4 Sections Shulchan Aruch
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…
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 MoreRav 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 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 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,…
Read MoreBikkur Cholim – Understanding the Obligation
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 view. There is a fascinating Rambam in Hilchos Avel (14:1). It is both fascinating and perhaps slightly confusing at the same time. He writes that…
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