Beit Midrash for Birurei Halachah Binyan Zion

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 ...

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 ...

Attending the non Jewish parents funeral Question: לכבוד מרן שליט׳א Can an individual who is going through conversion or who has gone through conversion attend the funeral of their non Jewish parent which would be held in a church? Many thanks. Answer: The main concern with entering a Church is due to creating an appearance as if you are entering to worship. Hence, when the circumstances are clear that you ...

Gartel Question: Kvod Harov, If a person wears a belt is there a need for him to also wear a gartel for davening? Answer: No, the belt is sufficient according to halachic criteria. The custom of Chasidim is to wear a gartel in any event, while in non Chassidic communities the belt or waistband of one's pants is relied on. ...

School Notes Requiring Geniza Question: Now that the Bais Yaakov and seminary year is over, can the Rov give specific guidelines as to how do determine if a page of notes requires geniza or not? Is it only pesukim or partial pesukim (3 words?) or is it any page of notes containing divrei torah? And if something does not require actual geniza, does it have to be wrapped or double-wrapped before disposal? And ...

Har Habayis Question: I have heard differing opinions on going up to Har Habayis. Some Rabbis hold that you should go up and make it very clear to the world that this is ours. Is it a problem to go up? Obviously, we must be relying upon the archaeologists who hold that the Kosel Hamaaravi is not part of 500x500 amos of Har Habayis. Can we rely on them? Is it a mitzva, perhaps, to stake our claim as the righ ...

Kol Ishah by Zemiros Shabbos Question: Are brothers, husbands and guests allowed to listen and sing along the Shabbos Zemiros with Women? Answer: Within the family [blood relatives] there is more room for leniency. With guests and other non relatives, women should not sing in their presence and one should try to avoid hearing such singing as well. In extenuating circumstances, one would not be obligated to ...

Answering amen too early Question: If one answers אמן to a ברכה before the המברך has finished, is the listener יוציא? For example, by קידוש, if the listener answers an אמן חטופה, is he יוציא? He heard the ברכה, but he talked,answered אמן, at the end before it was finished. It's certainly not לכתחלה, but is it מעכב? Answer: Yes, he is yotzei. As long as he heard the entire bracha and even the last word, just ...

Burial of stillborn baby Question: What is the halakhic source of some chevra kadisha to not allow parents to attend the burial of a stillborn baby or to know the place of burial Answer: There is no actual prohibition in attending the funeral. As with many practices of the chevra kadisha, this is minhag passed on through the generations. Many of them have their source in kabbala. Perhaps this minhag is conn ...

Men looking in mirrors Question: Is a man allowed to look in a mirror, what about a tefillin mirror? Answer: In our day and age when looking in the mirror has become common practice for men and woman alike there is no prohibition for a man to look in a mirror. Sources:  See Rema, Yoreh De’ah 156:2 that in places where men look in the mirror, it is permitted to do so. ...