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Opening
up the Responsa Literature
The
Responsa Literature is the meeting place between theoretical
Halakha and the practical world. This section brings together
some selections from the Responsa Literature about a variety
of topics. On this page, only the questions appear. Click
to find out the answers and the halakhic background behind
them.
Making
a Blessing over the Omer Even Though One Forgot a Day
Hagaon Rav Shlomo Kluger zt"l in Haelef Lecha
Shelomo
Forgetting
to count the Omer is particularly distressing, especially
missing a full day, because from that day on one can no
longer count with a blessing. One rabbinical judge (in
the 1600s) came up with a creative way for a person in
such a predicament to continue saying the blessing. Question:
Here was his suggestion. That person can act as the shaliach
tzibbur (one that leads the prayers) for Maariv (the evening
prayer). Then, at the end of the service, he can count
the Omer with a blessing for the congregation. Is this
a legitimate solution? Answer
Confusion in Krakow
Rav David Horowitz zt"l in the Piskei Teshuvot
A man
in Krakow became ill with typhus, a highly contagious
disease. He was, thank G-d, sent a cure, but was forced
to remain in the hospital for a month of recuperation.
He naturally asked that his tefillin be sent to him. This
simple request, however, created quite a confusion among
the Torah scholars of Krakow. Because typhus is so contagious,
medical policy was that upon leaving the hospital, all
of the patient's possessions were to be burned. Is it
permissible, they asked, to send tefillin to the recuperating
patient, knowing that doing so will cause their eventual
destruction? Answer
Marrying
Against Parental Wishes
The Maharik, Moreinu Harav Yosef Kolon zt"l
Do
parental objections to a child's choice of marital partner
carry any halakhic weight? Answer
Skimping on Expense Accounts;
Skimping on Spouse Support
The Teshuva MeiAhava, Hagaon Rav Elazar Flekeles zt"l
A
couple having serious marital difficulties came to his
rabbinical court. Though the court was encouraging them
to explore reconciliation they were for the time being
separated. The court, as standard in such situations,
determined an appropriate of money for the wife's support,
and the husband complied. However, the wife, instead
of using the full sum for food, skimped and saved, starving
herself and retaining a portion of the money. The husband
now claims the remainder of the money as his own, based
on Rav Moshe Issurles' (the Rema's) ruling (Even Haezer
70) that if a woman minimizes the amount of support
she takes advantage of, the money is returned to the
husband. Answer
Chumrot and Kullot and Hachnasat
Orchim
The Binyan Tzion, Hagaon Rav Yaakov Ettlinger zt"l
One
person is hosting a guest who is stringent about a certain
halakha. The host himself believes that the guest's
chumra (stringency) has no legitimate basis in halakha.
Both the host and the guest are halakhically knowledgable.
Is it permissible for him to feed his guest food that
his guest believes is forbidden? Answer
Making Birkot Hatorah over Hearing Torah
Hagaon
Rav Shlomo Kluger zt"l in Haelef Lecha Shelomo
Authorities argue about whether one is required to make
Birkot Hatorah before thinking about Torah. According
to the approach that one must (the Shulchan Arukh OC
47:4 rules this way), is it permissible to listen
to words of Torah before making Birkot Hatorah?
Answer
Who Takes Precedence -- Friend or Enemy?
Siftei
Tzaddik, quoted in Piskei Teshuvot
What
should one do if presented with the following dilemma?
Two people simultaneously approach you, each requesting
to borrow the same object from you. One of them is a
friend. The other, though, is someone who, when you
requested to borrow from him, had refused you. Who takes
precedence? Answer
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