What type of soap is permitted on Shabbos?

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Vol. 1 Iss. 28 פרשת במדבר       Dvar Torah               By: Rabbi Goldman                   The Mishna in Pirkei Avos tells us "Spend less time taking care of our general needs and learn more Torah". It is clear from this mishna that it is very important to recognize what our general needs are and that we must take care of them. Despite the importance of Torah, we must spend time being involved in other matters. However the mishna tells us that we must try to minimize our involvement with our general needs as much as we can in order to learn as much as possible. Finding the correct balance is very difficult.        The Medrash tells us that David Hamelech said about himself that he was constantly faced with this challenge of trying to determine how to spend his time (when to be learning and when to be involved with his other responsibilities). It was only due to his incredible desire and recognition of the importance of learning that he was able to make the correct decisions. If we are able to recognize the importance of learning we too will make the correct decisions. The Mishna is telling us to recognize the importance of Torah and thereby prioritize enough time to our Torah learning.             Dvar Halacha        By: R' Chananya Berman Question:   What type of soap is one permitted to use on Shabbos? Discussion:   One of the Av Melachos on Shabbos is Scraping (ממחק). A toldah of this is smoothing (ממרח). We will first discuss how this applies to soap and then we will give other examples of items where this melacha is involved. One is not permitted to use a bar of soap because he is smoothing out the bar as he lathers up his hands with it. This was especially true in earlier times when the bars of soap were not necessarily as smooth as we have today. However, many poskim agree that one is still not permitted to use a bar of soap on Shabbos (Iggros Moshe Vol. 1 Ch. 113).         Liquid soap, according to may poskim, may be used on Shabbos.  However, Rav Moshe zt"l held that there is a question about using liquid soap. He concludes the teshuva by saying "that in my house I am machmir, and that is what one should do". If one mixes the soap with water before Shabbos then everyone would agree that one may use it on Shabbos (The Shabbos Home page 381). If one did not mix the soap before Shabbos one should ask a rav if it is permitted to mix it on Shabbos.  Summary        One may use liquid soap on Shabbos according to most poskim. If one wants to avoid all doubts he should mix it with water before Shabbos as this would be acceptable to all poskim. A bar of soap should not be used on Shabbos at all.                For all practical questions please ask your Rav.         Gemara Shiur 30 Min before Shacharis, given by Rabbi  Goldman. Halacha Shiur preceding maariv at Ahavas Yisroel 9:00-9:30 Monday and Thursday, given by R' Chananya Berman.   For any comments or suggestion please email Kollelboker@hotmail.com or speak to Rabbi Goldman These times are for NYC only   For times out of NYC please click  Myzmanim.com Shabbos zimanim are: Candle lighting                 7:58 Sh'kea                             8:16 Sof Zman Kriyas shma   9:10 Mogen Avroham             8:34

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Can I open the hood of the stroller on shabbos?

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Vol. 1 Iss. 27 פרשת בחוקותי       Dvar Torah               By: Rabbi Goldman           The Mishna in Perkei Avos tells us that the world stands on 3 things(Torah/Avoda/Chesed).  Rabbeinu Yonah's understanding of these words is that Hashem's purpose for creating the world was for these 3 things to occur (For people to learn torah and daven and to help each other).     This mishna really seems to highlight the significance of all 3 of these actions.There are so many parts to Hashems amazing universe and everything was created in order to bring about these things.       It is our great privilege and honor to be able to be involved with these amazing mitzvos. We can really be motivated to daven learn and do chesed if we appreciate the significance of these actions.               Dvar Halacha        By: R' Chananya Berman Question:   Can I open the hood on the stroller to protect my child from the elements? Discussion:  On Shabbos one is not allowed to make an ohel (a tent). This is a subcategory of the melacha of boneh. Chazal prohibited making a temporary roof as a precaution against making a permanent one (Shulchan Aruch 316:1).      Many poskim (including the Chazon Ish) say that in the case of a canopy on a stroller that was attached before shabbos there would be no problem of opening it on Shabbos. The reason for this is Chazal were not concerned about a case in which the canopy was totally assembled before Shabbos and just needed to be opened.       However, Rav Moshe zt"l held that one should not rely on this opinion. Rather, he says that one should only open the hood on Shabbos if prior to Shabbos it was already opened at least a tefach. The reason for this is you are only adding onto the roof not creating it (Iggros Moshe Vol. 4 Ch. 105:3).      Closing the hood     The same dispute is found the opposite way when we talk about closing the hood. According to Rav Moshe zt"l one should not close the hood entirely, on Shabbos, as this would constitute dismantling a roof. However, if one left at least a tefach open that would be okay. One the other hand the opinion that held one would be allowed to open the hood would say that one would also be permitted to close the hood on Shabbos.                 For all practical questions please ask your Rav.     Food For Thought   Why is there no bracha of שהחיינו recited before the mitzvah of sefiras haomer?          Gemara Shiur 30 Min before Shacharis, given by Rabbi  Goldman. Halacha Shiur preceding maariv at Ahavas Yisroel 9:00-9:30 Monday and Thursday, given by R' Chananya Berman.   For any comments or suggestion please email Kollelboker@hotmail.com or speak to Rabbi Goldman These times are for NYC only   For times out of NYC please click  Myzmanim.com Shabbos zimanim are: Candle lighting                 7:51 Sh'kea                             8:09 Sof Zman Kriyas shma   9:12 Mogen Avroham             8:36

