Comment by MichoelR on Making matzah at home
@DoubleAA I got a friend (R' Moshe Schuchman from Star-K) to talk to R' Heinemann. He still sounded like he was being guarded, but I think agreed that there is no real time limit. But, you need to be...
View ArticleThe Alter Rebbe's view of reviewing Torah - is it followed in practice?
Related: comment thread in What should a Jew learn regularly?In the end of the Shulchan Aruch Harav Yoreh Deah, chelek ה, the Alter Rebbe has a wonderful exposition on the laws of Talmud Torah. In...
View ArticlePTIJ Essssssssssssssssssssssther's angels [closed]
The gemara Megillah 15b says that three malachim (angels) helped Esther as she came before the...
View ArticleAnswer by MichoelR for PTIJ Essssssssssssssssssssssther's angels
Of course, the answer is clear: The gemara is really going on the רישא (literally!), the action of the first malach, who "lifted up her neck" - a part of her body. She had a very regal neck, two amot...
View ArticleEvidence that Yaakov did the right thing in fooling his father to get the...
I see a lot of questions on the topic, but maybe not one that is this specific. I'd like to know, when Yaakov Avinu (with Rivka his mother) went to fool Yitzchak and get the brachos, is there evidence...
View ArticleLeather straps for practicing tefillin knots
There are various instructional YouTube videos (such as this, et al), and diagrams (at the end of some Mishnah Berurahs, for instance), that explain how to tie the the various tefillin knots: e.g....
View ArticleJumping elephants
There has been a conflict for a while between Orthodox Jews, some of them gedolim, concerning works by a certain author. One of the points of conflict is something he said about a Tosefos in Kiddushin...
View ArticleHeter Bamos and the Aron Hakodesh
Zevachim 118b-119a is discussing the heter bamos during the period when the Mishkan was in Nov and Giv'on, for 57 years. It mentions a fact that I found astonishing (I suppose many others knew it...
View ArticleAnswer by MichoelR for What is the proper approach to a novel idea in Torah?
I recall that the Aruch Hashulchan comments on the prohibition of learning Torah on Tishah B'av, with permission to learn certain parts, but even those without depth: He says, It is impossible to learn...
View ArticleLessons of the mann?
I think it is understood that the מן ("mann", manna) has a lot to teach us about Hashem's hashgacha (providence) over us and how he sustains us with parnassah. The Torah even prescribes (Exodus...
View ArticleAnswer by MichoelR for Lessons of the mann?
I'll suggest some myself, based on various parts of the story:Parnassah comes from Hashem.Even if you work harder, you won't make more than Hashem allots to you. [Not, say, Everyone gets exactly the...
View ArticleShimush: Mar'os on Niddah - why does it work?
In Hilchos Niddah, expertise in מראות, examining bedikos or kesamim (intentional examinations, or accidental stains on the woman's undergarments) to decide if they are tamei - which would make the...
View ArticleParshas Yisro - Asking Moshe Rabbeinu directly: who got to listen?
Early in Parshas Yisro, Yisro noticed that Moshe was answering questions all day long. He asked Moshe about...
View ArticleBaal Haleshem on Bitachon
I have seen several people mention the position of the R' Shlomo Elyashiv z"l, the "Baal Haleshem", on trust, bitachon. He seems to be one of the main sources for a position different from the famous...
View ArticleBaking matzah on tin foil
The poskim bring down (in OH 461) that there are people who bake matzah on a piece of paper. They all seem to say that you should not do it, but if you did the paper won't stop the heat from getting to...
View ArticleMiluim- Blood from the mizbeach
The miluim sacrifices (Parshas Tetzaveh, Parshas Tzav) have a number of features that are unique. One of the most remarkable to me is Exodus...
View ArticleFour Gates - ארבעהשערים
The Tur OH 428 describes a system for finding the year's calendar based only on (a) the molad of this year's Tishrei, and (b) knowing which of last year, this year, and next year are regular or leap...
View ArticleAnswer by MichoelR for Four Gates - ארבעהשערים
Anyhow, I made one בע"ה, at https://michoelr.github.io/Keviyus/FourGates/FourGates.htm. I would love to hear comments and suggestions - web design is not my core skill at all.A few points about using...
View ArticleComment by MichoelR on Matzah baking in a frying pan - flipping the matzah
Judging from youtube, I see a number of bakeries where they don't flip the matzah because they don't need to, but occasionally do when it's needed, like they want to leave one matzah while they pick up...
View ArticleBaking matzah erev Pesach after chatzos
The Shulchan Aruch OH 458 says that the minhag is to make the matzos mitzvah for the Seder Night on Erev Pesach after noon (chatzos).נוהגיםשלאללושמצתמצוהבערבפסחעדאחרשששעותשהואזמןהקרבתקרבןפסחIt is...
