Posts by Rabbi Yair Hoffman
Rav Chaim zatzal on Snitching
The Yeshiva had a strict policy: NO CELL PHONES PERMITTED! Yet they knew that there were violators of the policy. But now, they had taken things up a notch. One bochur knew who had the cell phone in question and the Yeshiva was now threatening him that he better tell. That person, would be thrown…
Read MoreKohanim on a Plane Saying Birchas Kohanim
Birkas Kohanim is a Torah obligation found in Sefer BaMidbar (6:22) , “Koh s’vorchu es Bnei Yisrael – thus shall you bless the children of Israel.” Indeed, the Gemorah in Sotah (38b) implies that if a Kohan does not do so, he is in violation of three Torah commandments. Yet, one of the main differences…
Read MoreRav Chaim Kanievsky zatzal: Does an Adult who Undergoes a Bris Milah Bentsch Gomel?
A number of years ago, Sinai Academy placed an advertisement in the Jewish newspapers for people to come to a special siyum. A young man from a secular Russian family was making a Siyum on Bava Basra. The young man had come under the influence of a very special Rebbe that travelled every day from…
Read MoreSilence at the Home of Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer zt”l
Once, Maran Rav Chaim zatzal was at the home of Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer (1870-1953) zt”l. Rav Isser Zalman related to him that the statement of Rav Yoseph on Sotah 49b that humility did not cease to exist because there is “ana” is, actually, not so strange.. How so? Because he had a tradition from…
Read MoreParshas Metzorah – non-Proficiency
Maran Rav Chaim zatzal on Parshas Metzorah Rav Yisrael Lifschitz (1782-1860), author of the Tiferes Yisroel commentary on the Mishna, posed the question as to why there is no longer Tumas Negayim in modern times. Maran Rav Chaim zatzal identified another source that resolves the question – The Midrash Lekach Tov (Parshas Tazria explains that…
Read MoreWhat Should a Bar Mitzvah Boy Take On?
Rav Chaim zatzal on “What Kabalah Should a Bar Mitzvah Bochur Take Upon Himself?” Often, a Bar Mitzvah bochur would inquire of Maran zatzal what kaballah he should take upon himself in light of his impending Bar Mitzvah. Rav Chaim would answer, “Take upon yourself the Mitzvah of Kivud Av v’Aim.” No one around him…
Read MoreMaran Rav Chaim zt”l on The Bracha on Trees in Nissan
Ideally, the bracha on trees should be recited in Nissan. He should shy away from seeing fruit trees during Adar. TWO TREES The minhag is to try to be makpid to say the bracha on two trees and not just one. The rationale for it is that we have a safaik brachos here, and the…
Read MoreParshas Tazria: Sandek and Wealth
Isha ki sazria v’yaldah zachar.. The Ramah writes (YD 265:11) that the Sandek is equated to the Kohain who offers the incense in the Temple, and it is a segulah for becoming wealthy. [The picture above was taken at the Kosel after Rav Chaim zatal and his father, the Steipler Gaon zt”l, went to visit…
Read MoreWindow Open or Closed? Rav Chaim zatzal’s Opinion
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 Rav Chaim zatzal. THE MITZVAH The verse in Parshas VaEschanan (Dvarim 6:18) states, “V’asisa hayashar vehatov and you shall do that which is straight and…
Read MoreThe Book Sales That Happen in Shuls in Eretz Yisroel
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 leave the money in a locked box next to the Seforim. What is the halacha if a customer placed the money in the locked box,…
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