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Last answer posted on: 22 Jun 2008

Questions answered to date: 1427

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Showing 20 Most Recent Questions

Question No.	1489
Category	Halacha (General Jewish Law)
Date Posted	22 May 2008
The Question	Did Rav Moshe (or a gadol/posek of similar ilk) give a heter for not wearing a yamulka at work if someone's parnosa can be harmed by it? —Anonymous, Flushing, NY
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1483
Category	Hashkafa (Jewish Thought/Philosophy)
Date Posted	20 May 2008
The Question	I recently left a Chabad yeshiva to go to a litvishe yeshiva. In Chabad the bochrim have uncut beards, but in my new yeshiva I've been told that because I am a bochur I should shave. Ive been told this is because of Rav Aharon Kotler zt"l who said that a bochur with a beard is like wearing pjyamas with a tie. Does this statement still apply nowadays? Thank you in advance and yasher koach for this web site. —Anonymous, Manchester, UK
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1482
Category	Hashkafa (Jewish Thought/Philosophy)
Date Posted	19 May 2008
The Question	How can I understand G-d's perspective, even a little, when He gives once bright, learned people a sickness like Alzheimers, where everything they stood for falls to the wayside? Chizuk in this topic is sorely needed. —Anonymous, Jeusalem, Israel
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1481
Category	Miscellaneous
Date Posted	17 May 2008
The Question	Hello. I am a junior in high school and lately I have noticed the frequent use of the word "Jew" in a derogatory manner. For example, "don't be such a Jew." It upsets me immensley to hear my religion being equated to inferiority. I was wondering how I should react to such comments; what should I say or do? I feel it is my responsiblity as a Jew to do something, but I don't know how to approach the situation. Thank you in advance for your help. —Anonymous, Vancouver, Canada
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1479
Category	Halacha (General Jewish Law)
Date Posted	15 May 2008
The Question	When I was in Israel, I went to the techeles factory where they believe they've found the 'real' techeles. Afterwards I asked a few rabbanim about the wearing of techeles in general and they explained a person should wear techeles since it's a case of safek doraisa l'chumrah. When I got back to London I asked my Rav where he told me it's assur to wear techeles nowadays. What is the Rav's opinion on this issue and why is there such a shtark contrast between the two psaks? —Anonymous, London
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1478
Category	Understanding Judaism
Date Posted	14 May 2008
The Question	L'kovud harav. We have had same serious shaylos lately and were directed to certain Gedolim who we respected but they did not know us. It seems they answered us correctly, even though initially we had our doubts, we listen to daas Torah. Our great disappointment though and "slap" in the face was the perception that they just didn't care. They did not come across as having any compassion for our situation. I would venture to say that it was somewhat of a chilul Hashem even though they were right - their approach stunk. Is this just a matter of yeridas hadoros? —Anonymous, Baltimore, MD
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1477
Category	Moadim (Times of Year/Holidays)
Date Posted	14 May 2008
The Question	Dear Rav Leff, May one cut one's nose hairs during Sefira? Thank you. —Anonymous, Queens, NY
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1476
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	14 May 2008
The Question	Is it muttar to excersize before davening or is that putting your "chafetzcha" before Hakadosh Boruch Hu? —Yosef Chaim, Washington Heights, NY
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1475
Category	Miscellaneous
Date Posted	12 May 2008
The Question	Lichvod Harav. Regarding the answer you gave to the anonymous resident of Petah Tikvah regarding the size of the population of Eretz Israel before Horban Bayit Sheni, can the same be said regading the 24,000 students of Rebi Akiva? —Sam, Gibraltar
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1474
Category	Marriage Law/Philosophy
Date Posted	11 May 2008
The Question	We are a young Orthodox Jewish couple in America (frum from birth) who had two years of unexplained infertility. We follow Lubavitch customs. My wife was extremely depressed (panic attacks, constant crying) because we had no children, so we called our Lubavitch rav who allowed us to do IUIs. We did two IUIs and they did not work, so our doctor suggested we do IVF which did work. However, we never asked the rav about IVF specifically. We were the only ones at our doctor doing IVF that week, so we are sure it's our child, that is not our worry. Our child is now two years old and we would like to ask our rav if we can do IVF again, but my wife is afraid he will be angry that we didn't ask him the first time or that he will not allow us to do IVF this time and we will have no more children (C"V). What do you suggest we do? I believe she will become extremely depressed if the rav does not allow her to do IVF. We would like to have many children and are excellent parents and have the funds. We have also heard that non-Lubavitch rabbanim are less strict. Please advise. —Anonymous, USA
