יום חמישי, ל׳ אב תשפ״וThursday, August 13, 2026
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Rabbi Yaakov Klass is Rav of K’hal Bnei Matisyahu in Flatbush; Torah Editor of The Jewish Press; and Presidium Chairman, Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim.
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What Is A Sheep? ‘If It…Does Not Possess Three Vertebrae’ (Bechoros 40b)
Question: If a person passes away on Yom Tov, do we bury him on Yom Tov or wait until after Yom Tov? No Name Please
Beware, Big Brother! 'He Isn't Suspected…' (Bechoros 35)
Question: Why do we celebrate two days of Yom Tov if we have a fixed calendar today and know when Yom Tov truly is? Aryeh Roth
I’ve been invited to numerous simchas during Sefirah in the past few years that did not seem to conform to the halachic restrictions of this period. I’ve been told that you addressed this topic in the past. Can you address it again as I don’t want to offend anyone by staying at home? Name Withheld By Request
Not Necessarily Good For The Goose – Or The Gander ‘Plucking the Wool Is Permitted’ (Bechoros 25a)
Precisely Timed ‘It Is Impossible To Ascertain Exactly’ (Bechoros 17b-18a)
Question: I’ve been invited to numerous simchas during Sefirah in the past few years that did not seem to conform to the halachic restrictions of this period. I’ve been told that you addressed this topic in the past. Can you address it again as I don’t want to offend anyone by staying at home? Name Withheld By Request
Rare And Difficult 'If He Has No Lamb…' (Bechoros 11a)
Question: I’ve been invited to numerous simchas during Sefirah in the past few years that did not seem to conform to the halachic restrictions of this period. I’ve been told that you addressed this topic in the past. Can you address it again as I don't want to offend anyone? Name Withheld By Request
Sextuplets: No Other Solution 'A Levite Exempted An Israelite…' (Bechoros 4a)
Question: I have two questions: 1) Why does each person recite Kiddush at the Seder when only the head of the household does so the rest of the year? 2) Why do we eat an egg at the Seder? S. Schwartz
Remember The Sabbath Day 'Both in the Times of the Temple and After' (Chullin 138)
Question: How can one make one's home kosher for Passover with minimal expense and effort. Name withheld
A Dutch Treat 'Money That Has No Claimants’ (Chullin 131b-132a)
Question: We often pray to Hashem for yiras shamayim (e.g., in Birkas Rosh Chodesh). But how can we ask Hashem to give us fear of Him? Martin Freundlich
A Dilemma In Frankfurt 'All That Are Metam’ei B'ohel…' (Chullin 124b)
Question: I’ve noticed that some people fill their kiddush and havdallah cups to the point that they overflow. Is there a halachic source for this practice? Doesn’t it amount to bal tashchit? Bernard Gold
The Meat Is Kosher, Treif, Kosher, Treif… ‘If One Clotted Blood’ (Chullin 120a)
Question: I’ve noticed that some people fill their Kiddush and Havdallah cups to the point that they overflow. Is there a halachic source for this pratice? Doesn’t it amount to bal tashchit? Bernard Gold
Question: Can a person eat the Purim se’udah at night if he will be traveling on Purim day? Anonymous
What About The Pot? ‘Fish That Was Served On A [Meat] Plate…’ (Chullin 111b)
Question: Is mishlo’ach manot a form of tzedakah like matanot la’evyonim? Moshe Jakobowitz Brooklyn, NY
Caring For The Sick On Yom Kippur ‘His Gullet Has Derived Enjoyment…’ (Chullin 103b)
Question: When a son recites Kaddish for his parents, can they hear it? Also are their souls elevated to a higher place thereby? Ben Glassman
Stricter Than A Prohibition ‘We Rely on a Gentile…’ (Chullin 97a)
Question: When a son says Kaddish for his parents, can they hear it? Also, are their souls elevated to a higher place as a result? Ben Glassman
Feather-Plucking 101 'The Blood Will Easily Flow Out' (Chullin 93b)
Question: When a son says Kaddish for his parents, can they hear it? Also, are their souls elevated to a higher place as a result? Ben Glassman
Bullish Or Not? 'Where One A Cow And [The Other] Its Calf…' (Chullin 82)
Question: When a son says Kaddish for his parents, can they hear it? Also when he says it, are their souls elevated to a higher place? Ben Glassman
Kosher 'Oxymoron' 'The Divine Law Permits It' (Chullin 75)
An Argument With Karaites ‘A Fetus That Partially Left The Womb’ (Chullin 69a)
Question: When a son recites Kaddish for his parents, can they hear it? Also, are their souls elevated to a higher place as a result? Ben Glassman
