HaRav Yishai Natan - The pasuk says at the beginning of Parashat Nitzavim, "Atem nitzavim hayom kulchem" — “You are all standing today.” The pasuk is obviously not speaking about the halachot of when we have to stand in the Bet Knesset. However, since the pasuk speaks about standing, we will use the opportunity to discuss some of the common situations in which people … [Read more...]
Hilchot Hagba’ah
HaRav Yishai Natan - The Source for Hagba’ah The pasuk in Devarim (27, 26) says: “Arur asher lo yakim et divrei haTorah hazot” — cursed is the person who does not uphold the words of this Torah. The Yerushalmi in Sotah (7:4) says, “Rabbi Shimon ben Yakim omer: zeh hahazzan” — this refers to the hazzan. The Ramban explains that the hazzan refers to the magbiah, the … [Read more...]
STOLEN PARKING SPOT
HaRav Yishai Natan - I went to the grocery store Thursday afternoon to shop for Shabbat. There was a large parking lot shared by several stores, and it was completely jam-packed. I drove around for a few minutes trying to find a parking spot. Finally, I went down one of the aisles just as someone was pulling out. I waited for him to leave the spot and then drove a little … [Read more...]
Q&A – Keriat Shema al HaMita, Should I say Shem Hashem in the beracha of Hamapil?
HaRav Netanel Levihim - The Gemara, Berachot 4b, establishes that reciting Keriat Shema al HaMita — the first paragraph of Shema upon going to bed — is a mitzvah. The Shulhan Aruch, OH 239:1, rules that one should say Shema and afterward recite the beracha of Hamapil. The Bet Yosef writes the reason it should be said close to sleep is in order to to fall asleep with the … [Read more...]
Washing Cup After Using the Bathroom
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...]