Rav 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…

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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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What 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…

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Rav 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…

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Rav 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…

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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…

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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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Silence 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…

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