Genetically-Engineered Simanim ‘A Bird With One Siman’ (Chullin 62a)
Question: When a son recites Kaddish for his parents, can they hear it? Also when he recites Kaddish, are the souls elevated to a higher place? Ben Glassman
Question: When a son recites Kaddish for his parents, can they hear it? Also when he recites the Kaddish, are the souls elevated to a higher place? Ben Glassman
Eternal And Immutable ‘Only Those Enumerated By The Sages’ (Chullin 54a)
Question: When a son recites Kaddish for his parents, can they hear it? Also, when he recites Kaddish, are his parents’ souls elevated to a higher place? Ben Glassman
A Halachic Referral ‘It [the Lung] Erupted in Blisters’ (Chullin 48a)
Question: When a son recites Kaddish for his parents, can they hear it? Also, when he recites Kaddish, are his parents’ souls elevated to a higher place? Ben Glassman
Incubator Chicks 'These Are The Living Things You May Eat' (Chullin 42a)
A Gentile’s ‘Kashrus Certificate’ ‘We Do Not Give Innards to a Gentile’ (Chullin 33a)
Question: I have three questions. First, what exactly constitutes charity? Second, how much does a person have to give? Third, can one consider a tip to a waiter at a restaurant charity considering how little waiters make? Zelig Aronson Queens, NY
The Siren’s Wail ‘If a Festival Falls on Erev Shabbos…’ (Chullin 26)
Question: I have three questions. First, what exactly constitutes charity? Second, how much does a person have to give? Third, can one consider a tip to a waiter at a restaurant charity considering how little waiters make? Zelig Aronson Queens, NY
Meat From Heaven? 'Only Young Ones Are Acceptable…' (Chulin 22a-b)
Question: Lately, various missionary groups have been very active in my neighborhood, anxious to convert our brethren. Why don’t we, in turn, seek to convert them? Moshe Jakobovitz Brooklyn, NY
Aiding Or Abetting? 'Due To Suspicion, We Check' (Chullin 12a, Rashi)
Rabbi Senter is the founder of KOF-K Kosher Supervision, one of the largest kosher certification agencies serving the Jewish community worldwide.
A 'Heated' Discussion 'The Place of Shechita Is Hot' (Chulin 8b)
Question: Does one fulfill the mitzvah of lighting Chanukah candles with an electric menorah? Can one recite the blessings before lighting it? A. Gordon
Question: Does one fulfill the mitzvah of lighting Chanukah candles with an electric menorah? Can one recite the blessings before lighting it? A. Gordon
Anticipating The Rebuilt Temple 'One Who Learns About The Chatas…' (Menachos 110a)
What About The Blood ‘They Were Not Really Babylonians…’ (Menachos 100a)
Question: Why do we begin saying Tal U’matar on the evening of December 4 or 5? Why is the secular date relevant? Also, what should an American Jew do if he is in Eretz Yisrael (where people start saying Tal U’matar earlier) and then returns home before December 4 or 5? Zelig Aronson
A Matter Of Inflation ‘Since It’s Baked, It Expands’ (Menachos 94a)
Question: Why do we begin saying Tal U’matar on the evening of December 4 or 5? Why is the secular date relevant? Also, what should an American Jew do if he is in Eretz Yisrael (where people start saying Tal U’matar earlier) and then returns home before December 4 or 5? Zelig Aronson
Question: Should a person who only went to sleep after dawn say a berachah after netilat yadayim when he wakes up? M. Goldman Miami Beach
Nekudot In The Sefer Torah ‘Why Is There A Dot Over The Vav?’ (Menachos 87b)
A Matter Of Definition Oil Set Apart For One Minchah Is Invalid For Another’ (Menachos 79b)
Question: Should a person who only went to sleep after dawn say a berachah after netilat yadayim when he wakes up? M. Goldman Miami Beach
Hashem’s Holy Name ‘A Gentile May Bring Either Votive Or Freewill Offerings…’ (Menachos 73b)
Rav Kviat asks what is meant by “sisu v’simchu b’Simchas Torah – rejoice and be joyous on Simchas Torah.” Why “sisu” and “simchu”?
Question: After the shliach tzibbur says “Barchu,” should he then say “Baruch Hashem Hamevorach…” in unison with the congregation or wait for the congregation to say it and then repeat it? Zelig Aronson
Shortchanged? ‘You Shall Count 50 Days’ (Menachos 65b)
Question: I have heard that in the time of Moshiach we will continue to offer sacrifices. But aren’t we are told that these will be times without sin? Menachem Via e-mail
Monies In A Pushkah What Constitutes Giving? (Menachos 59b)
August 7, 2026 
