May one eat or drink in a Bet Kenesset or Bet Midrash? By Rabbi Moshe Pinchasi[1] As a designated place for Tefilla and Avodat Hashem, a Bet HaKenesset or Bet Midrash warrants proper respect. The Gemara in Mesechet Megilla[2] details the appropriate conduct in these holy places. Needless to say, any conduct which is openly disrespectable is completely forbidden. Yet, even … [Read more...]
Good Night, Moon
Can Birkat HaLevana be recited only at night? By Rav Mordechai Lebhar / Senior Posek for the SHC and Rosh Kollel LINK, Los Angeles While the general Minhag is to recite Birkat HaLevana on Motza’e Shabbat, it may often be necessary to recite it on a weekday due to cloudy skies. This can pose a potential Halachic issue for those who pray Arvit and want to recite Birkat HaLevana … [Read more...]
Opting Out?
Can one opt-out of his household’s Hadlakah and light with a Beracha? The Sephardic Halacha Journal - Kislev 5777 BY RAV MORDECHAI LEBHAR, Rosh Kollel Link Los Angeles, author of Magen Avot and Posek for the SHC and Bet HaVa’ad One of the important discussions around the lighting of the Hanukkah candles, pertains to the Sephardic Minhag that only one Menorah is lit per … [Read more...]
Donut Season
Are donuts a bread, a cookie, or something in between? By Rabbi Moshe Pinchasi The month of Kislev is upon us, and the age-old tradition of eating donuts (Sufganiyot) on Hanukkah is already is enjoying the usual pre-season. This brings to mind a number of questions that are discussed in the Poskim, revolving around the issue of how we classify a donut regarding the laws of … [Read more...]
IS THE BIRD KOSHER?
Identifying a bird species as Kosher Adapted by Rabbi Ariel Ovadia[1] The No-Eat List The Torah in Parashat Shemini and Re’eh identifies 24 species of non-kosher birds. Based on the Gemara, Maran rules[2] that if one can identify these 24 forbidden types of birds, one can eat any bird that is not on the list. However, it seems like even in the time of the Hachamim of the … [Read more...]