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...]
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...]
Hilchot Yom Kippur
HaRav Yishai Natan - Kiddush Levanah The Rama writes that Kiddush Levanah should be said after Yom Kippur, because Kiddush Levanah should be said when a person is happy. After Yom Kippur, a person is happy that his sins have been forgiven. However, the Mishnah Berurah brings opinions that it is better to say Kiddush Levanah before Yom Kippur, so that a person can … [Read more...]
Who Gets the Hot Poppers?
HaRav Yishai Natan - My tenth-grade classmates and I were sitting in the yeshiva lunch room. It was my friend’s birthday, so his parents had two large hot poppers delivered to the yeshiva for him. He thought he would eat both of them, but after starting the second one, he quickly realized that it was not going to happen. He came over to my table, put the rest of the poppers … [Read more...]