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...]
CUTTING DOWN A FRUIT TREE
HaRav Yishai Natan - The Torah says: “When you besiege a city for many days to wage war against it and capture it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an axe against them, for you may eat from them, and you shall not cut them down.” (Devarim 20:19) The Torah tells us that when laying siege to a city, we may not cut down its fruit trees. Since the trees provide … [Read more...]
Halachot of Erev & Tisha Be’av
HaRav Yishai Natan - Listen to the shiur below Seudah Mafseket — The Final Meal Before Tish’a BeAv As we approach Tish’a BeAv, one of the most misunderstood areas of halachah is the Seudah Mafseket, the final meal before the fast. Many people are unsure what they may or may not eat. There are essentially two accepted ways to observe the Seudah Mafseket. First, we will … [Read more...]
Q&A – Laundering Clothing During שבוע שחל בו
HaRav Netanel Levihim - Question May I do laundry, use a dry cleaner, or wear freshly laundered clothing during the week in which Tisha B'Av falls? Answer The Mishnah in Gemara Taanit 26b teaches that one may not launder clothing during the week in which Tisha B'Av falls. The Gemara debates whether this applies even to clothing meant to be worn only after Tisha … [Read more...]