anyone doing this without HaShem's prophecy, would sin, but he did it because of
prophecy and therefore he did not sin.
My personal opinion, that we are all programmed in by G-d. Our only
mistake is that we think it is us who make choices to sin or not. But if were
to realize that EVERYTHING comes from HaShem,
including our sins, because this is how HaShem wants
things to be. Then we would not be punished. So, while we think we make choices
(we do have a choice wether to go right or left, to
eat or not, etc.), HaShem already knows our
"choices" -- what will happen.
Also it says in Talmud that everyone is judged
according to how he judges others. What do you think?
[Answer:]
Please read my commentary on Vayechi
you will see certain ideas about freedom of choice. For now I can tell you that
you are wrong and right. You are wrong that we "programmed" but you
are right that Hashem knows what we will choose. Why
the second statement does not contradict the first is exactly what I discuss in
that parsha. For now, look into Tosafos
Yom Tov to mishna 3:15 in Pirkey Avos.
A follow up [Question?]
I still do not see how this world (which seems to be
predetermined) has freedom of choice. We only THINK we have freedom of choice,
but in reality, we are only acting according to the script.
Thank you for reading my humble opinion,
[Answer:]
If you read carefully what I wrote you will understand
a lot. If you would be able to look at the sources (the most important part of
my book) you would understand even more. The movie is just an example, the
exact mechanism is beyond our understanding. It's hard for me to write this on
paper, if you want to talk about it over the phone I can try to give some more
examples. But as I stated the full understanding is not possible, but we know
it is true. We are given freedom of choice and we are judged for making wrong
choices. This is fundamental principle in tons of places in the Torah. By the
way, Avraham also did not have to be Avraham, then there would be someone else.
Some people are prepared for a great task but they fail. For example Yeravam. He was a great man. But he failed. Even better
example is righteous Hizkiyahu who could become mashiach. See our words to Lech Lecha.
A follow up [Question?]
[Answer:]
There is freedom of choice, this is basic Judaism 101.
However it's impossible to know exactly how this freedom is possible given that
Hashem knows the future evens. It's really hard for me to discuss this in
writing like I mentioned.
A follow up [Question?]
[Answer:]
I did not mean whether we have a right or not. I just
know it's a fundamental principle, and the fact we don't understand or can not
understand is not a problem. If you learned the Tosafos,
you will see there are thousands of things even these giants did not know how
to answer. And these things are a lot simpler than freedom of choice ... An we
don't even understand the Tosafos.
_________________________________________________________________
Questions:
1)
Where is
2)
Where is Ur Casdim?
3)
Were is Charan?
4)
Timeline: from the beginning of this parsha till the
end of the parsha ....how old was Avraham ...in other
words can you give me a time table of all the stories that happened
Answers:
Canaan
is the son of Cham from whom the nations descended which occupied the
Ur
Kasdim is in Irak (Bavel).
Charan is
further
There
are different interpretations, Seder Olam holds that
the Covenant between pieces mentioned later was when Avraham was 70, while the
beginning of this parsha when Hashem
calls him he was 75. GR"A says everything is in order, he was 70 when he
started travelling. At any rate he was 75 at the
beginning of this parsha (12:4), and he will have Yishmoel when he is 86. Later when Yitzchak is born he will
be 100.
_________________________________________________________________
[Question?]
This
whole dialog Yosef and his brothers telling him about
his dreams and then the brothers planning to kill him, my question is
a)
where was this taking place? Hevron? Beer Sheva?
b)
also were was the dunjen .. were they threw him in ,
what place
c)
also can you give me the rest of the parsha (till the
end) … the timing and were it took place, as you see am very in to this, cause
it gives me more of a better feeling when I learn the parsha.
[Answer:]
a)
Apparently lived in Chevron at that time. That's where he came back to in last parsha.
b)
You mean the "Bor"? The Torah says it was
near Shechem, where they pastured the flock at that
time. Dotan was the place where Yosef's
brothers went to from Shechem. According to Rabbi
Kaplan 15 miles further north of Shechem. My advice
to you is to get The Living Torah, since you are so interested in various
geographic issues, Rabbi Kaplan has it all there...
c)
Yosef was 17 when he was sold. He spent the rest of
his life in
_________________________________________________________________
A)
I wanted to know if you can give me a whole list of who were the Chashmenoim, and the timing.
b)
Who was the head of the
c)
Did Alexander the Great have any role in Chanukah? If yes how? Or if now the
was be born before the story of Chanuka or after?
d)
When did the story of Chanukah happen, and how long was the whole story of
Chanukah?
e)
Who was Yehudis?
f)
What is the Piyut Maoz Tzur?
A)
it's a family. Matityahu and his sons. Their rule
started 34+180 years into the
B)
Not
C)
Alexander was 180 years before.
D)
See Radak Zecharia 11:14
says:
Matityahu
ruled one year
Yehuda
- 6
Yonasan -
6
Shimon
- 18
The
last three are all sons of Matityahu.
D)
According to Ben Ish Chai -
hilchos Chanukka, Yehudis was before in a different setting, she killed an
enemy’s commander through trickery.
F)
The Pijut in general is on various events in our
history, asking Hashem to redeem us and bemoaning the
fact that we did not withstand all these tests and deserved punishment from the
nations.