Living the halachic process

Shortening P’sukei D’Zimra in Order to Catch Up

In the Shulchan Aruch, Rav Yosef Karo rules, based on Ge’onim and Rishonim, that one should shorten P’sukei...

Skipping to Shemoneh Esrei and Making up What Was Missed

If you can find a way whereby your friend will accept your critique in the good spirit that...

Preference of Davening in a Shul

The short answer is that there probably is a small preference. The gemara states: “A person’s prayer is...

Making Up a Tefilla with No Net Gain

We will start with a discussion that is connected to your cases. If one forgot to daven Mincha,...

Eating Before Davening in Order to Daven with a Minyan

The gemara cites and explains two p’sukim relating to eating before davening: 1) “Do not eat on the...

A Chazan Wearing Short Pants

When an individual davens, he is standing before HaShem, and he should therefore be dressed respectably. The Shulchan...

A Minyan Split between Adjacent Rooms

First, we will deal with the “under one roof” claim. In the context of discussing the eating of...

Lack of Unity in a “Unified” Minyan

We will begin with some clarifications that should lower the partisan resolve of the different participants. On the...

The Need for a Mechitza in the Absence of a Minyan

We will begin our answer with some sources that serve as the basis for the need for a...

Delay between Birkat Kohanim and Sim Shalom

The gemara indeed states that the kohanim should not turn around until the chazan begins Sim Shalom. Therefore,...

Reciting the Three Parshiyot of Shema Before Davening

Actually, according to Torah law, one is not required to recite the Parashat Tzitzit, the third parasha of...

The Kaddish after Kri’at HaTorah

We will begin by clarifying your second question, and that should help answer your first question as well....

Mistakes in the Reading of the Haftara

While we will discuss the issues regarding the various practices and paint a picture of halachic preferences, a...

Listening to Laining during Shemoneh Esrei

This question is not found in classical sources, but there is much to learn from similar cases that...

Permissibility of a Personal Beracha

Your assumption that one’s relationship with HaShem should be personal and overflowing is poignantly and refreshingly correct. On...

The Halachic Status of Gluten-Free Cakes

Health experts generally agree that oats can be used as a wheat substitute for gluten-intolerant people (depending on...

Continuing to Eat Based on an Initial Beracha

There are two basic halachic precedents and one major distinction regarding the halachot that apply in this case....

Birkat HaMazon for Those Who Have Left their Place of Eating

Regarding your first question of whether you are allowed to come back to bentch where you ate, the...

Reciting Tefillat HaDerech by Microphone

Tefillat HaDerech is an obligatory prayer asking for protection from the potential dangers of traveling. Since it was...

Beracha on a Newly Renovated Home

The mishna says that one who builds a new house or buys new “utensils” recites the beracha of...

HaMapil for Those Who Take a Long Time to Fall Asleep

Reciting the beracha of HaMapil before going to sleep is mandated by the gemara and codified as halacha....

Time Limit on HaGomel After Birth

Historically, there was a long-standing and prevalent minhag that women did not recite Birkat HaGomel at all. Nowadays...

Flying a Kite on Shabbat

The mishna lists several gezeirot (Rabbinical injunctions) prohibiting certain actions on Shabbat and Yom Tov lest one come...

Returning Chulent with Bones to the Fire

We will begin our discussion with a fascinating machloket about cooking bones between two of the great poskim...

Heating Up Bread on Shabbat

There is much to say on the topic of reheating fully cooked foods on a hot plate on...

Using a Shabbat Clock for an Urn

Although we accept the opinion among the Rishonim that it is forbidden on Shabbat to reheat boiled water...

Using Salt to Absorb Spilled Wine on Shabbat

The melacha of melaben (literally, whitening, but for our purposes, laundering) can be accomplished in different ways. We...

Giving an Envelope on Shabbat to Use for Donations

Each congregation’s rabbi should set policy on such halachic issues, but after a discussion of the issue, we...

Removing a Licked Candy from Amongst Clean Ones on Shabbat

In order for there to be a question of borer, there has to be a basic level of...

Keep the Beat?

The mishna forbids one to clap, bang with his hands on his thighs, or dance on Shabbat, and...