Rav Chaim zatzal on Lag BaOmer

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 all gone – there were no more left!  That’s why they stopped dying. Rav Chaim answered:  Most of them died, but a minority were left. …

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When You Don’t Have Water..

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 use a midi d’menaki – an item that cleans.  The question is, however, how is this done?  Does one merely wipe both sides of the…

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Attending a Sefardic Minyan For a Shidduch

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 suggestion for them? Rav Chaim t”l suggested that they should have in mind during Birchas Kohanim that their zivug come quicker. The question was further…

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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…

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Bain 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…

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Rav 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…

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Rav 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…

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Kohanim 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…

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