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What do I do if my glasses broke on Shabbos?

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Vol. 1 Iss. 26 פרשת בהר       Dvar Torah               By: Rabbi Goldman      The first Mishna in פרקי אבות brings down the concept of עשו סיג לתורה - make a fence for the Torah. The Mishna is teaching us that there are two types of restrictions; ones that were commanded by Hashem, and the ones we must make for ourselves.       The concept of creating our own restrictions must be understood; because if the Torah did not say that it is prohibited, why would we restrict ourselves from it? The Mishna describes these restrictions in the context of being a fence around the Torah. The fence represents a protection for the Torah. This tells us that the prohibitions that we create are not prohibited because there is something wrong with that action. Rather, they are acts that are prohibited for the purpose of protecting us from not coming to transgress the actual עבירה itself.      Rabbenu Yona explains that we may have the capacity to refrain from doing the עבירה even if we don't take this extra precaution. However, there are many times that we may face certain challenges that are difficult to pass, had we avoided the situation initially then we would be more likely to pass the challenge. If it is important to us not to do the עבירה then it is likely that we wouldn't rely on our ability to avoid the עבירה because we know that we are vulnerable and we may fail. Instead, we would make sure to avoid the situation entirely and increase our chances of passing. On the other hand if. by taking on these restrictions, we lose sight of our ultimate goal and become distracted from focusing on the עבירה then these "fences" are counterproductive. We always have to weigh our actions against what the outcome will be, with a focus on what Hashem wants from us. Knowing this will help us make the right decisions in life. Have a great Shabbos!                  Dvar Halacha        By: R' Chananya Berman Question:   The screw popped out of my glasses, what do I do? Discussion:  The halacha is that if an object breaks on Shabbos under certain conditions it becomes Muktzah (Shulchan Aruch 308:6,16). We will try to clarify the different scenarios that could happen.      If the screw pops out        The first situation we will discuss is the screw pops out and the lens does not stay in place. In this situation the glasses would become mukztah and you would not be allowed to use or move them. The reason is Chazal were concerned that you will replace the screw which is prohibited to do on Shabbos. If the screw is lost and it's not possible to replace it on Shabbos then the glasses would not become muktzah.  Similarly if one dose not have a screwdriver that size, the glasses would not be muktzah. Furthermore, one would be permitted to fix them in a temporary fashion. However, if it is common for people to have these screws or screwdrivers in their homes, then even if one lost the screw he would not be able to use the glasses.      If the lens pops  out or the temple gets disconnected       If the lens pops out and one can put it back in a temporary way then he would be allowed to do this on Shabbos. However, if the only way to put it back is to screw it back it then one would not be allowed to do this on Shabbos and the glasses would become muktzah. If one temple was disconnected then the glasses  are not muktzah because one can use the glasses with only one temple (אז נדברו ח"ח סל"ג). If both temples become disconnected then all of the pieces would become muktzah unless one can fix them in a temporary way. A rav should be consulted whether they can be worn outside without a eruv. Additionally,a rav should be consulted as to what is considered temporary. However, if the temple snaps in half then the temple would be muktzah because it has no use on Shabbos.  If the frame itself is broken then all the pieces are muktzah because it has no use for Shabbos.                           .                  For all practical questions please ask your Rav.     Food For Thought      According to the opinion that says the entire sefira is one long mitzvah, why do we make a bracha every night? We should either make one bracha on the first night as we are about to begin this mitzva or we should make one bracha on the last night when we are sure that we will finish the mitzvah?     Gemara Shiur 30 Min before Shacharis, given by Rabbi  Goldman. Halacha Shiur preceding maariv at Ahavas Yisroel 9:00-9:30 Monday and Thursday, given by R' Chananya Berman.   For any comments or suggestion please email Kollelboker@hotmail.com or speak to Rabbi Goldman These times are for NYC only   For times out of NYC please click  Myzmanim.com Shabbos zimanim are: Candle lighting                 7:45 Sh'kea                             8:03 Sof Zman Kriyas shma   9:15 Mogen Avroham             8:39

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What are some of the restrictions of Sefira?

