Beit Midrash for Birurei Halachah Binyan Zion

Question: The Mishnah Berurah in Siman Alef, seif katan (ט) quotes as follows: יהיה זהיר מאד לקום שעה ולפחות חצי שעה קדם קריאת השמש לבית הכנםת As a matter of practical halacha, what is the time a person needs to be awake before the minyan in order to fulfill this משני ברורה? With tremendous gratitude, Answer: The point of this halacha is to have ample time to prepare one's self for davening with a minyan. S ...

Question: A few years ago I donated a Sefer Torah to a Shul. As I have now moved I would like to take the Sefer Torah with me to my new Shul. Am I allowed to do so or does it need to remain in the previous Shul I donated it to? I would appreciate any mekoros to see this matter inside. Thank you very much Answer: Unless there was some explicit stipulation when you donated the Torah, you may take the Torah wi ...

Question: Is there a chiuv gomur to use a generator on shabbes in Eretz Yisroel? Are there any gdolei haposkim who lechatchila permit using normal electricity on shabbes without a generator? Thank you. Answer: It is not a chiyuv gamur to use a generator on Shabbos. This is a debate going on many years, and most accept this practice as a chumra. Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach wrote many reasons why using electri ...

Question: I grew up in a Jewish home in N.Y. following tradition. Later on I began to study Judaism. I have five married children all following Halacha. My mind has opened and I see Zionism in another light. Zionism can be considered Idolatry in the way it is strictly observed without connecting Zionism with World Unity and Faith. I always have thought of myself as a Jew but it is also important to me that ...

Question: Dear Rabbi! In our city like in most cities here in Russia we have a big Chabad community and small our Lituanian one. Which custom of mourning we have to accept at sefirat haomer period: a custom of Arizal or Rama? And if Rama's - which of them? Our Rabbi live in Eretz Israel and have Israeli custom. What about music listening? Answer: Your community is not bound by the practice of the other [Cha ...

Question: Many people have the minhag to knock gently the table by benching when saying the (individual) Horachamons I have seen this with elderly people too who seem to be Minhag-conscious and have taken presumably from previous generations My assumption is that this is against the Ayin Hara and similar to what people say "Keyn Ayin ora". After a bit of reserach it however seems the source is gentile and n ...

Question: I have a disorder called Trichotillomania. Many weeks I find myself pulling out my hair on Shabbos but I cannot control the urges. I have guilt over this constant violation of halacha. Your insight and advice would be appreciated. Answer: The Torah requires one to do whatever they can to perform mitzvos and stay away from aveiros. So you should and surely are doing what you can to heal yourself of ...

Question: What is the Rav's opinion about whether oats are one of the five minim? Should one be concerned that perhaps it is not? Thank you. Answer: Oats are Shiboles Shual, one of the 5 minim. One may rely on this long standing view, accepted by the Gedolei Yisrael. See Rashi Pesachim 35a, Kuntress Halichos Sadeh Vol. 57 essay of Rav Efrati in the name of Rav Elyashiv and Rav Moshe Feinstein. ...

Question: If one purchased a new pair of tzitzis, and his old one is still kasher. Should he wear the new one on Shabbos to honor the Shabbos, or during the week to fulfill mitzvas tzitzis b'hiddur for the whole week? And if he should wear the new ones during the week, would it be proper to change into the old ones for Shabbos, or he should keep on wearing the new ones? Answer: Being that they are both kosh ...

Question: A faulty oven was delivered to us and we asked for refund and collection. The (Non jewish) vendors have arranged for this but they have scheduled it for Chol Hamoed. Is it permitted to allow for the collection to take place from our home or does it need to be postponed. Thanks Answer: It would have been permissible for them to come pick up the faulty oven. This does not constitute making a purchas ...