יום שני, ד׳ אלול תשפ״וMonday, August 17, 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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Monies In A Pushkah What Constitutes Giving? (Menachos 59b)
The Greater Reward “The Ketores …Since It Is Infrequent It Is Most Dear” (Menachos 50a)
Question: I recently learned that one may not dance or clap hands on Shabbat or Yom Tov. If so how do we dance on Simchat Torah? Aryeh Josefsohn via e-mail
Question: Why do we sit in a sukkah? Is one allowed to travel during Sukkos to a place where no sukkah is available? Moshe Jakobowitz Brooklyn, NY
Tzitzis On A Blanket? ‘…to Exclude a Nighttime Garment’ (Menachos 43a)
Question: When the cantor says Shema Koleinu during the High Holiday season, he skips several lines during the interactive recitation. Why? A Reader Wilkes Barre, PA
Is A Shortened Lulav Kosher? 'Remnants of Tzitzis Are Kosher' (Menachos 38b)
Question: When the cantor says Shema Koleinu during the High Holiday season, he skips several lines during the interactive recitation. Why? A Reader Wilkes Barre, PA
A Sefer Torah That Fell 'As Though Bitten by a Snake' (Menachos 32b)
Question: How do we know that there is an olam haba – a world to come? L. Papirmeister
Apples And Oranges ‘Two Menachos Were Mixed But The Handfuls Were Not Taken’ (Menachos 23a)
Question: How do we know that there is an olam haba – a world to come? L. Papirmeister
Question: How do we know there is an olam haba – a world to come? L. Papirmeister
Danger Or Dilution? 'From That Allowed To Jews' (Menachos 5a)
Question: How do we know there is an olam haba – a world to come? L. Papirmeister
Question: How do we know that there is an olam haba – a world to come? L. Papirmeister
A Light Unto The Nations ‘The Sound Thereof Traveled From One End…To The Other” (Zevachim 116a)
Question: How do we know that there is an olam haba – a world to come? L. Papirmeister
To Him Shall You Hearken 'One Who Offers Nowadays…' (Zevachim 107b)
Question: How do we know that there is an olam haba – a world to come? L. Papirmeister
In The Privy 'Rav Quotes Elazar ben Rabbi Shimon' (Zevachim 102b)
A Saline Solution 'Its Soaking Is Its Laundering' (Zevachim 94b)
Question: How do we know that there is an olam haba – a world to come? L. Papirmeister
Question: How do we know that there is an olam haba – a world to come? L. Papirmeister
Even Eruv Tavshillin ‘One Might Have Thought That We Remove The Tendons…’ (Zevachim 86a)
Question: How do we know that there is an olam haba – a world to come? L. Papirmeister
A Matter Of Doubt ‘When You Make [Four] Applications…’ (Zevachim 80a)
Question: How do we know that there is an olam haba – a world to come? L. Papirmeister
A Light Mixup ‘Anything That Is Counted…’ (Zevachim 73a)
The Fat of the Land 'Only Those Whose Chelev Are Forbidden…' (Zevachim 70a)
Question: How do we know that there is an olam haba – a world to come? L. Papirmeister
A Matter Of Merit 'They Added Four Amos' (Zevachim 61b)
Question: How do we know that there is an olam haba – a World to Come? L. Papirmeister
Question: How do we know that there is an olam haba – a World to Come? L. Papirmeister
Two Talleisim ‘The Residue Of The Blood He Spills…’ (Zevachim 51a)
Question: How do we know that there is an olam haba – a World to Come? L. Papirmeister
A Necessary Prelude? ‘Intentions Of Korbanos’ (Zevachim 46b)
Question: How do we know that there is an olam haba – a World to Come? L. Papirmeister
Reaching One’s Objective ‘The One In Thought And The Other Silently’ (Zevachim 41b)
Question: The Gemara (Sukkah 20a) states that the Torah was forgotten for a period of time. This seems to be quite difficult to understand. Weren't the people of earlier generations greater than those of later generations? Zvi Simon (Via e-mail)