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Vol. 1 Iss. 25 פרשת אמור       Dvar Torah               By: Rabbi Goldman       The first Mishna in פרקי אבות quotes a statement of the אנשי כנסת הגדולה. They tell us הוו מתונים בדין when a person is making a decision in "judgment" he should not rush to make the decision; rather, he should be slow and careful.    Rabbenu Yona explains that the Mishna is teaching us that it is very difficult for a person to have the clarity that is needed in order to come to the correct conclusions in life. There are two reasons for this. Sometimes people make mistakes about matters that they should really know about. Sometimes situations are  complicated and it is difficult to recognize and understand the factors appropriately in order to come to the correct conclusion. However, when we take our time  and we analyze our thoughts correctly, we can often see what we have overlooked. We can also think of new ideas that we have not thought of yet.       Rabbenu Yona says that this is not merely advice; rather, it is part of a person's responsibilities. Since coming to the correct conclusions in life are often very important, and being slow and careful is a way to reach the correct decision, it is therefore irresponsible to trust our judgement and make quick decisions.      It seems that the process is necessary even for very smart people, because the Mishna is directly addressing the judges. Every person will make mistakes when he rushes his decisions; everyone will benefit from carefully analyzing his thoughts and decision. Knowing the correct way to approach a challenging situation is already half the solution. Have a great Shabbos!                  Dvar Halacha        By: R' Chananya Berman Question:   What are some of the restrictions of Sefira? Discussion:  First we will discuss what the restrictions are and then we will see when they apply. The first restriction that is mentioned in the Shulchan Aruch (493) is not to get married during this time. To merely become engaged would be permitted. Another restriction is not to take a haircut or shave, and the final restriction is not to listen to music. Interestingly enough this last restriction is not brought in the Shulchan Aruch. However, it has been accepted universally (Aruch Hashulchan ibid).      The Mishna Berura write that one is permitted to make a שהחיינו during this time period. One should ask his own rav in regards to listening to a cappella music as there are different opinions on the matter.       Why do these restrictions apply?     The reason why we have these restrictions is in the time of Rabbi Akiva there was a plague that wiped out all 24,000 talmidim of his. The Gemara says that the land was desolate of torah until the famous five talmidim of Rabbi Akiva that came after this group brought back the torah learning. As a side point one opinion is that the reason why we celebrate the 33rd day of the omer is that was the day when Rabbi Akiva gave smecha to these five talmidim.      Another reason given for this mourning is many times in history especially in the middle ages there were many pogroms during these months. This is why we say Av Harachamim on shabbos even when we bentch Rosh Chodesh; something that we normally do not say the rest of the year.    When do these restrictions apply?       There are basically four customs as to when these restrictions apply. The first one which is the opinion of the Mechaber is that until the 34th day during the day one would not be permitted to do any of these things. The second one which is brought by the Rema is from the 1st to the 33rd day of the omer. The next opinion is from the second day of Rosh Chodesh Iyyar until Erev Shavous. The Fourth one is from the first day of Rosh Chodesh until the third day of Sivan.       Each custom has its reasons as to why they start and end at different times. However, according to all customs (except the first opinion) the 33rd day during the day time, has no restrictions. Any custom that one follows is good, but one must followed; he can't take the leniencies of both. If someone needs to change his custom for any reason, he should ask a rav what to do.       .                  For all practical questions please ask your Rav.     Food For Thought      We know that on Yom Tov we keep two days because of ספיקא דיומא. Why don't we count two days each night of sefira for this same reason (for example we would say tonight is five days in the omer, tonight is six days in the omer.)?         Gemara Shiur 30 Min before Shacharis, given by Rabbi  Goldman. Halacha Shiur preceding maariv at Ahavas Yisroel 9:00-9:30 Monday and Thursday, given by R' Chananya Berman.   For any comments or suggestion please email Kollelboker@hotmail.com or speak to Rabbi Goldman These times are for NYC only   For times out of NYC please click  Myzmanim.com Shabbos zimanim are: Candle lighting                 7:38 Sh'kea                             7:56 Sof Zman Kriyas shma   9:19 Mogen Avroham             8:43

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