יום ראשון, ג׳ אלול תשפ״וSunday, August 16, 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: Is there anything in Jewish law that prohibits replacing an old, existing matzeivah (tombstone) with a new, better one? I would greatly appreciate your response to this question. A Reader Tucson, AZ
The Majority Rule ‘If The Majority Are Israelites…’ (Bava Metzia 24a-b)
Question: I notice that in some synagogues I visit on Shabbat, some people do not fold their tallitot but rather leave them in their place unfolded. Others do fold them. I asked one person why he doesn’t fold his tallit, and he responded that doing so is not permitted. Is that true? I. Hager Brooklyn, NY
The Physician’s Dilemma ‘It Came Into His Hand While Forbidden’ (Bava Metzia 21b)
Question: I am very appreciative and, if I might add, flattered that you answer and publish many of my questions. Due to your superior knowledge, I am always confident when I send in a question that I will receive a proper response. I wonder if you could address whether one should say Birkat HaGomel after flying even though flying is statistically safer than driving. Also, do women say HaGomel as well or only men? Menachem
Question: I am very appreciative and, if I might add, flattered that you answer and publish many of my questions. Due to your superior knowledge, I am always confident when I send in a question that I will receive a proper response. I wonder if you could address whether one should say Birkat HaGomel after flying even though flying is statistically safer than driving. Also, do women say HaGomel as well or only men? Menachem
‘Stop, Thief!’ ‘Are Identifying Marks Biblical Or Rabbinic?’ (Bava Metzia 18b)
The ‘False’ Rumor ‘If One Found Notes of Acquisition’ (Bava Metzia 14a)
Question: Where does the name Elul come from? Also, how can Elul be both the last month of the year and the prequel to the holidays (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) that occur in the following month, Tishrei, the first month of the new year? Finally, can you please discuss the religious practices of Elul? M. Goldman Miami Beach, FL
Question: Where does the name Elul come from? Also, how can Elul be both the last month of the year and the prequel to the holidays (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) that occur in the following month, Tishrei, the first month of the new year? Finally, can you please discuss the religious practices of Elul? M. Goldman Miami Beach, FL
His Silence Is Deafening ‘One Seized It In Our Presence’ (Bava Metzia 6a)
Question: Where does the name Elul come from? Also, how can Elul be both the last month of the year and the prequel to the holidays (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) that occur in the following month, Tishrei, the first month of the new year? Finally, can you please discuss the religious practices of Elul? M. Goldman Miami Beach, FL
The Burdensome Beast ‘He Put His Donkey On The Ferryboat’ (Bava Kamma 117b)
Question: Where does the name Elul come from? How can Elul be both the last month of the year and the prequel of the holidays (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) that occur in the following month, Tishrei? Finally, can you please discuss the religious practices of Elul? M. Goldman Miami Beach, FL
The Messenger Or The Message? ‘How Do We View This Agent?’ (Bava Kamma 104a)
Question: I am very appreciative and, if I might add, flattered that you answer and publish many of my questions. Due to your superior knowledge, I am always confident when I send in a question that I will receive a proper response. I wonder if you could address whether one should say Birkat HaGomel after flying even though flying is statistically safer than driving. Also, do women say HaGomel as well or only men? Menachem
Possession Is 100 Percent Of The Law ‘Stolen Chametz Became Forbidden Due To The Intervening Passover’ (Bava Kamma 96b)
The Lost Or Relinquished Kesubah ‘A Couple May Not Live Even One Moment Without A Kesubah’ (Bava Kamma 89a)
Question: I am very appreciative and, if I might add, flattered that you answer and publish many of my questions. Due to your superior knowledge, I am always confident when I send in a question that I will receive a proper response. I wonder if you could address whether one should say Birkat HaGomel after flying even though flying is statistically safer than driving. Also, do women say HaGomel as well or only men? Menachem
Question: I am very appreciative and, if I might add, flattered that you answer and publish many of my questions. Due to your superior knowledge, I am always confident when I send in a question that I will receive a proper response. I wonder if you could address whether one should say Birkat HaGomel after flying even though flying is statistically safer than driving. Also, do women say HaGomel as well or only men? Menachem
