Q & A
YOM TOV HOLIDAYS
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Rosh Hashana
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Yom Tov Holidays Page 2 - Including Yom Kippur & Succos
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The week before Rosh Hashana, I will not be in the proximity of people
who can do Hatarat Nedarim (annulling of Vows) for me.
Can I do it via Skype?
- Hatarat Nedarim on Erev Rosh Hashanah is just a minhag (see Chayei Adam 138:8).
- There is a dispute among the Rishonim (see Beit Yosef, Yoreh Deah 228 & Ran,
Nedarim 8b) whether Hatarat Nedarim requires the presence of the oath taker (noder). - The gemara (Nedarim 8b) concludes that a husband can be an agent to request his
wife's Hatarat Nedorim. So can others based on the general rule that agents can carry
out halachic processes. - However, the Rambam (Shvuot 6:4), accepted by the Shulchan Aruch (YD 228:16), is
among those who require the oath taker's presence. - Poskim have discussed the use of telephones for halachic matters.
1. Another area of interest is brachot heard via telephone.
2. One can't fulfill mitzvot through such a bracha, but leading poskim have argued whether
one should (Yechaveh Da'at II:68) or should not (Minchat Shlomo I:9) answer "Amen."
3. Hatarat Nedarim has been permitted by written submission (Pitchei Teshuvah 228:9).
4. Performing it by phone could follow the same logic (see Shevet Hakehati IV:239)
& also by Skype.
5. We note briefly that as we conclude this shmittah year one may utilize the Hatarat
Nedarim Bet Din panel to execute a Pruzbul as well (in person, by phone or Skype).
See Rema C.M. 67:18)
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Why do we pre-set a new fruit on the dinner table
the second night of Rosh Hashannah?
- It is needed to enable us to recite the blessing of Shehechyanu on an item of certainty
- Usually the second day of any holiday (outside of Israel) is deemed indefinite because of
doubt resulting from when that specific month began. - While in Israel, the bet din would always know after a few days into each month, the exact day that the month had begun.
1. Word would not always reach locales outside of Israel with that information in time for a holiday ( Passover/Succos) requiring the first day of the holiday to be celebrated fo 2
days to ensure that one of those 2 days would be the correct day for the holiday.
2.However Rosh Hashannah being right at the beginning of the month, created doubt even
in Israel.
3. The rabbis decreed that Rosh Hashannah, therefore be observed two days even in Israel.
4. For numerous other reasons, the Rabbis decreed that the 2 days be deemed conceptually
as one long day.
5. That created the complication of the Shehechyanu blessing, being recited at Kiddush on
the second night of this long day since it was already recited at Kiddush on the first night
of this long day.
6.Therefore, the Rabbis insisted that we pre-set a new fruit at the dinner table on the second night to ensure that the shehechyanu blessing be recited on the second night of this long day on an item of certainty, the new fruit, rather than on an item of doubt, the second night
of the long day of the holiday ( since we already recited the shehechyanu on the first night
of this long day holiday).
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Which fruits qualify for a Sheh'heche'yanu
on the 2nd night of Rosh Hoshana?
- Generally, one doesn't recite a Sheh'heche'yanu bracha on a fruit unless it is a fruit that
can be clearly recognized as having been grown in the current season (MB 225:18) - Nowadays, this is not easy to do. With so many different fruits from so many different
places on the store shelf, hardly any fruit can be clearly recognizable as a fruit that
was grown in the current season. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (Igrot Moshe, Orach Chaim
3:34), however, gives special dispensation to the second night of Rosh Hashanah &
permits making a sheh'heche yanu on a fruit that night if two conditions are present,
1) You have not eaten the fruit in the past few months
2) That whatever the fruit, you are certain that it is from the current season
(Igros Moshe: O.C. 3:34). - If there is no new fruit available or if one can't satisfy these two conditions one should
still recite the sheh'heche'yanu blessing after Kiddush (S.A.OC. 600:2) or after candle
lighting (MB, 600:4)
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Is it permitted on Yom Tov to carry garbage from our house
to our outdoor garbage cans?
- Some Rabbis consider the removal of trash from the house a legitimate Yom Tov need,
since leaving it in the house causes unpleasantness which detracts from the enjoyment
of Yom Tov. - Harav Y.Y. Kanievsky (Orchos Rabbeinu, vol. 2, Yom Tov, 6)
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Is carrying a house key permitted on Yom Tov?
All authorities agree that carrying on Yom Tov is permitted
when the object being carried is needed on Yom Tov
- It is permitted to carry food from one house to another, to wear a watch, to carry a
handkerchief or to carry a raincoat in case of rain. Harav S.Z. Auerbach (Sheimas
Shabboos K'hilchasah 19, note 7; Harav Y.S. Elyashiv) Mevakshey Torah, Yom
Tov, pg.269.
- It is permitted to take a baby outside for a stroll, to carry a Sefer Torah or another sefer for
the purpose of studying it, to carry a lulav on Sukkos or a shofar on Rosh Hashanah or to
carry any object which will be used to fulfill a mitzvah which should be fulfilled that day. - It is also permitted to bring someone a gift, even if the item will not be used on Yom Tov.
- All of these are considered positive, constructive purposes, & are permitted on Yom Tov.
Shulchan Aruch Harav 589:2 Igros Moshe O.C. 3:94; Az Nidberu 13.38. Shaarei Teshuvah 589:1 quoting Sha'agas Aryeh 106; Mishnah Berurah 516:12,14; This is permitted even if one could have just as easily carried the object before Yom Tov
(Mishnah Berura 498:10).
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Can I take a hot shower on Yom Tov?
Yes one may shower with hot water
- There is no problem due to the fact the water may have been heated on Yom Tov.
- One can argue that since the hot water was heated for other purposes, i.e. to wash dishes,
so it may be used for the secondary purpose of bathing. See the Aruch Hashulchan
regarding bathing an infant in heated water. (AH 511.5; Piskei Teshuvot 511.4 Note 29;
See Mishnah Beitzah 2:5)
- One can also say that in our day showering is hana't ;l'chol nefesh meaning whether
poor or rich, in many if not most places, showevering daily or twice daily is quite ubiquitous.
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How do I get to the hospital if I go into labor on Yom Tov?
- It is permitted to perform all melachos (work) that are required for getting you to the hospital. The general custom is that the husband drives the wife to the hospital.
- In principle it is also permitted to perform other melachos, where the lady in birth requires
or craves something that will sooth or calm her (Shabbos 128; Shulchan Aruch 330:1). - If the mother in question is adamant that she needs her mother with her, too, the mother can also come.
- The general rule is that one should act in the same way as one would act on a weekday
(328:3) based on the concept of pikuach nefesh (danger to life), and therefore shouldn't
be relied on light-headedly. - Only if the lady giving birth insists that
she requires something or where it is clear that without
it she will be significantly disturbed, is it permitted to do this. - If a melachah (work) must be performed, one should do so by means of a non-Jew or
a shinui (an unusual way of doing it) when this is possible.
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KITCHEN Q & A FOR ALL HOLIDAYS
Can I cook on the 1st day of Yom for the 2nd day of Yom Tov?
- Jewish law prohibits preparing on the first day of Yom Tov for the second day of Yom Tov.
- This means that you can’t make any preparations such as cooking, heating up food, setting table etc.
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If I forgot to do the Eruv Tavshilin how can I prepare
on the 2nd day of Yom Tov for Shabbas?
- You could cook anyway
- It shouldn't be a habitual practice not to prepare & say the Eruv Tavshilin before Yom Tov.
(MB 527:26)
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Yom Tov Holidays Continued Including Yom Kippur & Succos
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