יום שלישי, כ״ט תמוז תשפ״וTuesday, July 14, 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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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)
If one ate a quantity that would usually serve as the mainstay of a meal for other people, he blesses HaMotzi and recites Birkat HaMazon even if he was not satiated.
A Talmida Chachama ‘If He Is A Scholar, He Is Not Sworn’ (Shavuos 41a)
Question: I find it very difficult to understand the punishment of death that was meted out to Rabbi Akiva’s students. If he was so great, we must assume that they were of a superior caliber. If so, why such a harsh punishment? Zelig Aronson Queens, N.Y.
Question: I find it very difficult to understand the punishment of death that was meted out to Rabbi Akiva’s students. If he was so great, we can assume that his students were of a superior caliber as well. How did they rate such a harsh punishment? Zelig Aronson Queens, N.Y.
Start And Final ‘Aleph Lamed Chol, Yud Keh Kodesh’ (Shavuos 35b)
Posthaste ‘And He Simply Uttered Bread’ (Shavuos 26b)
Question: I find it very difficult to understand the punishment of death that was meted out to Rabbi Akiva’s students. If he was so great, we can assume that his students were of a superior caliber as well. How did they rate such a harsh punishment? Zelig Aronson Queens, N.Y.
K’vod HaBriyos – Human Dignity ‘… Excluding Where He Was Preoccupied’ (Shavuos 18b-19a)
Question: Were these individuals allowed to lead the congregation in counting sefirah? I also wonder, in general, if everyone may be trusted to lead the counting. What if someone forgot to count on one of the previous nights but does not inform anyone of this? Name withheld Via E-mail
Siddurim On A Bimah ‘The Heart Of Beth Din Provides For It’ (Shavuos 11a)
Question: On occasion it has happened that a recent bar mitzvah boy was the one to do so. I’ve also had an occasion when a recent ger (convert) led the service. In both those events, how would they be allowed to lead in the counting of the sefirah if they did not start doing so at the outset? No Name Via E-mail
Leprosy? ‘… Any Kohen Who Is Not Expert …’ (Shavuos 6a)
Question: On occasion it has happened that a recent bar mitzvah boy was the one to do so. I’ve also had an occasion when a recent ger (convert) led the service. In both those events, how would they be allowed to lead in the counting of the sefirah if they did not start doing so at the outset? No Name Via E-mail
A Threat To Life And Limb ‘How Many Lashes Are Given Him? Forty Save One’ (Makkos 22a-b)
Question: I read with much interest your Q & A columns, especially those that relate to tefillah. I have a related question: In shul I’ve noticed that at the conclusion of the Shemoneh Esrei, some people take three steps backward but then they do not take the three steps forward as required. Is this an actual sanctioned practice? Zelig Aronson Via E-mail
Question: I have been puzzled by the fact that we do not recite the Shehecheyanu blessing when we start the counting of Omer (Sefirat HaOmer). What is the reason? M. Schwartz Via E-mail
Entitlements ‘Not Returned To His Former Prominence’ (Makkos 12a)
Question: I have been puzzled by the fact that we do not recite the Shehecheyanu blessing when we start the counting of the Omer (Sefirah). What is the reason? M. Schwartz Via E-mail
The Red Sea’s Argument ‘Elai And Toviah: Relatives Of A Guarantor’ (Makkos 7a)
Without Warning ‘… But You Were With Us…’ (Makkos 2a)
Question: I would like to have a better understanding of a practice that I and many others are a party to every year before Passover. How does the sale of chametz to the gentile take effect if it returned to the original owner within a very short period after the festival’s conclusion? M .Goldblum Miami Beach, FL
Silence Golden? ‘Iyov, Who Was Silent…’ (Sanhedrin 106a)
July 10, 2026 