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1473
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	11 May 2008
The Question	Why do Sephardim say the prayers aloud and did the Ashkenazim at one time also pray out loud and then stopped doing so? If so, when did the change take place? —Nate Pancer
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1472
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	11 May 2008
The Question	What is the difference between the word BARUCH and the word ASHREI as in 'BARUCH Hagever Asher Yivtach B'Hashem' and 'ASHREI Adam Boteach Bach" (in Havdalah) or 'ASHREI Hagever Asher Tiyasrenu Kah'? —J. Kaufman, New York
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1471
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	10 May 2008
The Question	What is the reason and source for a father to cover his sons' heads with his tallis during Birkat Kohanim? Until what age (of his sons) should one do this? If his sons are not with him, should he dafka cover his own head with his tallis? —Anonymous, Beit Shemesh
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1470
Category	Women in Judaism (Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	10 May 2008
The Question	A girl recently asked me if it was OK for her to learn Gemara. I have heard that it is assur. Why is it assur for a girl to be koivea itim? And can the Rav give me a way to respond to this girl? —Anonymous, Miami Beach, Florida
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1468
Category	Marriage Law/Philosophy
Date Posted	8 May 2008
The Question	Should children of divorced parents attend a parent's second wedding? Any advice how to best prepare and help teenage children with this change in their lives? Thank you. —Anonymous, USA
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1466
Category	Women in Judaism (Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	6 May 2008
The Question	Can a Jewish woman donate her eggs to a clinic in return for treatment? —Anonymous, Europe
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1465
Category	Kashrus (Kosher Laws)
Date Posted	5 May 2008
The Question	L'Chavod Harav, why is it mutar to eat canned tuna fish, when Rav Henkin and Rav Moshe both asser it? I know that Rav Aharon and Rav Soloveitchik both paskened it's OK, but I am wondering why, especially by the din d'oraisa of bedikas simonim. —Yosef Chaim, New York
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1464
Category	Marriage Law/Philosophy
Date Posted	30 Apr 2008
The Question	I have some technical questions concerning the halakha on rape. I had enquired of a Rabbi Ullman, but he said that he hadn't the time to answer. He also indicated that these were difficult questions and he recommended I contact you. Deuteronomy 22:29 mandates that a rapist must marry his victim, and moreover that he can never unilaterally dissolve the marriage. b. Ketubot 39b mandates that in the case of child rape, the victim has the right to refuse the marriage. Rambam, in sefer hilchot na'arah betulah, says that a rape victim or her father have the prerogative to refuse the marriage, but, in contrast to case of a seducer, if the marriage is desired, then the rapist must marry the girl. Rambam goes on to specify that in this case, the girl is not granted a ketubah, because the man cannot divorce her. Here are my questions: (1) Suppose that the rape victim and her father did desire the marriage. How would this marriage be ritually conducted? Is there any ceremony or documentation associated with it (since there is apparently no ketubah)? (2) If the rape victim and her father desire the marriage and the marriage is enacted, it is clear that the husband can never initiate divorce proceedings. But what if the wife, at some time in the future, desires a divorce? Is this possible? Normally in Jewish law a wife cannot initiate a divorce, but clearly this case is exceptional as there is no ketubah. Is there any mechanism by which she could unilaterally dissolve the marriage? (3) Suppose the rape victim is a qetanah, and the girl and her father desire the marriage (since otherwise she might have poor prospects in the future). How is this marriage effected? Doesn't the girl continue to live under her father's roof until she is a na'arah or a bogeret? If you could provide citations for the halakha in each case, that would be greatly appreciated. —Sam Meyerson, Chicago, IL USA
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1463
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	29 Apr 2008
The Question	I'm curious as to why the Rav of a shul sits facing the kehilla rather than facing forward as do the rest of the kehilla? Thanks. —Anonymous, Israel
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1462
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	28 Apr 2008
The Question	Lichvod HaRav. When bentching we add "Tehilat Hashem y'daber pi" and many guests have told us that this is not said if you live in Israel and especially in Jerusalem. Can you please clarify? Thank you in advance. —Anonymous, Ramat Bet Shemesh
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

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