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...]
Listen Up, Everybody
Fulfilling the obligation of Kiddush via listening By Rabbi Moshe Pinchasi Shomea K’Oneh Generally, it is better to do a Mitzvah yourself than have someone do it on your behalf (i.e. Bedikat Hametz, preparing for Shabbat etc.)[1]. However, with regards to Berachot, one does not have to try and recite the Beracha himself, and can rely on hearing it from someone else. The … [Read more...]