A Dog’s Life ‘Raising Dogs Is Like Raising Pigs’ (Bava Kamma 83a)
Unkosher Tefillin From A Kosher Animal ‘Shechitah Does Not Make The Meat Permissible’ (Bava Kamma 76b)
Question: I am very appreciative and, if I might add, flattered that you answer and publish many of my questions. Due to your superior knowledge, I am always confident when I send in a question that I will receive a proper response. I wonder if you could address whether one should say Birkat HaGomel after flying even though flying is statistically safer than driving. Also, do women say HaGomel as well or only men? Menachem
Question: I am very appreciative and, if I might add, flattered that you answer and publish many of my questions. Due to your superior knowledge, I am always confident when I send in a question that I will receive a proper response. I wonder if you could address whether one should say Birkat HaGomel after flying even though flying is statistically safer than driving. Also, do women say HaGomel as well or only men? Menachem
Suffer The Thief ‘One Stole And Another Stole It From Him …’ (Bava Kamma 68a)
Question: I am very appreciative and, if I might add, flattered that you answer and publish many of my questions. Due to your superior knowledge, I am always confident when I send in a question that I will receive a proper response. I wonder if you could address whether one should say Birkat HaGomel after flying even though flying is statistically safer than driving. Also, do women say HaGomel as well or only men? Menachem
A Tale Of Two Cities ‘The Destructive Force Does Not Distinguish Between Good And Evil’ (Bava Kamma 60a)
Question: I am very appreciative and, if I might add, flattered that you answer and publish many of my questions. Due to your superior knowledge, I am always confident when I send in a question that I will receive a proper response. I wonder if you could address whether one should say Birkat HaGomel after flying even though flying is statistically safer than driving. Also, do women say HaGomel as well or only men? Menachem
Who Permitted Eating Turkey? ‘Geese And Wild Geese Are Forbidden Together’ (Bava Kamma 55a)
Question: I am very appreciative and, if I might add, flattered that you answer and publish many of my questions. Due to your superior knowledge, I am always confident when I send in a question that I will receive a proper response. I wonder if you could address whether one should say Birkat HaGomel after flying even though flying is statistically safer than driving. Also, do women say HaGomel as well or only men? Menachem
Staying Alive Underwater ‘She Has Already Ascended’ (Bava Kamma 50a)
Question: I am very appreciative and, if I might add, flattered that you answer and publish many of my questions. Due to your superior knowledge, I am always confident when I send in a question that I will receive a proper response. I wonder if you could address whether one should say Birkat HaGomel after flying even though flying is statistically safer than driving. Also, do women say HaGomel as well or only men? Menachem
Honoring A Father’s Wishes ‘ He Shall Give It To Whom He Has Trespassed’ (Bava Kamma 40b)
Question: I am very appreciative and, if I might add, flattered that you answer and publish many of my questions. Due to your superior knowledge, I am always confident when I send in a question that I will receive a proper response. I wonder if you could address whether one should say Birkat HaGomel after flying even though flying is statistically safer than driving. Also, do women say HaGomel as well or only men? Menachem
A Matter of Anticipation ‘A Stone Flew From His Hand, And Another Put Out His Head From A Window …’ (Bava Kamma 33a)
Taking The Law Into One’s Own Hands ‘Break His Teeth And Tell Him I Am Taking Mine’ (Bava Kamma 27b)
Question: I am very appreciative and, if I might add, flattered that you answer and publish many of my questions. Due to your superior knowledge, I am always confident when I send in a question that I will receive a proper response. I wonder if you could address whether one should say Birkat HaGomel after flying even though flying is statistically safer than driving. Also, do women say HaGomel as well or only men? Menachem
Question: Recently it came to light that there is no memorial stone over the grave of a family member who passed away some time ago. He has children, but, unfortunately, they refuse to do anything to rectify this matter. Worse, they say that erecting a monument is not a requirement. I don’t agree with them. Please quote sources so that I can prove to them that they must erect a memorial stone. Name withheld by request
