Orach Chayim

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Rav Chaim zatzal on Lag BaOmer

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman | May 22, 2024
A question was posed to Maran Rav Chaim zatzal regarding Lag BaOmer: What exactly is the joy that on Lag BaOmer the students of Rabbi Akiva ceased dying?  They were...
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When You Don’t Have Water..

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman | May 6, 2022
It happens every so often, that one does not have water available.  The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 4:22) addresses this issue and writes that in such a situation one should...
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Attending a Sefardic Minyan For a Shidduch

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman | May 5, 2022
Someone posed a question to Maran Rav Chaim zt"l about shidduchim: There are numerous young men and you women that are having difficulty finding their zivug. Does Maran have a...

Yoreh De'ah

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Bikkur Cholim – Understanding the Obligation

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman | March 27, 2022
WHAT IS OUR OBLIGATION OF BIKKUR CHOLIM? There appears to be three major halachic approaches to the important Mitzvah of Bikkur Cholim, and among them Maran Rav Chaim Kanievsky zatzal’s...

Giving Tzedakah With a Smile

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman | March 26, 2022
In Yore De’ah 249:3, the Mechaber cites the halacha that one must give tzedakah, charity, with a smile, with joy and good-heartedly.  When there is a poor person, one should...

Even Ha-Ezer

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Broken Engagements

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman | May 12, 2022
Reb Naftali Weinberg in his Rav Chaim Kanievsky on Shidduchim had posed a queestion to Maran Sar HaTorah about whether one may ask a Shadchan to return the shadchanus if...
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Rav Chaim zatzal on Wedding Costs

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman | May 11, 2022
It is well-known that wedding expenses are one of the most enormous costs that parents can have. Reb Naftali Weinberger shlita (printed in his new Sefer, "Rav Chaim Kanievsky on...
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Maran Rav Chaim zt”l and More on Younger Siblings and Shidduchim

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman | May 10, 2022
It was why Yaakov Avinu married Leah prior to his marrying Rochel, and it is something that comes up over and over again. Yet, notwithstanding its frequency, people have only...

Choshen Mishpat

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Rav Chaim on Barbers and Nail Salons

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman | April 14, 2022
Someone once posed the following question to Rav Chaim zatzal regarding barbers.  It is the custom when one enters a barber shop to wait in line based upon when you...
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Window Open or Closed? Rav Chaim zatzal’s Opinion

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman | March 28, 2022
When the weather gets cold, there are often disputes as to whether to keep the window open or closed. And often, halacha gets quoted. What follows is the view of...
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The Book Sales That Happen in Shuls in Eretz Yisroel

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman | March 27, 2022
There is a new type of Seforim-selling that has been happening in Shuls throughout Eretz Yisroel. The books are left in boxes outside of shul. The purchaser is instructed to...