יום שלישי, י״ח תשרי תשפ״זTuesday, September 29, 2026
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Rabbi Yaakov Klass, rav of Congregation K’hal Bnei Matisyahu in Flatbush, Brooklyn, is chairman of the presidium of the Rabbinical Alliance of America and Torah Editor of The Jewish Press. He can be contacted at yklass@jewishpress.com and Rabbi@igud.us.
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Apples and Oranges “Two Menachos Were Mixed but the Handfuls Were Not Taken” (Menachos 23a)
Question: The Written Law is there plain to see as it’s found in the five Books of Moses. However, from whence does the Oral Law come? I’m not asking as one who doubts its veracity – rather, I would simply like to know and not just follow blindly. Mark Grosz Via E-mail
A Jew’s Altar “Or If He… Did Not Salt It…” (Menachos 18a)
Question: The Written Law is there plain to see as it is found in the five Books of Moses. However, from whence does the Oral Law come? I’m not asking as one who doubts its veracity – rather, I would just like to know and not simply follow blindly. Mark Grosz Via E-mail
Double Trouble? “Two Handfuls” (Menachos 11b)
Question: Seemingly the only place in our Torah where the matter of a birthday celebration is mentioned is regarding the birthday of Pharaoh. The only birthday celebration that we as Jews celebrate is a bar mitzvah – a young man’s 13th birthday. Is there greater significance to that day more than to any other? Yitzchak Gutman Via E-mail
Intrinsic, Danger, or Dilution? “From That Allowed to Jews” (Menachos 5a)
Question: Seemingly the only place in our Torah where the matter of a birthday celebration is mentioned is regarding the birthday of Pharaoh. The only birthday celebration that we as Jews celebrate is a bar mitzvah – a young man’s 13th birthday. Is there greater significance to that day more than to any other? Yitzchak Gutman Via Email
A Light Unto the Nations “The Sound Thereof Traveled from One End…To the Other…” (Zevachim 116a)
Question: Should the goblet used for havdalah be so filled that wine overflows? Additionally, is doing so not a violation of baal tashchit – deliberate wastefulness? George Nevens Via E-mail
To Him Shall You Hearken “One Who Offers Up Nowadays” (Zevachim 107b)
Question: Should the goblet used for Havdalah be so filled that wine overflows? Additionally, is doing so not a violation of baal tashchit – deliberate wastefulness? George Nevens Via E-mail
A Discussion in the Privy “Rav Quotes Elazar ben Rabbi Shimon” (Zevachim 102b)
Question: If the concern is that hostile gentiles might persecute us, isn’t there the same worry if the menorah is placed indoors? After all, the candles will likely be seen through the window... How would one light in such a circumstance? Menachem Via E-mail
A Saline Solution “Its Soaking Is Its Laundering” (Zevachim 94b)
Question: I am contemplating traveling to Israel. My flight will take place during Chanukah, which means that I may miss one night’s candle-lighting. What are my options? Yaakov J. Via E-mail
Even Eruv Tavshilin! “One Might Have Thought That We Remove the Tendons…” (Zevachim 86a)
Question: I am contemplating traveling to Israel. My flight will take place during Chanukah, which means that I may miss one night’s candle lighting. What are my options? Yaakov J. Via E-mail
A Matter Of Doubt “When You Make [Four] Applications [Of Blood], You Transgress…” (Zevachim 80a)
Question: Did we have a siddur and a holiday machzor before Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press? Is it possible to give a historical perspective on our prayers as found in the siddur and the machzor? Jerry Gross (Via E-Mail)
A Light Mix-up “Anything That Is Counted…” (Zevachim 73a)
Question: Did we have a siddur and a holiday machzor before Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press? Is it possible to give a historical perspective on our prayers as found in the siddur and the machzor? Jerry Gross Via E-Mail
No Halacha Is Irrelevant “Anticipating The Arrival of Moshiach”
Question: I see that some people refer to the month of Cheshvan as Marcheshvan. Which name is correct? Nachman M. (Via E-Mail)
Question: I see that some people refer to the month of Cheshvan and others as Marccheshvan. Which is correct? Nachman M. (Via E-Mail)
The Fat of the Land “Only Those Whose Chelev Are Forbidden…” (Zevachim 70a)
A Matter of Merit “They Added Four Amos” (Zevachim 61b)
Question: I don’t think you’ve ever received a question like this one. I live in Queens and am extremely agitated about the prospects of a socialist, anti-Israel and anti Jewish candidate being elected mayor of our great city. Is there any path for us to follow that can change the outcome of this election? Zelig Aronson (Via E-mail)
Two Talleisim ‘The Residue of the Blood He Spills…’ (Zevachim 51a)
Question: I have heard that in the time of Mashiach, we will continue to offer sacrifices. How can we explain that if, as we are told, these will be times without sin? Menachem Via E-mail
Reaching One’s Objective ‘… The One in Thought and the Other Silently’ (Zevachim 41b)
Call To Alms ‘Having Declared It a Burnt Offering, He Rethought…’ (Zevachim 30a)
Question: I recently moved to a new neighborhood where the predominance of synagogue options that are to my personal satisfaction pray in Nusach Sefard. However, when it comes Chol HaMoed, I am faced with being one of the few who don tefillin. What am I to do? Sam Schwartz Via E-mail
An Aging Problem? ‘I Have Chosen Him to Stand, But Not to Sit’ (Zevachim 23b)
Question: I hope you will not mind answering several questions regarding the mitzvah of sitting in the sukkah. What is the reason for this mitzvah? Are we required to sit in a sukkah whenever we eat? Is one allowed to travel during the week of the holiday to a place where no sukkah is available? Moshe Jakobowitz Brooklyn, N.Y.
