Beit Midrash for Birurei Halachah Binyan Zion

pre-seasoned cast iron frying pan Question: A gut voch. We received a gift of a pre-seasoned cast iron frying pan from Lodge Manufacturing in the US (lodgemfg.com). Below is what they wrote me about their "seasoning" process. Can we use it as-is? Run it through a self-cleaning oven? Libum gamur with a blow torch? A kesiva v'chasima tova. Thank you for reaching out to us about the oil that Lodge uses for sea ...

Ahavat HaShem Question: I heard a drusha from Rabbi Asher where he said that the way to fulfill Ahavat HaShem completety including with all Nefesh is the way of Rabbi Akiva to die in Kiddush HaShem. If so how would it be possible to reach the higher level of fear of Hashem which comes after Ahava? Answer: There are many levels of both Ahavas Hashem and Yiras Hashem discussed throughout Chazal, while dying a ...

Tuition breaks and Tzedaka Question: If one send his children to a yeshiva where they charge a very high tuition for attending but are are very lenient with breaks to those who need if one takes a tuition brake is it permitted for him to give any charity to other places because if charity is only given on net profit technically he has no net profit if he cant afford the full tuition bill and therefore perha ...

tinok shenishba Question: I've heard from the Rav non religious have a status nowadays as tinok shenishba. My question is, at what point would a non religious Jew not get that status? Would we say even if he tries to fight Torah and try to push anti religious agendas? Answer: Yes even if he is anti religious this does not detract from his status as tinok shenishbeh, as he was indoctrinated with these false ...

Fridge light on shabbos Question: With regards to a doctor who is on a shift in chutz la'aretz, He needs to store his food in the communal staff fridge which has an electric bulb that was not removed before shabbos 1. can he ask a goy to open the fridge? 2. open the fridge (with a shinuy) and rely on opinion of poskim who hold that electricity is molid? 3. not eat the food on shabbos.? Many thanks. Answer: ...

Travelling through dark time zones Question: An individual is travelling from NY at 1 am arriving in Hong Kong on Monday Morning. Whilst travelling it is night all the way through. When does one on tefilin and daven shacharis? Many thanks. Answer: If it in fact remains completely dark throughout the flight, this would be considered a continuation of the night he left in NY. As such he would not daven Shachr ...

Parks on Shabbos - Karpef Question: What does the rav hold of carrying in large parks on Shabbos and its status as karpef What about including a baseball field in a bungalow colony Since it is used during the week and enhances the bungalow What the din be diff for a enclosed tennis court on Shabbos as well Is having a baseball catch allowed on Shabbos ? Thank you Answer: Parks which are used for leisure and ...

Bone marrow/stem cell donation Question: I was put on a the Gift of Life Registry (several years pack thinking it was for a yungerman) and now I just got a call that there is a 30%chance I may be a match. At this point it is too early on in the process to know if I will really be a match - there would be months more of further testing, and now they want to know if I still want to be on the registry. When I ...

Inverter AC on Shabbos Question: What does Rav Weiss hold regarding inverter AC on shabbos? Answer: An inverter AC may be used on Shabbos. A person who walks into the room has no intent to activate any device. The activation is not certain and is only done in an incidental way. This does not constitute Melacha on Shabbos. See Shu"t Minchas Asher Vol. 1 Siman 32, Vol. 2 Siman 33 ...

Paying in Cash Question: I recently went to a store and was told if a pay in cash then i would not need to pay taxes. If it is obvious that by me paying in taxes the store owner would not pay the proper tax on this sale to the government, am I allowed to do such a purchase or there is a problem of לפני עבר לא תתן מכשול. Answer: This would not seem to be the actual prohibition of Lifnei Iver as cash payment ...