Rabbi Yishai Natan - Q: Is a hazzan supposed to bow when saying Barechu et Hashem? Should the rest of the kehillah bow when answering Baruch Hashem Hamevorach? A: HaRav Tzelah, Av Bet Din of Tehman (Tachliel Etz Haim 78), writes that the minhag is for the hazzan to bow when he says Barechu, as is stated in the Kol Bo (siman 8). He also brings a Midrash in which Rebbi … [Read more...]
The Rainbow
Rabbi Yishai Natan - In Parashat Noah, after the great Flood destroyed nearly the entire world, Hashem promised Noah that He would never again destroy all living creatures through a worldwide flood. As a sign of this promise, Hashem declared, "אֶת קַשְׁתִּי נָתַתִּי בֶּעָנָן וְהָיְתָה לְאוֹת בְּרִית בֵּינִי וּבֵין הָאָרֶץ" — "I have placed My rainbow in the cloud, and it … [Read more...]
Escape Room Reimbursement
HaRav Yishai Natan - My wife and I reserved an hour at an escape room for ourselves and our two older children. We arranged for a babysitter to watch our two-year-old while we went. Since the escape room was about twenty minutes away, she was supposed to arrive at 6:30 PM. When 6:30 passed and she still had not arrived, I called her several times, but she did not answer. By … [Read more...]
Electric Shavers
HaRav Yishai Natan - Q: What do Sephardic poskim hold about using an electric shaver? A: The Torah says, “velo tash’hit et pe’at zekanecha” — “Do not destroy the corners of your beard” (Vayikra 19:27). The Gemara (Makkot 21a) explains that the prohibition applies to giluah sheyesh bo hash’hatah — shaving that destroys the hair. A razor is the classic example because it … [Read more...]
Halachot of Birkat HaLevanah
HaRav Yishai Natan - In this week’s parashah, Bereshit, the Torah says that Hashem created: ״את שני המאורות הגדולים״ Hazal explain that originally the sun and moon were created the same size. The moon complained, ״אפשר לשני מלכים שישתמשו בכתר אחד?״ — “Can two kings share one crown?” Hashem then told the moon, ״לכי ומעטי את עצמך״ — “Go and make yourself smaller” (Hullin … [Read more...]