Is It Trespass? ‘Reuven Didn't Benefit And Shimon Didn't Lose’ (Bava Kamma 20a)
Limited Liability ‘It Excludes An Ox That Gored…’ (Baba Kamma 13b)
Question: When did Ruth convert – before or after she married Naomi’s son? Also, what is the earliest reference in Jewish sources to a formal conversion process? Lazar Rozenblat Brooklyn, NY
Question: Is there a requirement to say “Hineni muchan u’mezuman…” before Sefirat HaOmer? Also if a person arrives late for Maariv, should he count sefirah first with the minyan or proceed immediately to Maariv? Moshe Jakobowitz Brooklyn, NY
Is It A Penalty? ‘Why Not Deal With False Evidence?’ (Bava Kamma 5a)
Question: Is there a requirement to say “Hineni muchan u’mezuman…” before Sefirat HaOmer? Also if a person arrives late for Maariv, should he count sefirah first with the minyan or proceed immediately to Maariv? Moshe Jakobowitz Brooklyn, NY
A Ruling Too Novel? ‘One Who Ate Nevelah On Yom Kippur Is Exempt’ (Kiddushin 77b)
In Spite Of The Consequences ‘There Is Birtha di’Satya In Babylon’ (Kiddushin 72a)
Question: Is there a requirement to say “Hineni muchan u’mezuman…” before Sefirat HaOmer? Also if a person arrives late for Maariv, should he count sefirah first with the minyan or proceed immediately to Maariv? Moshe Jakobowitz Brooklyn, NY
The Recanted Testimony ‘A Solitary Witness Said To Him’ (Kiddushin 65b)
Question: What if someone counted the Omer but forgot to utter the blessing – has he fulfilled his obligation? Also, why is a blessing necessary altogether? There is no blessing for the counting of the zayin nekiyim. M. Goldman Miami Beach, FL
You Are That Man! ‘A Poor Man Looking For A Griddlecake…’ (Kiddushin 59a)
Question: What if someone counted the Omer but forgot to utter the blessing – has he fulfilled his obligation? Also, why is a blessing necessary altogether? There is no blessing for the counting of the zayin nekiyim. M. Goldman Miami Beach, FL
Question: When the Torah describes the 10 plagues with which Egypt was afflicted, we find the Hebrew preposition “ba” only in connection with the plague of locust: “Vayomer Hashem Moshe, ‘Neteh yad’cha al eretz Mitzrayim ba’arbeh’ – And Hashe said to Moshe, ‘Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt with locust.” Is there a specific reason for this anomaly? A. Lieb Brooklyn, NY
The Snatched Zuz ‘None Pay Regard To R. Shimon’s Dictum …’ (Kiddushin 52b)
Polite And Respectful ‘It Is Audacious To Appoint One’s Father A Shliacht’ (Kiddushin 45b)
Question: What is the minimum amount of matzah a person must consume if he finds eating it difficult? Additionally how absolute is the requirement not to eat anything after the afikoman? Menachem
A Year And A Day ‘Hashem...Completes The Years Of The Righteous’ (Kiddushin 38a)
Question: I am a psychology professor at McGill University who is doing an MA in Jewish studies. My thesis topic is the history of interpretation of the story of Rachav Hazona. In the course of my research I was trying to understand how the Midrash derived that Rahab converted.
Both Rise To The Occasion ‘What If His Son Is His Teacher?’ (Kiddushin 33b)
Question: I am a psychology professor at McGill University who is doing an MA in Jewish studies. My thesis topic is the history of interpretation of the story of Rachav Hazona. In the course of my research I was trying to understand how the Midrash derived that Rahab converted.
Moshe’s Request ‘I Love My Master, My Wife, My Children…’ (Kiddushin 22a)
Question: I recently attended a lecture where the speaker discussed great Jewish women in history. He specifically singled out the biblical heroine Rahab who, he said, married the great leader and prophet Joshua. I had previously heard that Rahab was a woman of ill repute, a harlot, who surely was not suitable for a righteous person like Joshua. Also, when Rahab is mentioned (Joshua ch. 2), there is no indication that she married Joshua. How do we know it? Sandy Hart
It’s In The Will ‘A Non-Jew Receives His Father’s Estate’ (Kiddushin 17b)
Question: I am seriously dating a girl who has a similar name to my mother. My mother’s name is Pischa and the girl’s name is Pesha. Since both names arguably derive from the word Pesach, would it be a problem for me to potentially marry this girl? Name Witheld Via E-Mail
She Ate Unwittingly ‘If She Married A Kohen She Eats Terumah’ (Kiddushin 10b)
Question: Taking into account the fact that one might have to travel on Purim day, may one make one’s Purim se’udah on Purim eve? No Name Please
What is the exact meaning of amen and where does the word come from? David H. (Via E-Mail)
Filling In The Blanks ‘Esrog Similar To A Tree In Three Ways…’ (Kiddushin 2b-3a)
What is the exact meaning of amen and where does the word come from? David H. (Via E-Mail)
August 14, 2026 