Call To Alms ‘Having Declared It A Burnt Offering, He Rethought…’ (Zevachim 30a)
Question: I have long wondered why we don’t say Shehecheyanu when we start counting the Omer. Can you explain the reasoning behind this practice? M. Schwartz
An Aging Problem? ‘I Have Chosen Him To Stand, But Not To Sit’ (Zevachim 23b)
Do Clothes Make The Man? ‘When [Kohanim Are] Wearing Their Garments’ (Zevachim 17b)
Question: I have long wondered why we don’t say Shehecheyanu when we start counting the Omer. Can you explain the reasoning behind this practice? M. Schwartz
QUESTION: I enjoy your weekly column. You not only give an answer, but also provide an in-depth discussion of the subject matter, including many different views. My question, which relates to the upcoming mitzvah of counting the Omer, is as follows: In my synagogue, and I assume in most others, we all stand at attention as the rabbi or chazzan recites the blessing of Sefirat HaOmer and then proceeds to count the Omer. How can we recite the blessing afterwards when we already clearly heard it before (and thus, presumably, were yotzei with it)? M. Goldblum Miami Beach, FL
Olas Shabbos B’Shabbato ‘An Offering Of Appeasement’ (Zevachim 7b)
Depth Or Breadth? ‘A Sinai Or An Oker Harim’ (Horayos 14a)
Question: I enjoy your weekly column. In addition to answering questions, you also discuss the subjects you are asked about in depth, covering many different views. My question is as follows: In my synagogue, and I assume in most others, everyone stands at attention as the rabbi or chazzan recites the blessing for Sefiras HaOmer and then counts the Omer. How can we recite the blessing afterwards ourselves when we already heard it (and thus, presumably, were yotzei with it)? M. Goldblum Miami Beach, FL
Question: Please explain why we sell our chametz. Wouldn’t it simpler to just discard it before Passover? Why do we go through this charade every year? Malka Berg
A Convert’s Benefit ‘Blemishes Are Only Post Sinai’ (Horayos 10a)
Question: Why do we say Tachanun on some days and not on others? What are the rules? When do we not say it? M. Solow
The Mitzvah To Obey The Wise ‘If Beis Din Issued A Ruling’ (Horayos 2b)
Question: Why do we say Tachanun on some days and not on others? What are the rules? When do we not say it? M. Solow
Not Wanted – Dead Or Alive ‘A Mouse That Fell Into A Cask Of Beer’ (Avoda Zara 68b)
Question: Is a bar mitzvah boy allowed to read the four parshiyot in shul on behalf of the congregation? Elimelech Feldman
Avoiding A Catastrophe ‘A Ger And A Gentile Inherited…’ (Avoda Zara 64a)
Question: Is a bar mitzvah boy allowed to read the four parshiyot in shul on behalf of the congregation? Elimelech Feldman
Who’s The Boss? ‘One Hired A Laborer To Assist Him In Yayin Nesech’ (Avodah Zarah 62a)
Question: I anticipate soon dissolving a business partnership. How should I expect to be treated in a beit din? No Name Please
Our Turn ‘A Gentile Nullifies His Idolatrous Relic’ (Avodah Zarah 52b)
To whom does one give on Purim? Must one give to someone who, one suspects, may not really be poor? Is there a minimal amount one must give? Also, what about boys collecting for yeshivot or other institutions – may one discharge one’s obligation by giving to them? Menachem
An Idolatrous Eruv ‘Wood From An Asheirah Tree’ (Avodah Zarah 49b)
Question: We read in Megillat Esther that the name of the king of Persia who ruled a vast empire that extended from India to Ethiopia was Achashverosh. Who was he? Where did he come from? Fran Hager Brooklyn, NY
When Is Chalav Akum Allowed? ‘When Milked By A Gentile…’ (Avodah Zarah 39b)
August 14, 2026 