Do Clothes Make the Man? ‘When Kohanim Are Wearing Their Holy Garments’ (Zevachim 17b)
Question: What is the proper means of teshuvah, the repentance that one should engage in during Elul as we approach the Yomim Nora’im (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur)? Zvi Unger Via E-mail
Olas Shabbos B’Shabbato ‘An Offering of Appeasement’ (Zevachim 7b)
Question: What is the proper means of teshuvah, the repentance one should engage in during Elul as we approach the Yomim Nora’im (Days of Awe)? Zvi Unger Via E-mail
Halacha L’Ma’aseh A ‘Sinai’ Or ‘Oker Harim’? (Horayos 14a)
Question: I recently returned from a trip abroad and wanted to say HaGomel. When I mentioned this to the officers of my synagogue, however, they told me – as per the instructions of the synagogue’s rabbi – that I would have to wait until Shabbos to do so. I was not given any reason for this and did not wish to display my ignorance, so I quietly acquiesced. Can you please explain why I had to wait? Name Withheld Via E-mail
A Convert’s Benefit ‘Blemishes Are Only Post Sinai’ (Horayos 10a)
Question: I recently returned from a trip abroad and wanted to say HaGomel. When I mentioned this to the officers of my synagogue, however, they told me – as per the instructions of the synagogue’s rabbi – that I would have to wait until Shabbos to do so. I was not given any reason for this and did not wish to display my ignorance, so I quietly acquiesced. Can you please explain why I had to wait? Name Withheld Via E-mail
The Mitzvah To Obey The Wise ‘If Beis Din Issued A Ruling’ (Horayos 2b)
Question: I recently returned from a trip abroad and wanted to say HaGomel. When I mentioned this to the officers of my synagogue, however, they told me – as per the instructions of the synagogue’s rabbi – that I would have to wait until Shabbos to do so. I was not given any reason for this and did not wish to display my ignorance, so I quietly acquiesced. Can you please explain why I had to wait? Name Withheld Via E-mail
Not Wanted – Dead Or Alive ‘A Mouse That Fell into A Cask Of Beer’ (Avodah Zarah 68b)
Question: I recently returned from a trip abroad and wanted to say HaGomel. When I mentioned this to the officers of my synagogue, however, they told me that I would have to wait until Shabbos to do so. I was not given any reason for this and did not wish to display my ignorance, so I quietly acquiesced. Can you please explain why I had to wait? Name Withheld Via E-mail
Who’s The Boss? ‘One Hired A Laborer To Assist Him In Yayin Nesech’ (Avodah Zarah 62a)
Question: I recently returned from a trip abroad and wanted to say HaGomel. When I mentioned this to the officers of my synagogue, however, they told me that I would have to wait until Shabbos to do so. I was not given any reason for this and did not wish to display my ignorance, so I quietly acquiesced. Can you please explain why I had to wait? Name Withheld Via E-mail
Our Turn ‘A Gentile Nullifies His Idolatrous Relic...’ (Avodah Zarah 52b)
Question: I recently returned from a trip abroad and wanted to say HaGomel. When I mentioned this to the officers of my synagogue, however, they told me that I would have to wait until Shabbos to do so. I was not given any reason for this and did not wish to display my ignorance, so I quietly acquiesced. Can you please explain why I had to wait? Name Withheld Via E-mail
Question: I recently returned from a trip abroad and wanted to say HaGomel. When I mentioned this to the officers of my synagogue, however, they told me that I would have to wait until Shabbos to do so. I was not given any reason for this and did not wish to display my ignorance, so I quietly acquiesced. Can you please explain why I had to wait? Name Withheld Via E-mail
An Idolatrous Eruv ‘Wood From An Asheira’ (Avoda Zara 49b)
When Is Chalav Akum Allowed? ‘Milked By A Gentile’ (Avodah Zarah 39b)
Question: I recently returned from a trip abroad and wanted to say Ha'Gomel. When I mentioned this to the officers of my synagogue, however, they told me that I would have to wait until Shabbos to do so. I was not given any reason for this and did not wish to display my ignorance, so I quietly acquiesced. Can you please explain why I had to wait? Name Withheld Via E-mail
An Essential Agent ‘Set In The Skin Of The Rennet Of Nevela’ (Avodah Zarah 35a)
Question: I recently returned from a trip abroad. When I entered my synagogue early one weekday morning, I asked the officers for an aliyah so that I could bless Gomel. I was informed that I could receive an aliyah; however, as per the rabbi’s instruction, I would have to wait until the Sabbath to bless Gomel. I was not given any reason for this and did not wish to display my ignorance, so I quietly acquiesced. Can you please explain what was meant? Name Withheld Via E-mail
A Matter Of Time ‘One Who Is Recognized As An Expert...’ (Avoda Zarah 26b)
Question: I recently returned from a trip abroad. When I entered my synagogue early one weekday morning, I asked the officers for an aliyah so that I could bless HaGomel. I was informed that I could receive an aliyah, however – as per the Rabbi’s instruction – I would have to wait until the Sabbath to bless HaGomel. I was not given any reason for this and did not wish to display my ignorance, so I quietly acquiesced. Can you please explain what was meant? Name Withheld Via Email
Exchanging Land? ‘Nor Shall You Show Them Favor’ (Avodah Zara 20a)
Is there a halachic source for the Mi Sheberach other than its presence in the siddur?
To Have Or To Hold ‘Renting Is Not Owning’ (Avodah Zarah 15a)
Is there a halachic source for the Mi Sheberach other than its presence in the siddur?
Don’t Tread On Me ‘If One Consulted A Sage, He May Not Consult Another’ (Avodah Zara 7a)
Is there a halachic source for the Mi Sheberach other than its presence in the siddur?
Was She Really Married? ‘One Said Two… The Other Said Three…’ (Shevuos 48a)
September 25, 2026 
