Posts by Rabbi Yair Hoffman
6 Brachos Rulings from Maran HaRav Chaim zt”l
Brachos Psakim from Maran HaRav Chaim Kanievsky zatzal Generally speaking the ruling of the Mishna Brurah is that if one is not drinking water for pleasure or thirst then one does not recite a bracha. What if one is drinking cold water on a hot day or hot water on a cold day? The custom…
Read MoreBain HaZ’manim Letter to Yeshiva boys
Four years ago, Maran Sar HaTorah penned a letter regarding 4 obligations that a Yeshiva Bochur has during Bain HaZmanim. The ltter is translated below: Motzai Shabbos Kodesh, Parshas Mishpatim and Shkalim 5778 I would almost have suggested to abolish Bein HaZmanim and outings and other such things altogether. Bain HaZmanim was established solely for…
Read MoreRav Chaim on Barbers and Nail Salons
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 entered. However, some people prefer to wait for the particular barber that they prefer. Essentially, a second (or even third) line forms in that barber…
Read MoreThe Man Who Brought the Steipler and Rav Chaim to Eretz Yisroel
Rav Matityahu Ze’ev Chaim Stiegel (1866 -1960) zatzal was the founder and head of the Beis Yosef Yeshiva in Bnei Brak. He was the one who was zoche to arrange for the Steipler and Rav Chaim to come to Eretz Yisroel. The picture above is that of the Steipler, when he was a Rosh Yeshiva…
Read MoreRav Chaim zatzal on Siyums
Since there will be numerous siyumim this Friday, it is worthwhile to see what Maran Rav Chaim zatzal said about Siyumim, in general. Can a siyum be made – just on Gemorah – without Rashi? If he understands what he learned it is a siyum. Abaya himself who (Shabbos 119a) said, regarding a siyum that…
Read MoreRav Chaim zatzal’s “Chovos” Schedule
So what were Rav Chaim zatzal’s chovos – his daily learning schedule, and what time of day did he learn them? Also, at what age did he begin doing them? This is what he learned from 3:00 AM to 5:00 AM each morning and continued from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. – 8 blatt of…
Read MoreRav Chaim zatzal on Muktzah – 4 Rulings
The Mishna Brurah (308:12) writes that one may not move a Kli shemelachto l’issur u’l’heter letzorech gufo – in order to use it for a permitted purpose if there is a kli shemelachto l’heter available in the house. One may do so, however, if there isn’t a kli shemelachto l’heter easily available. There is no…
Read MoreWhat to Learn for Yenem Machala
A member of a group of Bnei Torah in a Kollel where the yungeleit were Bnei Torah was diagnosed r”l with cancer. The rest of the group wanted to know what they could do for their friend. They approached Rav Chaim zatzal. He inquired of them where the cancer had struck him. They responded that…
Read MoreRav Chaim zatzal – Ain Od Milvado
It was Wednesday, March 20th, 2013. President Barak Obama had arrived in Lod Airport and a pomp arrival ceremony had taken place. The visit was the talk of Israel. At the tarmac, right after the US president descended from Air Force One, the president stood absolutely still with the State of Israel’s government leaders surrounding…
Read MoreRav Chaim zatzal on Motivating Students
A Rosh Yeshiva of a Yeshiva for weaker students posed a question: “My Yeshiva is going through a rough patch currently. What is the best manner in which to strengthen the Torah learning in his Yeshiva? Is it preferable to tell them that the Gedolim are calling for strengthening of Torah learning during this difficult…
Read More