יום רביעי, כ״ו תשרי תשפ״זWednesday, October 7, 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 or Rabbi@igud.us.
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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)
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 is returned to the original owner within a very short period after the festival’s conclusion? M. Goldblum Miami Beach, FL
As We Come Closer And Closer ‘… Like The Face Of A Dog’ (Sanhedrin 97a)
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 a gentile take effect if it is returned to the original owner within a very short period after the festival’s conclusion? M. Goldblum Via Email
The Greatest Reward Of Public Service ‘…[He] Who Leads The Public Gently …’ (Sanhedrin 92a)
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 a gentile take effect if it is returned to the original owner within a very short period after the Festival’s conclusion? M. Goldblum Via Email
What You Pray For ‘… Acts As Befitting Your People’ (Sanhedrin 85a)
Question: If someone heard Megillat Esther in shul, and he then has to read the Megillah at home for his wife and other members of his household, does he recite the blessings again? Menachem Via E-mail
One’s Lifetime Partner ‘The Only Poor In Israel [Are] The Subtly Wicked...’ (Sanhedrin 76a)
Question: If someone heard Megillat Esther in shul, and he then has to read the Megillah at home for his wife and other members of his household, does he recite the blessings again? Menachem Via E-mail
Withholding The Rod ‘A Rebellious Son Never Occurred And Never Will’ (Sanhedrin 71a)
Question: As I came into the synagogue, they were about to recite Keri’at Shema. I had as yet not put on my tefillin. What should one do in that situation? A Reader Via E-mail
Start Of The Yeshiva Semester “Today Is Propitious…” (Sanhedrin 65b-66a)
QUESTION: Since on Tu B'Shevat we do not celebrate with a festive meal. Then how do we mark this date on our calendar? Additionally is one allowed to fast on this day?M. Goldblum(Via E-Mail)
Question: As I came into the synagogue, they were about to recite Keri’at Shema. I had as yet not put on my tefillin. What should one do in that situation? A Reader Via E-mail
Global Shabbos – Everywhere Simultaneously? Departing After Shabbos, Arriving On Shabbos (Sanhedrin 58b)
I am sure that after all these years, Rabbi Sholom Klass is looking down, from his lofty abode, upon The Jewish Press and its current progression as a beacon for the Jewish community and its continual support for the State of Israel, and feeling great pride.
New York City CANDLE LIGHTING TIME February 7, 2025 – 9 Shevat 5785 5:03 p.m. NYC E.S.T. Sabbath Ends: 6:05 p.m. NYC E.S.T. Sabbath Ends: Rabbenu Tam 6:35 p.m. NYC E.S.T. Weekly Reading: Beshalach Weekly Haftara: U’Devorah Isha (Judges 4:4-5:31; Sefardim: Judges 5:1-31) Daf Yomi: Sanhedrin 52 Mishna Yomit: Makos 3:12-13 Halacha Yomit: […]
A Future Investment ‘… A Halacha For The Days Of Moshiach’ (Sanhedrin 51b)
Question: May a mohel perform a bris for a non-Orthodox couple who adopt a Gentile infant whom they wish to raise as Jewish? Name withheld Los Angeles, CA
A Wedding Dance ‘It Is To Be Said While Standing...’ (Sanhedrin 42a)
Question: I live in a small community where it is sometimes a struggle to get a minyan together. When this occurs on Shabbos, it is extremely upsetting. I am so concerned that I was wondering – may we ask some of the non-observant Jews who live in the neighborhood to join us to complete a minyan? Name withheld Via E-mail
D’tzach, Adash, B’achav ‘Everyone Is Qualified To Judge’ (Sanhedrin 36b)
Question: I live in a small community where it is sometimes a struggle to get a minyan together. When this occurs on Shabbos this is extremely upsetting. I am so concerned that I was wondering – may we ask some of the non-observant Jews who live in the neighborhood to join us to complete a minyan? Name withheld Via E-mail
A Parrot Or A Lie Detector? ‘… We Admonish The Witnesses’ (Sanhedrin 29a)
Question: I live in a small community where it is sometimes a struggle to get a minyan together. When this occurs on Shabbos this is extremely upsetting. I am so concerned that I was wondering – may we ask some of the non-observant Jews who live in the neighborhood to join us to complete a minyan? Name withheld Via E-mail
Maintaining A Library ‘He [The King] Shall Write a Sefer Torah... (Sanhedrin 21b)
Question: I live in a small community where it is sometimes a struggle to get a minyan together. When this occurs on Shabbos this is extremely upsetting. I am so concerned that I was wondering – may we ask some of the non-observant Jews who live in the neighborhood to join us to complete a minyan? Name withheld Via E-mail
Awaiting Elijah / ‘Semicha… Is Performed By Three’ (Sanhedrin 13b)
Question: If one forgot to recite Al Hanissim on Chanukah, does he have to repeat the Shemoneh Esrei or Birkat Hamazon? Moshe Jakobowitz Brooklyn, NY
They Ate Chametz On Pesach ‘Declared By A Beis Din Of Three’ (Sanhedrin 10b)
Question: Because of the Torah’s sanctity, we do not place any object on a Torah scroll except for its mantle or a tallit during Torah reading. Is it a violation to put a siddur or other sefer (holy book) on top of a printed Chumash when these are placed on shelves or tables? Alex Poultman Via Email
The Longest Mesechta? ‘We Shall Return To You…’ (Bava Basra 176b)
Question: Because of the Torah’s sanctity, we do not place any object on top of a Torah scroll, except for its mantle or a tallit during the Torah reading. Is it a violation to put a siddur or other sefer (holy book) on top of a printed Chumash when these are placed on shelves or tables? Alex Poultman Via E-mail
A Shidduch Solution ‘Known In A Town For Thirty Days…’ (Bava Basra 167b)
Question: Are children’s toys or games considered muktzeh – prohibited for use on Shabbos? M. Goldman Via E-mail
Rash And Impulsive ‘A Place Inhabited By Many Kohanim …’ (Bava Basra 160b)
Question: Will you please explain why we begin to say the prayer of Tal u’Matar on the evening of December 4 or 5 – that is, based on the secular calendar? Also, if one traveled to Eretz Israel, where they start to say it earlier, what is he to do when he is there, and when he returns, if he returns before the time we normally commence to say in the Diaspora? Zelig Aronson Via Email
Crossing The Divide ‘Then The Two Men Shall Stand…’ (Bava Basra 155b)
Question: Will you please explain why we begin to say the prayer of Tal u’Matar on the evening of December 4 or 5, that is, based on the secular calendar? Also if one traveled to Eretz Yisrael, where they start to say it earlier, what is he to do when he is there, and what about when he returns, if he returns before the time we normally commence to say in the Diaspora? Zelig Aronson Via E-mail
The Priest Forbade Chametz ‘Acquired By Admission’ (Bava Basra 149a)
Isn’t the father in serious violation of the Torah by neglecting his children and not making any effort to provide them an education? Name Withheld Via E-mail
What Pidyon Haben? ‘To Me, Daughters Are Dearer Than Sons’ (Bava Basra 141a)
Question: Isn’t the father in serious violation of the Torah by neglecting his children and not making any effort to provide them an education? Name Withheld Via E-mail
A Dramatic Change ‘Where His Son Traveled Overseas…’ (Bava Basra 132a)
October 2, 2026 
