יום ראשון, ב׳ תשרי תשפ״זSunday, September 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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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)
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)
September 11, 2026 
