HaRav Yishai Natan - The pasuk says, “Veyated tihyeh lecha al azenecha.” When going out to war, a person was required to take a shovel with him. Why would someone need a shovel when going to war? A sword makes sense, but why a shovel? The pasuk explains, “Vechisita et tze’atecha.” After going to the bathroom, a person had to cover up his waste. We won’t discuss the … [Read more...]
Paying For The Broken Grill
HaRav Yishai Natan - My friend wanted to buy a barbecue grill that was on sale at Home Depot. Since he has a small car and I have a pickup truck, he asked whether I would be going there soon. I told him that I would be nearby the next day, so he asked me to buy the grill and bring it to his house. I agreed. I purchased the grill with my credit card and placed it in the back … [Read more...]
Q&A – Time for Selihot
HaRav Netanel Levihim - When is the best time to say Selihot? Can I say it at Night? Maran in Shulhan Aruch, (Orah Haim siman 581) writes that the minhag is to recite Selihot by Ashmoret from Rosh Hodesh Elul until Yom Kippur. The reason for reciting Selihot is based on the Pirkeh DeRabbi Eliezer, which writes that this was the time Moshe Rabbenu went up to ask Hashem … [Read more...]
Q&A – SELIHOT WITHOUT A MINYAN
HaRav Netanel Levihim - Can One Say the Yud Gimmel Midot Without a Minyan? And Which Parts of Selihot Can Only Be Said With a Minyan? The Tur in Orah Haim 565brings down from Rav Natan that a person should not say the Yud Gimmel Midot without a minyan. The Tur himself, however, writes that he is not certain what the issue is, and why it is not like any other pasuk in the … [Read more...]
LENDING WITHOUT WITNESSES
HaRav Yishai Natan - Last week, I lent my friend $2,000. I thought I was performing a great mitzvah by helping him when he needed money. However, when I told my brother what I had done, he said that it may have been closer to an averah than a mitzvah. He claimed that a person is not allowed to lend money without witnesses. I told him that I had never heard of such a rule. … [Read more...]