View ArticleAnswer by MichoelR for Why is future tense used in Esther 3:2?
See also the Megilas S'tarim from the Nesivos, who says that it means that it never even occurred to him, though it was definitely the right thing to do, because sometimes Hashem just causes tzaddikim...
View ArticlePoreach and michyah in Negaim
I've been trying to learn the middle perakim in Negaim (say, 6 through 8), and I'm having trouble with what seems like a simple question on many of the mishnayos:A מחיה is usually translated as,...
View ArticleNegaim, definition of "poreach", spreading completely
The Torah in discussing tzoraas gives a remarkable law about its spreading (Vayikra...
View ArticleComment by MichoelR on Why was Mordechai Certain of רוחוהצלהיעמוד if he...
Nonetheless, Joel K's summary of him is obviously true. His proof from Moses Mendelssohn is just a קלוחומר. (Unless you can find cases of his being praised by traditional rabbis.)
View ArticleComment by MichoelR on Why was Mordechai Certain of רוחוהצלהיעמוד if he...
I couldn't find the Ramban's hakdamah on Sefaria to quote, so I took the easy way out...
View ArticleComment by MichoelR on Practice for Shechita
@DoubleAA Yeah, my son got practice that way in Israel, on all the non-hens that were born. Zillions of roosters. It seemed to be standard practice.
View ArticleComment by MichoelR on What are the relevance of the first three posukim of...
Worth mentioning that the exact same thing happens in the haftarah of Vayeira: It ends with the story of the Isha Hashunamis and her unexpected baby, which seems similar to the story of Sarah and hers....
View ArticleShevuah worded in the negative
I've been bothered for a long time: Throughout Tanach, shevuos (oaths) and brisos (covenants) are phrased in the negative (where it doesn't just say, I swear __, like בינשבעתי ___). Generally language...
View ArticleYaakov, Lavan, and the sheep deal(s)
Yaakov tells Lavan that "You changed my wages ten times." [Chazal: actually a hundred times.] It's a sad story. If Lavan had just given Yaakov normal wages, מחציתשכר - splitting the outcome - or some...
View ArticleTzoraas on clothing: the Torah describing which types of clothing?
In the section on negaim on clothing, the first posuk describes various types that get...
View ArticleComment by MichoelR on The Era of Judges was Transient; Why Does the Ramban...
I think your question assumes that Samson's fate was a sad accident, and the Ramban assumes that it was hashgacha, and proof that the system of Judges was ultimately flawed and incapable of complete...
View ArticleComment by MichoelR on Why Is it against Halacha to warn a sinner?
I think this is way too general. Sometimes you shouldn't warn someone if you already know they aren't listening. Sometimes you need to anyhow.
View ArticleComment by MichoelR on A Chassidic story about the Moon
Really it sounds like a parable that discusses the actual text of the monthly prayer we say, "kiddush levanah" sefaria.org/…
View ArticleComment by MichoelR on Story about moving on in life?
Aharon after the death of his sons in Parshas Shemini sefaria.org/Leviticus.10.1?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en
View ArticleAnswer by MichoelR for Why isn't there confirmation outside the Reform Movement?
Well, I grew up with a Reform Temple, and we in our grade had a confirmation. It was widely regarded as a way to keep us from leaving completely after Bar and Bat Mitzvah and was also widely...
View ArticleComment by MichoelR on If one does not find chametz after saying al biur...
I'll leave others to bring the sources, but it should not be a bracha levatalah at all. Our sages said to search out and get rid of all chametz, and the person has done that. Until he searches there...
View ArticleComment by MichoelR on Why Are We Blunting His Teeth?
See Ezekiel 18:2 sefaria.org/Ezekiel.18.2?lang=he&with=all&lang2=heאָבוֹת֙יֹ֣אכְלוּבֹ֔סֶרוְשִׁנֵּ֥יהַבָּנִ֖יםתִּקְהֶֽינָה The parents eat sour grapes and the children's teeth are "set on edge",...
View ArticleAnswer by MichoelR for Order of the haggadah
See Deuteronomy 6(20-25): that is the backbone structure of Magid.When, in time to come, your children ask you, “What mean the decrees,laws, and rules that our G_d has enjoined upon you?” you shall...
View ArticleAnswer by MichoelR for Drawing on Shabbes: product recommendation?
Not exactly what you asked, but there are other options. My wife suggests: Get her involved in Shabbos. Have her make the menu and make special desserts for the family. Duncan Hines is a good choice...
View Article
